[Javahead]

Windows XP is becoming increasingly unstable. At boot up I receive a black screen with the following message (Winlogon.exe-Bad Image. The application or DLL F:\windows\system32\sfc_os.dll is not a valid windows image. Please check this against your installation disk). The system quit recognizing my printer and now will no let me reinstall drivers/software and provides the following message (Windows could not load the installer for volume. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance). Lastly, ESET NOD 32 Antivirus seems to turn off trying to update a couple of time a day and requires me to reboot several times before it sorts itself out (message regarding initialization and update problems; not sure if this is related to the above problems). I am still able to boot up and surf the net, but don't have any print functions and feel like it is only going to get worse. Any help would be greatly appreciated. System WinXP Home, SP3, ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Online Armor Firewall.

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you will need to run sfc /scannow...
if you don't have a xp cd you will have to borrow one from a friend or coworker...
it has to be the same flavor of xp you have installed...IE: if you have xp pro...the one you borrow has to be xp pro


To do this click on start...run...then type in...sfc /scannow
NOTE the single space before the /

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem.

for vista...
go to the run box and type in cmd
instead of hitting the Enter key press Ctrl+Shift + Enter You will be prompted with the obnoxious User Account Control dialog… but it will then open up a command prompt in Administrator mode...then type in sfc /scannow

NOTE THE SINGLE SPACE BEFORE THE /

or

If you don't have Windows CD...

click on Start... then Run
type in regedit and press enter

Navigate to the following key...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

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

you want ... SourcePath

It has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, usually D and that is why it is asking for the XP CD.
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 reboot your computer and try sfc /scannow again...

[happyrock]

you will need to run sfc /scannow...
if you don't have a xp cd you will have to borrow one from a friend or coworker...
it has to be the same flavor of xp you have installed...IE: if you have xp pro...the one you borrow has to be xp pro


To do this click on start...run...then type in...sfc /scannow
NOTE the single space before the /

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem.

for vista...
go to the run box and type in cmd
instead of hitting the Enter key press Ctrl+Shift + Enter You will be prompted with the obnoxious User Account Control dialog… but it will then open up a command prompt in Administrator mode...then type in sfc /scannow

NOTE THE SINGLE SPACE BEFORE THE /

or

If you don't have Windows CD...

click on Start... then Run
type in regedit and press enter

Navigate to the following key...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

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

you want ... SourcePath

It has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, usually D and that is why it is asking for the XP CD.
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 reboot your computer and try sfc /scannow again...

[Javahead]

I have an XP Disk with Service Pack 2. I tried to start the scan via start, run and got the same message: The application or DLL F:\windows\system32\sfc_os.dll is not a valid windows image.

[happyrock]

is your cd a retail cd or a burned copy
if you don't have a xp cd you will have to borrow one from a friend or coworker...
it has to be the same flavor of xp you have installed...IE: if you have xp pro...the one you borrow has to be xp pro

[Javahead]

It is direct from MS and yes it is the same (XP Home Edition).

[happyrock]

what happens if you try running it in safe mode with the cd in the cd drive
nojoy
can you borrow someones copy to try

[Javahead]

I restarted the computer with a brand new XP Service Pack 2 Home Edition disk in the cd drive into safe mode. I received the same message as listed in the initial post. That is followed by the second message "Windows could not load the installer for volume..." it then shows me the install wizard being that it picks up on the printer being connected and attempts to install the software/drivers but ultimately fails.

[Javahead]

I restarted the computer with a brand new XP Service Pack 2 Home Edition disk in the cd drive into safe mode. I received the same message as listed in the initial post. That is followed by the second message "Windows could not load the installer for volume..." it then shows me the install wizard being that it picks up on the printer being connected and attempts to install the software/drivers but ultimately fails.

[happyrock]

disconnect everything except the keyboard monitor and mouse and try again

[Javahead]

Tried it with everything unplugged and got the same results.

[happyrock]

in the bios, set the computer to boot from the cd drive first then the hard drive...put in the xp cd and boot boot up...follow the repair guide

[Javahead]

Can you explain the steps that will allow me to set the BIOS to boot from CD?

[happyrock]

what is the make and model of your computer...
sometimes as soon as you start booting on the screen it will say press some key like F1 for settings...then you have to use the arrow keys to move to the boot option...make your cd drive first then the hard drive...then you have to save the settings ...usually F10 but read the screen to be sure
here are some listings...
Bios Manufacturer Key Command(s)

ALR Advanced Logic Research, Inc. ® PC / PCI F2

ALR PC non / PCI CTRL+ALT+ESC

AMD® (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) BIOS F1

AMI (American Megatrends, Inc.) BIOS DEL

Award™ BIOS CTRL+ALT+ESC
Award BIOS DEL

DTK® (Datatech Enterprises Co.) BIOS ESC
Phoenix™ BIOS CTRL+ALT+ESC
Phoenix BIOS CTRL+ALT+S
Phoenix BIOS CTRL+ALT+INS

Computer Key Command(s)

Acer® F1, F2, CTRL+ALT+ESC
AST® CTRL+ALT+ESC, CTRL+ALT+DEL

Compaq® 8700 F10
CompUSA® DEL
Cybermax® ESC

Dell® 400 F3
Dell 400 F1
Dell Dimension® F2 or DEL
Dell Inspiron® F2
Dell Latitude Fn+F1 (while booted)
Dell Latitude F2 (on boot)
Dell Optiplex DEL
Dell Optiplex F2
Dell Precision™ F2

eMachine™ DEL

Gateway® 2000 1440 F1
Gateway 2000 Solo™ F2

HP® (Hewlett-Packard) F1, F2

IBM® F1
IBM E-pro Laptop F2
IBM PS/2® CTRL+ALT+INS after CTRL+ALT+DEL
IBM Thinkpad® (newer) Windows: Programs-Thinkpad CFG.

Intel® Tangent DEL
Micron™ F1, F2, or DEL
Packard Bell® F1, F2, Del

Sony® VIAO F2
Sony VIAO F3

Tiger DEL

Toshiba® 335 CDS ESC
Toshiba Protege ESC
Toshiba Satellite 205 CDS F1
Toshiba Tecra....... F1 or ESC

[Javahead]

My computer is a Dell, and it did show me that F2 would access Bios. Boot order was already listing as number one (onboard, DVD, CD).

[happyrock]

if it still won't run its either a scratched cd or the cd drive itself is failing...