[Crustyoldbloke]

Hello Paul

Apologies for the brief hiatus.

With your search function disabled and problems with your monitor, it sounds as though you have a corrupted operating system. We have already completed a SFC (system file checker) which is normally enough, but in your case you still have problems.

Please follow this link to instructions on repairing Windows XP. I would advise you to print a copy for easy reference.

Repair Windows XP Topic

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Hi Phil,
I am trully sorry to bother you at this dificult time.
Sorry to see that your a Biker in Mourning. Have you just lost a close friend on his Bike?
I'm an ex Biker & I too have lost a couple of friends on their bikes over the years.
I have had A Yamaha XS 500 followed by a scortching Lavada Jota 1000 plus the mad Z1 Kwacker. Hmm that seems so ong ago. Very sorry for your loss.

Am trying to follow the instructions to repair the system. I have got to the part where it looks like it's installing XP Pro again & it tells me I have 34 minutes left to go. But that was 5 hours ago now & it hasnt moved. What do I do now?

Deepest sympathy
Paul

[paulinspain]

Hi Phil,
I am trully sorry to bother you at this dificult time.
Sorry to see that your a Biker in Mourning. Have you just lost a close friend on his Bike?
I'm an ex Biker & I too have lost a couple of friends on their bikes over the years.
I have had A Yamaha XS 500 followed by a scortching Lavada Jota 1000 plus the mad Z1 Kwacker. Hmm that seems so ong ago. Very sorry for your loss.

Am trying to follow the instructions to repair the system. I have got to the part where it looks like it's installing XP Pro again & it tells me I have 34 minutes left to go. But that was 5 hours ago now & it hasnt moved. What do I do now?

Deepest sympathy
Paul

[Crustyoldbloke]

Hello Paul

UK Biker was one of the nicest people it has ever been my privilege to meet. He was a staff member here at GTG and he specialised in removing root kits. He died yesterday, after a two-year battle with cancer, he was only in his early forties.

The install sounds right, but I do not know why it is stalling like that. Perhaps try it one more time.

[paulinspain]

What to say!
My best friend since I was 9 passed away to a Virulent form of the big C. By the time they finally diagnosed it he was told he had just 10 days! Well he fought it with every thing he had and lasted just six weeks. I still miss David so much he was such a big part of my life.
So, once again my sincere condolences, to all of you at GTG.

Ho, Ho! The installation time on installing devices has dropped to 33 minutes! So is the correct way to do this to power of from the mains & wait 40 sec’s or the on/off switch?

Thanks
Paul

[Crustyoldbloke]

Yes that is always the first advice, a cold boot normally does the trick. You are basically installing XP over the current version without destroying anything. It's much better than installing alongside in my opinion, which I never find works that well.

[paulinspain]

Hello Phil are you around?
This is the situation. I did a cold boot and followed the instructions through to the point of installation. The PC appeared to hang at Installing Devices 33 minutes left to go.

I left it for three hours with no further change. So I left it & went to bed hoping for the best. No joy this morning. Powerd off as I had to go out. Recently returned & powered back up and allowed it to continue with the installation. Back to 33 minutes I’m afraid. Though the scale flashing lights (bottom right-hand side of window)seems to be working & windows is telling me how wonderful XP is & what it will do, there is no further sign of installation. Even the CD/DVD drive light doesn’t flash!

Can I now have that big hammer please.
In case you don’t know C:/ drive I think is partitioned with E:/ hard drive ( I’ll have to open up the case & check) while F:/ is a SATA RAID drive with it’s Back up hard drive. Three actual physical hard drives in all. So! Sugar Lumps!!

I do have XP Pro Set-up disks & some time ago set-up Recovery consul (Well it always gives me the choice when I start up) should I ever need it. Though I have never used it. Also another thing to bear in mind is that System Restore IS currently turned OFF.

Can it be any worse? That’s probably YES. I await your reply & appreciated expertise. Many thanks, your friend in cloudy Spain,
Paul

[Crustyoldbloke]

Hello Paul

I have 3 hard drives too (no SATA though). One is on a front loading slide which removes in 5 seconds and gets replaced with different drives that I work on. Two drives are partitioned so in all, I have 5 drives according to Windows.

From memory, when XP installs it guides you through the local disks, finds your current Windows and highlights your choices of just where you can install the new OS. You should be choosing the partition where it currently is, and after a few more choices about formatting that partition etc (don't do that please) it starts to download. The default I think is 34 minutes, so clearly something is making it stall.

I have never had a problem like this in the years I have battled with PC's. I am going to suggest a course of action to begin with and see if this helps.

Please unplug the modem so that there is no physical link with the internet. Please disable AVG AV and AS programmes so that they cannot block any processes. If you have a firewall, please also disable it.

Try it again.

If it stalls again, please ensure that you enable all security programmes before reconnecting to the modem.

Can we now try SFC again.

Please run System File Checker, to make sure all of your protected files are not corrupt. The scan will automatically replace any corrupt files that it finds.

Click Start
Select Run
At the prompt type sfc /scannow Please note that there is a single space between sfc and /scannow.

Typing this will start the programme, and a box should appear telling you how much longer the process should take.

Sometimes the scan will prompt you for your Windows XP disc upon starting the scan. if this happens please make sure that you can view protected files:My Computer
Tools
Folder Options
View
"Uncheck" Hide protected operating system files.
Then rerun the scan.

Once the scan is complete:

Check your Windows Updates! After using the File Protection Service, you might need to reapply some updates.

Please reboot, and let me know if anything has changed.

Also, please rehide the protected files:My Computer
Tools
Folder Options
View
"Check" Hide protected operating system files.
Did this repair the search features?

If not, I will check just one more thing for any lurking malware and enlist one of the OS experts.

Download:WinPFind

Right Click the Zip Folder and Select "Extract All"

Don't use it yet!

Reboot into Safe Mode: please see here if you are not sure how to do this.

From the WinPFind folder-> Doubleclick WinPFind.exe and Click "Start Scan"

It will scan the entire System, so please be patient!

Once you see "Scan Complete"-> a log (WinPFind.txt) will be automatically generated in the WinPFind folder.

Restart normally and post the contents of WinPFind.txt

[paulinspain]

[size=7]PS,[/size]
I do have another copy of XP Pro one for eacg PC and they are the Real McCoy. So maybe I could install one over the other copy? I see one or two have done this & then removed the original copy. But & a BIG but would that remove all my programs then or is it a slap on the wrist for even thinking of it?
Paul

[paulinspain]

Sorry,
Did'nt see your reply.
The modem is unplugged anyway to be on the safe side.
I have tried to restart minus the XP disk but it asks me to put it back in offering no other options?
Paul

[Crustyoldbloke]

The big drawback to that way of doing things is that all the other programmes you have on your PC, will have to be installed again. You will also run into problems (not insurmountable) with My Documents. I'd rather we did not look in that direction at the moment.

The guys in the OS forums see these problems frequently, not like me, I do malware. They are much more experienced in OS problems. I just want to be certain that some bit of malware is responsible and still alive on your PC.

[Crustyoldbloke]

Ahh! we crossed in the ether' I've just read you second post. Time for the Cavalry!

Una momento por favor!

[paulinspain]

OK.
After the Windows XP Logo it goes to a windows blue screen and tells me that "the windows installation is not complete. Please insert the disk"
I appreciate your help and your patience in this Phil & I'm really sorry it's taking so much of your time as well.
Is there another way to try and restart windows?
Paul

[paulinspain]

Vale, Vale. ¿Manana por la manana o haora o hoy?
hasta luego

[Crustyoldbloke]

I have requested help from a man with a brain the size of a planet. Let's just wait for his wisdom.

[paulinspain]

Ha Ha, Dont worry I wont tell him you said that.
Paul

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