XP won't start after critical patch install

[webb94526]

I have XP Professional on an ibm thinkpad. was working fine until i downloaded a "critical" upgrade on the weekend. it hits a fatal error (stop message) and shuts down now. the machine did not come with the original xp operating system (ibm does not supply). microsoft says it is ibm's problem, ibm says they can give me a restore disk that will erase all my files. Not a good solution. apparently the original installation files are in the computer but since i can't start in safe mode or last known working config (same error message) they say i would need to create or obtain a dos boot that would get me to the i386 directory where the operating system lives. beyond my capability.

anyone have any ideas that can solve my problem short of erasing all my files or buying another copy (cd version) of the operating system. microsoft and ibm are shafting me but they seem quite happy about it.....

[snowmonkey]

You could use NTFS boot disk to get to your i386 file, just download it from this link:

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

I hope that helps.

cheers

[webb94526]

Snowmonkey

Thanks for the info. My thinkpad does not have a floppy drive, just an external CD. Can I burn a CD and boot from that?

[snowmonkey]

You sure can, I have Windows 98SE boot disk on a CD and use at times where floppy is not Available.


cheers