[JCastaldi]

After inserted the SP2 disk, I get: "Files Needed--The file 'asms' on Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 1 CD is needed. Type the path where the file is located, and then click OK." Below this message it says: "Copy files from:" and the window shows D:\1386" (other option is C:). I then clicked OK and nothing happens.

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The product key is a 25 digit number (5 groups of 5...xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx) that came with your operating system. On many OEM machines it will be on a sticker somewhere on the machine about the size of an address label. If your machine is a custom build, it will be on the folder or case that came with the disk.

[wannabe1]

The product key is a 25 digit number (5 groups of 5...xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx) that came with your operating system. On many OEM machines it will be on a sticker somewhere on the machine about the size of an address label. If your machine is a custom build, it will be on the folder or case that came with the disk.

[JCastaldi]

I found it. Please see my post (#16) above just before your last reply.

Edited by JCastaldi, 11 March 2006 - 03:58 PM.

[wannabe1]

We need a command prompt. If you are at the error screen (asms), press Shift + F10 and see if a command prompt opens.

[JCastaldi]

Yes it did open: Says: C:\WINDOWS\system32> Should I enter the command prompts you gave me earlier?

[wannabe1]

Hmmmmmmmmm...

Hold off a minute while I check something....the prompt should be C:\WINDOWS>. I'm not sure why it is opening to the system32 folder...

[JCastaldi]

OK

[wannabe1]

It wasn't supposed to do that, but it may have done us a big favor...we're about to find out...

at the prompt, type restore /rstrui.exe (Note the space after restore), and press "Enter".

[wannabe1]

Was the System32 folder opening when you started the machine...when it was running, that is?

[JCastaldi]

As to your post #23, it replied: 'restore' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

As to your post #24, I plead "ignorance." All I know is as of Wednesday of this week, the computer was working fine.

[wannabe1]

At the command prompt, type chkdsk /r, and press "Enter".

[JCastaldi]

I received: The type of the file system is NTFS. Cannot lock current drive. Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

Edited by JCastaldi, 11 March 2006 - 04:43 PM.

[wannabe1]

Yes...and restart. If this runs, it may take a while. This may be a good sign.

[JCastaldi]

I removed the SP2 disk before restarting. Upon restart, I got the message that"setup is restarting" which is typically the beginning of the reinstall of Windows. True to form, I get (1) lsass.exe error message; (2) insert SP1 disk, etc.; and (3) the reinstall wizard showing the reinstall hung up (i.e., stopped) just before "Installing Windows."

[wannabe1]

Do you have a lot of important files on this machine? I ask because I don't want to get too aggressive if there is important data that can't be replaced.

We may try to edit the boot.ini file to halt the setup and get back to working on just the original installation. I'll need to research this just a bit...I don't do this from command prompt much. This might take me a little while, but we want to get it right the first time. Right now, everything we do is stopping on reboot...so setup can continue.

Standby...