Being able to get to the advanced options menu usually indicates boot.ini, the master boot record, and the partition boot sector are probably OK. In one way this is not so good since fixing those problems is relatively quick and simple. But in another way that is good because it is an indication the hardware is functioning ok. Probably one of more of the windows files are corrupted.

At this point you could try to find out which ones are bad or you can do a repair where windows, using the windows cd, is reinstalled to its current location. Of course if you have a backup up from before the troubles now might be the time to consider doing a restore from the backup. You could also save that option for after you try a repair.

With a reinstall there is a chance of date loss but not always or even usually except in certain cases. The one that might apply in this case is if Windows is an OEM version that came preinstalled on the computer. For example if the computer is Dell, HP, or any of the others and it came with Windows already installed. Also the windows CD may have the computer company's name on it. If it did not come with XP already installed or you had an earlier version and did the upgrade yourself to XP, then this may not be an issue. If it is an OEM version you need to check the windows install disk to see if it is the original version of XP, or if it is SP1 or SP2. If it is SP1 or SP2 then everything should be OK. ( it should say SP1 or SP2 if it is one of these versions) If it is the original version there is a possibility of data loss when doing a repair of windows. An explanation of this issue can be found here A brief description of what data could be lost: "You may lose data that is stored in the All Users folder and default program templates and settings that are stored in the Default User folder after you reinstall, repair, or upgrade Windows XP. You may be missing Start menu shortcuts, items in the Startup group, and documents, pictures, or music files that are stored in the Shared Documents folder." If you do have a non SP1/SP2 OEM windows cd you will want to delete the system32undo_guimode.txt file from the recovery console before doing a repair of windows. One way to do that is to "CD" into the windows directory (usually "WINDOWS" or "WINNT" ) then CD to system32 then DEL undo_guimode.txt )

Also before doing a repair you might want to run CHDSK (check disk )from the recovery console to repair any bad disk sectors (type chdsk c: /r enter ). This could cause data loss of anything stored in the bad sectors but that data is probably beyond recovery already. (note any recoverable data found during a chdsk with the /r option is stored in a recovered file) Also after a repair windows will need to download and install all the updates and service packs. That is done with windows update and will probably take many hours for the computer to download and install depending on the connection speed. also some of the installs require user input such as to accept terms and conditions so you'd need to check in on the progress of the updates from time to time.

Quick review: if you want to try to repair windows:

1. Boot from the windows CD. It will proably say press any key to continue. press any key. ( you may need to change the boot order in BIOS if the computer does not boot from the CD but instead boots just like it did without the Windows CD in the cd drive.)

2.. after a while the following screen should come up.

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

Press R to get to the recovery console. Then select one (assuming there is only one operating system installed on the drive which is the usual case)

3) Delete the undo_guimode.txt file if you have an OEM version of windows.

CD windows

CD system32

del undo_guimode.txt

4) run checkdisk

chdsk c: /r

5) exit and reboot with the windows CD in the drive

type exit.

6) when it gets to the menu

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

this time press enter.

7) accept the terms and conditions. Select the windows installation (1).

8) press R to repair windows. (If R is not one of the options don't select any of the other options. stop and regroup.)

The computer should eventually reboot and you should should be able to see the normal windows screen. At that point you need to use windows update to reinstall all the updates and service packs. This will take quite a while, with a few reboots and you may have to do it several times to get all the updates.

BTW a repair/reinstall with updates will usually take several hours although it is not necessary to sit there the whole time. You'll just need to check in on it from time to time in case the computer wants some user input.

Very good advice!

If this fails completely, the recordings need to be rescued with another PC.

I ran into an oddball problem this week. A computer running XP quit working. It would get to the initial Windows logo screen, but then the display would go black. It would boot OK into safe mode, but I could not get networking to work in safe mode. This computer is backed up every night so I had lots of restore points to work with. Tried 3 different ones from various points over the last 3 months but none would get the computer working properly. It did get farther in the boot process; It would get to a display of the wallpaper and then die.

Looking into it further I found in each case it was failing when the power management driver was loaded.

I took a look at the motherboard and found a dozen bad caps. The caps are shown in the photo. I did not think to take a photo of the caps in the board until I was nearly finished removing them.

Put in new caps and all was OK.

Good thourough job! I would have thrown the thing out at once. Respect!

I'm curious about the status Richard's PC problem...

Richard - I hope your problems have been resolved. If not, here are my quick thoughts.

I think the earlier point about bringing it to an expert is the right one. First, plan to replace the PC. If it's more than 3-years old, it's ancient in PC years and is not worth saving. You can get a great PC for less than $500, so I'd plan to replace it. At the same time, get a new external hard drive. I just bought this one for around $100 and it will be more than you ever need.

Then, bring the old one to a tech - ask them to pull all of your files off the old hard drive and move them to the external drive. Assuming the original drive is not completely hosed, they should be able to pop it into another PC as a slave drive and easily move the files.

Once that's done and you've set up your new PC, copy the files from the external drive to your new PC. Then, burn copies of all that music to a removable media (DVD or CD) and store them offsite (give them to a friend or family member to hold).

Going forward, set the external drive to back up your entire PC daily or weekly, then do the burning of the DVDs once a quarter or so. You don't want your only backup to live where your computer does in case of fire, flood, etc.

If you're really paranoid (in this case, a good thing), you might also look to use a cloud-based backup service (Mozy, Carbonite, etc). You'd need to connect the PC to the internet for this, but then you can be sure your files will be safe no matter what. And I wouldn't worry about risks of viruses infecting the PC from this. If you're only using it for recording and backup, there's pretty much zero risk.

Good luck!

I've given up on the software computer based recording, all, the lag, sound card drive issues and mucking about. For Christmas I got a Tascam 24488neo and I'm not looking back. Now if I can just stop making mistakes while I play, I'll be getting somewhere.

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I'd say get two identical usb drives. Create a music folder on your PC. Backup that folder to usb A and after you disconnect it, put it on usb B as well. Use the free program sync toy to only get the newest stuff each time.

Getting a new PC and transferring the files is undoubtedly the best option because it appears that my hard drive is okay. I do have an external hard drive that I was using until it got misplaced by a party who will go unnamed because she cooks my meals for me. I paid a visit to a dental specialist last week and it looks like he is going to soak me for a few bucks, but it has to be done. I want to keep my choppers. But anyway, that is going to preclude any extra purchases for a while.

Richard - I'd choose teeth over computers as well, so you can do this But... you can probably nab a computer on the cheap. As an example, Dell has a refurbished section on their website - here's a PC that would fit your needs - for $239.

In the meantime, make sure that you back up what you've got and have it offsite in a safe place.