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Windows XP problem - sometimes doesn't start


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#16
rshaffer61

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Possibly could be a infection but lets try one more thing before I say for sure.


Repair Installation Instructions

· Insert your Windows XP CD in your CD-ROM and then Restart your computer.
· At the first post screen start tapping the Del key to enter System Bios
· Find the Advance Options or Boot Sequence screen.
· You will need to change the boot sequence so that the CDrom is first and the HD is second.
· Press F10 to Save and Exit and then press Enter to accept.
· The system will now reboot
· When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
· When you see the following message displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER
· To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
· At this point an option to press R to enter the Recovery Console is displayed. DO NOT SELECT THIS OPTION.

· On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
· Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected and highlighted in the box, and then press the R key to repair Windows XP.
· Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.

You can also go HERE
to read a step by step tutorial with screenshots.
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#17
dreday2

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Thanks for the swift reply.

I don't have an XP CD.
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#18
rshaffer61

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You will have to borrow one but it has to be the same type you have installed... Home, Media or Pro
If you have your Windows XP disk
  • Insert your Windows XP disk into your computer and reboot
  • Make sure the PC is set to run from the CD as the primary boot device.
    NOTE: You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 or del key during memory count up, then search for boot order, and set the CD as the first boot device)
  • When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD...after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in to the operating system to be repaired type the number corresponding to that operating system (usually 1).
    NOTE: For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit ENTER. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.
When you see the Recovery console C:\WINDOWS prompt continue to Section 3 ("System Restore")

If you DO NOT have your Windows XP disk

  • Please create a new folder on your hard drive called RecoveryDisk
  • Download recovery_console_cd.zip and unzip it to the newly created RecoveryDisk folder.
  • Download the correct floppy disk setup package for your operating system from Microsoft and save it to the RecoveryDisk folder;
    XP Home Original: Here
    XP Pro Original: Here
    XP Home SP1: Here
    XP Pro SP1: Here
    XP Home SP2: Here
    XP Pro SP2: Here
  • Rename the downloaded file to Bootdisk.exe
  • Double click the RecoveryCD.bat file and follow the instructions.
  • When you get asked if you want to burn a CD, type y and hit enter.
  • A pop-up should come up, please click on Close
This just created a file called XPRC.ISO which is located in the Recovery Disk folder.

Then please download MagicISO and install it.

Start MagicISO. You should see a window informing you about the full version of MagicISO.
In the bottom right select Try It! and the program will open.

Next, we'll need to burn the newly created image to a disk that we can use to fix the problem.
  • Put a blank CD-R disk in your CD burner and close the tray. If an AutoPlay window opens, close it.
  • Click on Tools and select Burn CD/DVD with ISO.... A window will appear.
  • Click on the little folder to the right of CD/DVD Image File then navigate to the newly created XPRC.ISO Image file and click Open.
  • In the CD/DVD Writing Speed drop-down menu choose the 8X setting.
  • Under Format make sure that Mode 1 is selected.
  • And finally, click on the Burn it! button to burn XPRC.ISO to disk.
Once the disk is burned, put it in the machine you want to fix and restart it.
Boot to the CD just as you would with a Windows XP disk.At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to enter the Recovery Console.
Choose the installation to be repaired by number (usually 1) and press Enter.
When you are asked for the Administrator password, enter the password or leave it blank (default) and press Enter.

Section 3: System Restore

  • When you get to the recovery console prompt, type

    CD \

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    cd system~1\_resto~1

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    dir

  • Press Enter
After you press enter you will see a list of folders (like rp1, rp2) If the list of restore points has more than one page then press the Enter key untill you reach the end of the list
  • Type

    cd rp {number of the second to last folder in the list}

    Note: Example: cd rp9, if rp9 is the second to the last restore point where the last restore point no. is 10
  • Press Enter
  • Type

    cd snapshot

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    Exit

  • Press Enter
Your PC will reboot.

If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following at the recovery console:

  • Type

    CD \

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    cd windows\system32\config

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    ren system system.bak

  • Press Enter
  • Type

    Exit

  • Press Enter
Your PC will reboot, go back into the Recovery Console and start from the beginning

If you still cannot get access in anyway to your installation in the recovery console then your SAM database files are corrupt. There is no way you can restore these with the recovery console. You may need to do a fresh install
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#19
dreday2

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Thanks for the information.

I can't get access to a CD off anyone so can I just follow the instructions in the second part of your workthrough? (If you DO NOT have your Windows XP disk) ?

I'm currently using another laptop to type this as I can't get the other one to load at all now.

By using the self-made CD will I lose any of the documents / pictures/ outlook emails etc on the laptop?

Thanks for your help so far - really appreciate it.
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#20
rshaffer61

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Nope the point to this is to try and restore the system back to before the issue started so you can then have the system working again.
The restore will not erase any data if you follow the instructions exactly.
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#21
dreday2

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Hi again,

I did as you said and put the CD into the laptop.

When it gets to the Welcome to Setup screen it doesn't allow me to press R=Repair.

When I press it nothing happens.

The other options are ENTER = Continue or F3 = Quit

I tried pressing F3 to quit but that didn't work either.

I haven't pressed ENTER = continue just in case that erases anything.

What should I do next?

Thanks in advance,
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#22
rshaffer61

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Is it a blue screen that says continue?
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#23
dreday2

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yes there are 3 options:

it says:

Welcome to setup

This portion of the setup programme prepares microsoft windows xp to run on your computer.


To set up windows xp now, press ENTER

To repair a windows xp installation using recovery console, press R

To quit setup without installing windows xp, press F3


The 'R' and 'F3' don't work.

Should I press ENTER? Will that install xp and wipe all my data?
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#24
dreday2

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In fact I just pressed ENTER and nothing happened.

So basically neither the 'R' or the 'ENTER' nor the 'F3' keys do anything.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
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#25
rshaffer61

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You want the R for the recovery console and then follow the steps i posted from there.
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#26
dreday2

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Thanks for the reply.

Pressing R doesn't let me do anything - nothing happens.

????
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#27
rshaffer61

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It doesn't go to a black screen with a DOS prompt or ask you what installation you want to repair?
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#28
dreday2

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nope :)
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#29
rshaffer61

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You don't get a black dos prompt screen?
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#30
dreday2

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no neither.

its as though my keyboard keys dont work?
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