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windows XP will not boot

I have a client that says his computer will not boot. I came in and he said he was running out of spce, so he started deleteing things. I tried to boot to last know config and just acts like it will boot, bit stops at black screen. Then tried to boot safe mode, and stops and never progresses from isapnp.sys please help thank you
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uescomp
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You could try and use ERD commander to restore back to a previous date, otherwise try running a windows repair
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zenworksb

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i am not familure with ERD commander and what is the steps to run windows repair thank you so much
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unless there is critical data on it, I would just wipe & restore. If you need data you might want to put his drive in another PC and copy files.

You mighty also try booting (not installing) another OS to just look at files - http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
this is a very critical system toth ebusiness one of teh owners. I really need to get it back up and running :(
I came across this same issue a while back, and found this solution worked for me. I cannot take credit, other than copy and pasting (I saved the solution in a text file):

It is not problem with isapnp.sys. It's problem with pciide.sys which is loaded after isapnp.sys
Step :
Start Recovery console (boot with XP setup CD).
go to c:\windows\system32\drivers
type "expand d:\i386\isapnp.sy_" for expanding isapnp.sys
after that type "expand d:\i386\pciide.sy_"
Those commands expand from setup XP CD files isapnp.sys and pciide.sys into c:\windows\system32\drivers folder.
Just to explain : if boot sequence stop at one file *.sys, it doesn't mean there is problem with THAT file. It could be problem with driver which follow last shown driver.
If found at one forume one more step : While using recovery console, go to c:\windows\system32\drivers folder and start "dir" command. Check, if there any *.sys file with 0 length. Just delete it.

Good luck.
ok I boot from windows xp go into recover mode then expand both files, and the reboot? The step about looking for files with 0 confusing me? Thank you so so much i will start process and check back
ok real quick before I begin, They have a windows xp sp3 cd from dell Reinstallation cd is this what I use? It was probably not even for his computer he does have a dell though
really the first question that needs to be addressed is what did the user  delete?

If the user deleted any of the Windows files, your best bet is to boot from the Windows XP installation disk, and run a repair install.  See this MS Article for instructions:  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
I would boot from an XP disk, and press a key when prompted to boot from CD.  Choose install new OS option.  It will check for previous versions - at this point, choose to repair existing installation.

This way you will keep your data and your programs.  
is it ok to use the reinstallation cd windows xp sp3 from dell, he has a dell but do not think this goe sto his system?
As long as it is the same version of XP you should be good.  You wouldnt want to try it with SP3 if it has SP2 on it.
i do not know what version of SP he has on it, the system is down any thoughts? help :)
should I just try one that has no SP on it that would be ok no matter what SP he has correct?
I have successfully used earlier SP discs - you just need to remember to apply the SP after the system is back up.
To summarize:

You need to do a repair install of XP to replace missing system files which were apparently deleted by the user. Here are instructions: http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Use the Dell CD with SP3. If an earlier version is installed, it will be updated to SP3.

There is a problem if IE8 is installed. The best remedy, since you cannot uninstall IE8, is to slipstream IE8 onto the Dell XP CD using nLite. Here are links to nLite and info regarding IE8:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964
http://www.nliteos.com/guide/
ok I did repair install completed. It came up to windows and i logged in and it hung. Rebooted and same thing arg :( thoughts help thansk gguys
Are you logging on locally or to a domain?
Can you logon is safe mode?
Typo: Can you logon IN safe mode?
no safemode stops at isapnp.sys like before
local or domain?
Safe Mode stops at isapnp.sys, but regular mode allows you to log in, then hangs?
If you could save all of the data, how tough would it be to reinstall all of the applications?
no i was able to login in one time to domain and then it hung. now i try to boot just goes black screen and safe mode stops at isapnp.sys thank you so much guys i hope we can get this going
As described earlier, pciide.sys is not loading. Are there any error messages?

Before going any further, test memory using memtest86+ in case faulty memory is causing the problem. It also wouldn't hurt to test hard disk as well. All the testing tools you need are on the UBCD: http://majorgeeks.com/Ultimate_Boot_CD_d4981.html

I'll be gone for awhile but will check back later.
is there a ISO i can download and burn
The UBCD is an iso. Were you referring to some other iso? If so, be specific as to what you need.
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Perarduaadastra
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