[greenman19]

Made myself following the manual. Is there anyway I can get an OS onto the external HDD and make it bootable?

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The problem is you still have to depend on the system to load the OS to the external and then the system has to be capable of booting to a external device.

[rshaffer61]

The problem is you still have to depend on the system to load the OS to the external and then the system has to be capable of booting to a external device.

[greenman19]

Any other ideas then?
Comp is knackered now, lol. >.<
Thanks for quick replies again btw.

[rshaffer61]

Other then what I have already suggested you can retry the installation both ways and hopefully it will take.
The purchase of new recovery disk would be the best bet and like I said the manufacturer may not charge you for them.
This would eliminate the bad media possibility.
If it still does it then the issue goes back to hardware and most likely a hard drive or memory causing the issue.

[greenman19]

I finally got through the recovery. Well, almost. It says windows failed to install but I used task manager to close that message and I can use the computer, for now. I don't think the problem is solved, just glad I can use the computer for now. Don't want to risk shutting it off :v.
I will give the warranty people a call tomorrow. Until then, do you have any other ideas?
Thanks.

[rshaffer61]

Run this and see if it will replace or repair anything that may be missing.
Go Start and then to Run ("Start Search" in Vista),
Type in: sfc /scannow
Click OK (Enter in Vista).
Have Windows CD/DVD handy.
If System File Checker (sfc) finds any errors, it may ask you for the CD/DVD.
If sfc does not find any errors in Windows XP, it will simply quit, without any message.
In Vista you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".

For Vista users ONLY: Navigate to C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder. You'll see CBS.log file.
Usually, it's pretty big file, so upload it to Flyupload, and post download link.


If you don't have Windows CD....
This applies mostly to Windows XP, since Vista rarely requires use of its DVD while running "sfc"
Note This method will not necessarily work as well, as when using Windows CD, because not always ALL system files are backed up on your hard drive. Also, backed up files may be corrupted as well.

Go Start and then Run
type in regedit and click OK


Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries Values on the right hand side.

The one we want is called: SourcePath

It probably has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, usually D and that is why it is asking for the XP CD.
All we need to do is change it to: C:
Now, double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up.
Change the drive letter from your CD drive to your root drive, usually C:
Close Registry Editor.

Now restart your computer and try sfc /scannow again!


Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[greenman19]

Scanning now. Just rebooted PC and I had to end audit.exe again to use the comp. Will let you know how scan goes. It has wiped the C drive but didn't install OS fully it seems (Froze during installation again I think)
Good thing I backed up really.

Edited by greenman19, 12 December 2010 - 08:06 AM.

[rshaffer61]

Well it really is confusing because there are not many causes of a freezing or failed installation.

• Corrupt Media
• Faulty optical drive
• Faulty Recovery Partition
• Faulty Memory
• Failing Hard Drive

[greenman19]

http://www.filefront.com/17639835/CBS - Copy.log
SFC closed after a while on it's own.
In regards to the sourcepath regedit thing, should I point it to D which is the windows recovery partition? My Computer shows C:/ (My drive which is now empty, hurray!(maybe) and D:/ (Recovery))

[rshaffer61]

In regards to the sourcepath regedit thing, should I point it to D which is the windows recovery partition?

Can't hurt anything and if need be it can be changed.

My Computer shows C:/ (My drive which is now empty, hurray!(maybe) and D:/ (Recovery))

C drive can't be empty if windows is installed on it.
Is there any improvement with windows now the SFC has been run?

[greenman19]

None. C:/ drive is empty except for windows folder is what I meant to say.

[rshaffer61]

And what about the last question?

Is there any improvement with windows now the SFC has been run?

[greenman19]

Sorry, that's what the none was for at start of reply. :3

[rshaffer61]

So what issues now are you having with Windows?

[greenman19]

When booting it tells me it failed to install and advises me to reinstall (Ye, right..) and when I close the laptop and bring it back up, I go to log back into the user account and it says it's been disabled.