Prolems repairing Windows XP Pro

[Guy_Fawkes]

My son's Computer crashed recently, It stated lefe as an HP but was modified with adding a burning, XP Pro instead of Home. and other upgrades.

I inserted in the Windows installation CD, and selected to repair the existing instyallation of Windows. The setup began normally, until iy got to the point of installation of 34%. It stayed at that ppoint for at least an hour.

I rebooted and tried again but the same thing happened. The PC has Windows XP PRO SP1, (no SP2), all updated except WM828026.

A friend had the same problem after installing SP2, he ended up do a fresh installing.

I solved the problem using Acronis Trueimage 9. Thanks good for backup programs.

Any suggestions as to why this happened would be appreciated.

[ROF]

Not enough info. When you attempt a repair did you use the Windows Home or Windows XP CD? What HP Model? What was the machine doing when it crashed? Is the backup of a windows XP Home or Pro?

Now that it's back up and running have you performed a check for errors on the drive? What make and size drive?

[Guy_Fawkes]

I originally fdisk the XP Home and installed XP Pro and used the same cd of XP PRO and Key that was on the package. I was a model a220n, kept the motherboard, pposcessor, hd. added a liteon DVD burner, and dvd/cdrw combo drive, a second seagate hard drive and a ATI 9800 video card.

I got it up and running by pulling the origianl samsung HD and replacing it with a WD 200 Gig drive, then used Trueimage to restore to that drive and set it as active.

I took the Samsung and put it in an external drive via firewire. The contents were readable, a chkdsk disclosed no error or bad sectors. the make was a Samsung 120 Gig, model sv1204h.

It had a seperate hidden partition for its built in restore of XP Home.

Its just sitting on a shelf for time being.

[Guy_Fawkes]

when it crashed my son was playing a game of texas holdem not on line at the time. ps i did do a virus check and adware scan of the drive while it was in the enclosure. no virus were found and just some minor adware

[ROF]

You might want to check the disc for errors so if that's the problem you know now before the disc crashes again. To do this if you don't already know Open Windows Explorer and right click on the drive letter and select the properties option. Click on the tools tab and select the check for errors now. At this time you just want to check for errors do not check any of the boxes to auto repair it. This may take a few minutes to complete. If errors occur, perform this task again but check the recover bad sectors radial box. If the errors are not fixable this report will tell you so. In which case, you have a damaged drive that will crash again once the bad sector is written to.

[Guy_Fawkes]

thats why its just sitting, considering it came in the origianl pc i don't think its the best one around, the components of this box made me sick, it only had a 200 watt powere supply and was arranged so it was almost impossible to upgrade. So mucg for my venture of buying a ready made pc. Back to building what i want.

Thanks for the quick response

[Guy_Fawkes]

ROF
I just put in the external and am checking know as you described, will let ya know the results. Do you have any idea about my friend basically have the same problem.

Do you thinks some of fixes for SP2 may keep SP1 from repairing itself. I think i read in a newletter that after sp2 is installed windows can't be repaired with the original CD

[Dv8ted2]

Do you thinks some of fixes for SP2 may keep SP1 from repairing itself. I think i read in a newletter that after sp2 is installed windows can't be repaired with the original CD

SP2 has all of the SP1 patches, if that is what you are asking.

[Guy_Fawkes]

not really, i elected not to install SP2, but i do install the hotfixes and security fixes for the most part.

I was curious if the SP2 hotfixes alone would keep me from repairing my SP1 system with the XP sp1 install CD.

[Guy_Fawkes]

ROF
i received no error messages from the HD after following your suggestions. So for the time being its on the shelf again

Thanks

[jollyjohn]

G'day
try this http://www.digitalwebcast.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=8658-0
Good luck
John

[Guy_Fawkes]

JollyJohn
thanks, i dreaded using the recovery console, but that explanation i one of the best i've read on how to use it. I won't be afraid to atleast try it again if i have to. But i have since made backups of all my macnine and keep them in a safe location. To restore that PC acronis did it in about 45, using DVDs. thanks

[jollyjohn]

You are welcome.. I'm glad you fixed it. I also use Acronis, but I have a second HDD to keep two or three HD images an all my data. Also keep data in DVDs and a third HDD, not installed, ready to go. You never know. You can't help bad luck.
John

[Bjs]

This situation is well known if network cable is still plugged into unit , but more common if usb keyboards / mouse are being used .

Usb mice dont work in safemode , so there useless .

If you have usb2 on system , then you must have sp2 installed , even though sp1 patches work , it tends to be less of a mess with sp2 .

For all newbie system biulders :

Install xp
Install all system drivers
Install sp2
Install motherboards cd , usb2 drivers

Install everything after this point (printers , scanners , cameras , ect) .

This problem also happens during upgrading of existing os's that are supported .

[ROF]

For all newbie system biulders :

Install xp
Install all system drivers
Install sp2
Install motherboards cd , usb2 drivers

Install everything after this point (printers , scanners , cameras , ect) .

This problem also happens during upgrading of existing os's that are supported .

To avoid the upgrade problems I usually recommend just installing SP2. I also recommend to never use the CDs provided with your hardware. Always visit the hardware website and download the latest drivers.

[ViRaL1]

Save yourself time in the future and slipstream SP2.

Autostreamer

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Autostreamer.shtml

Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368...displaylang=en