i stumbled upon this that can
give you some insight that provides a clue to
your problem (but just review this site and
don't download anything)

http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz/troubleshoot.html

when you make the boot disks that i mentioned
in the prior postings be sure
to copy over to these , that is if
they are not on the disks already...

fixmbr
fixboot

keep in mind that the boot disks you
are going to make will have the system
files that a specific to the winxp operating
system. Thats why your winme disks would
be useless for you....

also, if you have some time, i recall a website
that provides free downloads for making
boot disks. I think its this one http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/index.html
maybe this can be helpful as well....

"DatabaseBen" <databaseben@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ud3Lrd2KHHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> nope....
>
> you need to get the right stuff for
> the right job...
>
> so work only with
> winxp stuff to fix winxp problems....
>
> go to "any" pc with winxp on it
> and make new boot disks....
>
>
> <creativeman313@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:1167409911.182671.319620@k21g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>>I have a boot disk for winME. how do I access the HD using this? what
>> buttons should I press?
>>
>> DatabaseBen wrote:
>>> well there isn't much you can do
>>> since the machine is incapacitated except
>>> for floppies...
>>>
>>> it seems that if you can access this newsgroup
>>> then maybe you can access the parent website
>>> to the pc and check out what features you have
>>> on it, like hidden partitions or how to restore
>>> your pc with the cds you have.
>>>
>>> othewise, you can probably get onto the hd
>>> via emergency boot up
>>> disks off any other pc.
>>>
>>> once inside you might check around for
>>> an i386 folder and initiate winnt32.exe
>>> and if im not mistaken you can launch the
>>> revocery console by using the /cmdcons
>>> switch with the above executiable.
>>>
>>> If nothing seems to help,
>>> then you might have to use someone elses winxp setup
>>> disk and repair your o.s. or reinstall the o.s. with it. then
>>> later you can change the keys...
>>>
>>> <creativeman313@aol.com> wrote in message
>>> news:1167345220.456649.123860@n51g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>>> >I can't get passed this message, though. I can boot floppys, but the
>>> > laptop I am on now does not have a floppy drive, so I cannot download
>>> > the start-up disks...
>>> >
>>> > DatabaseBen wrote:
>>> >> this sounds like an issue
>>> >> required to be addressed by
>>> >> the pc maker...
>>> >>
>>> >> check out the parent website
>>> >> for faq's or technical support .
>>> >>
>>> >> you might have a hidden
>>> >> partition with the installation files.
>>> >>
>>> >> <creativeman313@aol.com> wrote in message
>>> >> news:1167340069.678542.52510@42g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
>>> >> > HI, I was just doing a system recovery on my C drive on my XP
>>> >> > desktop.
>>> >> > After using CD 1, I put in CD2 like it asked, then it came up with
>>> >> > an
>>> >> > error like: disk not compatable or something like the disk won't
>>> >> > work
>>> >> > (even though it was the correct disk!). Now when I boot up my
>>> >> > desktop,
>>> >> > it tells me that there is No Operating System found. PLEASE help in
>>> >> > this problem- I would like to re-install Windows XP, but I do not
>>> >> > have
>>> >> > XP install disks because the computer came loaded with XP.
>>> >> > *BTW- the computer has a D drive, I'm not sure if there are windows
>>> >> > backup files on it, but C is the OS drive. THANK YOU!!!!
>>> >> >
>>> >
>>
>
>