"......when you boot to an Install DVD, it takes you to the install page, but on the left, there is a "Repair my Computer" type option. That will put you in the Recovery environment which you need to work your situation. From there, try some of those options.
Edit: Just for info, which partition do you have Windows 8 installed to?........"
Hi Saltgrass,
I am not sure if I answered the above in your #23 post.
This win8 dvd opens a blue screen saying "Analyzing your PC", after a long time says "trying to repair PC" & after a longer time says that it can not be repaired, & gives the screen in first attachment below.
My only option is to select "use another OS" which gives me options w8 & XP, I select XP and boots like always did before & after the dualboot with w8.
In XP's win.explorer I can see all the win8 directories which I saved elswhere, so I don't loose some things. I think the IE Favourites & the downloads I did in win8 will be lost.
Now my big question to anybody here is, with no solution in sight to restore win8 as it was, if I reinstall w8 will it give me the option to dualboot as before or will it go and override my XP & all its directories & files??.
The system as is now, along with the w8 loss, gives a) a bib & CPU Fan error needing to press "F1" to continue, & b) is that misterious "no any drive"?? in the second attachment, but dispite those XP is booted and all's well.
Sorry about the attachments, will try again please them in next post below