Could anyone please help me with this frustrating problem ? The computer will not boot up and cannot get to safe mode! I have had the hard drives checked and they have been found to be ok ! What i was hoping to do was access the computer to DOS and format the whole drive ! Could anyone suggest alternatives for getting into safe mode ? This is the first time i have asked a question on a forum so i hope you can understand the problem i am having.

Thanks in anticipation

Geoffersau.

Plenty of hits on installing Win XP on Google, take your pick.

format win xp - Google Search

Microsoft have a KB on how to do it as well...

How to partition and format a hard disk in Windows XP

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Wombat's: Bulldozers of the bush...

Many thanks for the advice it is appreciated.
Regards
Geoffers

It would be a lot better to explain what the computer is doing as well as what it isn't doing.....for instance is it booting to P.O.S.T. the black screen with the white letters? Or can you get into the BIOS...all the information that you can give helps in getting it repaired.

Many thanks lurkswithin, Cannot get to safe mode as the boot up sequence only gets as far as (blinking curser) asking for drive I and an sp2 disc ! cannot get into the BIOS. and have the black screen and white letters and not getting to POST.

Many thanks again

Geoffers

P.O.S.T is the black screen with white letters that usuall show on first boot and tells what major hardware is installed and includes on what key to use to enter BIOS or setup.

P.O.S.T means 'Power-on self-test'

Power-on self-test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you see the POST page then you should be able to enter the BIOS or setup by toggleing a certain key during the post. F1 or DEL or F2 or F10, F11, F12. your computer manual will tell you which key to use.

If the POST is too fast to read you can use the pause/break key to pause it when it first shows up on screen.
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The blinking curser and asking for CD leads me to believe that you have a hardware issue with your harddrive. By going into the bios or reading the POST you can tell if the harddrive is actually being read.

Also what is the make and model of your computer?

Thanks Lurkswithin will get details as suggested and send them to you !
It may take a couple of days because of work commitment but will do asap.

Can't thank you enough

Kind regards

Geoffersau.