[stevevjai]

yes i am..i am booting from the ms installation cd

[Razer]

If you are using an XP install CD and not an XP recovery CD then you should be able to use the recovery console.

As much as I hate to suggest it, you are LEGALLY allowed to download an XP image. You MUST use your own license key to register it and activate it, otherwise it is ILLEGAL. When you buy windows, you buy it for a single license, not for a disk.

[philthomas]

Is the M$ XP Installation Disk a genuine copy ?
.... and have you got the correct boot sequence set in bios to make the CD Drive the first boot device ?

[kevinnnn]

Hi there, Im in the same predicament (with the exception that it is a laptop, so not quite as easy to slave if i am correct). For my last 4 evenings I have been trying a barrage of techniques to get rid of this problem.

At this point, I just want my files.

Any new updates on your situation?

[Razer]

if you want to get the files off, you can use a Windows Vista or Windows 7 beta install CD to open the command prompt and use the XCopy command to transfer the files to a USB or something