Using the Windows XP repair utility...

[ricobico]

I just found out that my in-laws have been re-booting XP (+/-once a day) by hitting the "kill button" as they call it and not using the shut down procedure. Well this has caught up with them and has caused a perpetual error that does not allow them to boot to windows, not even in any safe mode (error="we apologize for the inconvenience..."). I am convinced that they need to do the repair function using the XP disk to repair the damaged files, becasue they can't log into windows in any way. I am prepared to walk them though it, but they do no have the original XP disk, nor a startup disk. I know they have XP professional , but I am not sure if it is SP1 or SP2. Can I use any XP professional disk to try this repair, or does it have to be the EXACT disk that was used load the original operating sytem? I assume that I could use any disk, being that I belileve it's some simple files that are missing and keeping them from booting.

Can anyone help me? Thanks

[Dv8ted2]

You should be able to use any disk, it if is a install cd. Keep in mind though, it you have a SP1 disk and they were running SP2, then the install will revert to SP1.

If this is an OEM computer, you may have to hunt down the drivers. Also, if it is an OEM computer, most providers now keep a reserved partition on the hard drive with the OS for emergencies.

[ranchhand]

You can use any standalone XP disk, as long as it is the same type, eg. XP Home / XP Home, Pro/Pro, etc. If you attempt to use XP Home and your installation is Pro it won't work. I am talking about the Repair Consol in the first screen of the disk when you boot it, not the second screen, Repair Reinstall. I am not sure if a non-owner disk will work there, but you can try. If it requests a serial number, use your in-law's original serial number when it asks for it since that is the one that is already on the installation. Without that you are up a creek.

Most likely the MBR was messed; you can try the FIX MBR command, that might do it also.

[Bjs]

Someone should have also mentioned this ... so here it is ...l

Problems with so called "revert of os" exist when system registered pior to sp2 install ... so you would need to be very specific about which os is installed ... check there key license , it's on it .

You can only use an os cd that match's this key info .

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As the system will not enter any mode , you have two options you can use prior to reinstalling os:

1: A bootable mini linux distro , so you can access and back files

Having recently tested puppy , it is not able to see windows partition on sata drive , ide fine ... other , later versions of other linux distro's may work ... but there is so many ... no time to run test's .

2: Take the drive to another pc running either xp or win2000 , and do the backup from there ... much quicker .

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Backup Windows Activation

1. Goto the system32 folder of your Windows installation folder(normally, c:windows\system32).
2. Under system32 folder, copy the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files. the filesize is small, you can save them in a floppy disk.
3. Done.

Restore Windows Activation

1. Start Windows XP in Safe Mode(Press F8 key when booting to show windows mode selection menu)
2. Change directory to the system32 folder of Windows installaion(example: c:windowssystem32 )
3. If exists, rename the wpa.dbl and wpa.bak files in system32 folder.
4. Now, copy the your backup copy of wpa.dbl and wpa.bak into the system32 folder.
5. Reboot and you are done!

Note: The backup only works when you are reinstall Windows XP on the same or similar hardware PC. It does not work for ANOTHER PC for obvious reason.

This save's the headache .

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There may also be file's they would want to keep .

Outlook express details and messages ... zip up this folder

C:\Documents and Settings\"USER NAME"\Local Settings\Application data\Identities\{????????-????-????-????-????????????}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

To restore mail after clean os reinstall ... regenerate account details (this regenerates the folders)... then unpack this zip to the place it was found ... simple with no lose .

Next folder to zip up is

C:\Documents and Settings\"USER NAME"\Favorites ... unzip back to same place after reinstalled os .

Last ... any other file's from their documents ... downloads , music ... ect .

Once thats done ... the reinstall is a success ... files returned to where they should be ... they should be happy campers .

Of course , you could be there a while because they might want you to reinstall all there other products ... thats a pain itself

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Because of what they have been doing ... after the above mentioned files have been backed up one way or the other ... grab INSERT (security mini linux distro) ... it has most of the manufacturer's hard drive tool's on it ... use the tools from the hard drives manufacturer , to first test it , then do the "new hd install" , which should be good enough to set the drive up ready for the reinstallation of the os .

I mention this method only because most new pc's nolonger have floppy drives installed , even though they are retained in the modern bios .

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Feather linux ... bootable ... access internet to download system drivers if they dont have them ready

http://featherlinux.berlios.de/

[MOVIEGEEK]

http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2111p196id112479.htm

[Bjs]

Read that link info ... it's mostly useless in specific situations with modern pc an os .

1: You cant get into either mode where "START" button is ... pointless
2: Modern pc's dont have floppy drive's installed ... unless you own an antique ... lol
3: Slow down ... you might want to backup files before you screw it right up .

Xp bootdisks here : http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994 ... just incase

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A common point : registry repairs carried out in a similar method by restoring registry backup set ... this may be the cause rather than "corrupted file" error ... if the reg data is not correct , then the system may not beable to locate the file it needs .

I have seen this done before , and under some situations , folder's and files have disappeared from the system because this information was not in the backup data set ... important file recovery can be done using drive rescue if this appears .