[retroman]

Dear All

I have a similar problem to that outlined in the following thread:

http://www.geekstogo...ing-or-corrupt/

I got as far as step 3 in Broni's very helpful guide but when I get to the Recovery Console screen it says:


Microst Windows XP™ Recovery Console.

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.

Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

The only other thing which appears is C:\>

Can Broni or someone else guide me as to what to do next

Also, I'm very worried that I will lose access to my files ( excel documents, pictures etc) - can someone reasssure me that I will be able to retrieve these?

thanking you in anticipation of someone being able to help
Worried of Sale

Edited by retroman, 12 January 2012 - 05:21 PM.

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Have a look at my thread a useful option by Macboatmaster will allow you to run a program under windows to access your hard drive, backup all important documents prior to messing around.

My Thread

However I believe you are seeing what you should, continue following the guide or type 'help' this will give you a list of available commands. You are looking to use 'bootcfg' this will check for errors in the boot.ini if problems are returned use 'bootcfg /rebuild' which will rebuild the boot files.

While you are there you can have a look at the command 'chkdsk' which will check your hard drive is ok and has no errors.

Hope this helps :-)

[Owen Davies]

Have a look at my thread a useful option by Macboatmaster will allow you to run a program under windows to access your hard drive, backup all important documents prior to messing around.

My Thread

However I believe you are seeing what you should, continue following the guide or type 'help' this will give you a list of available commands. You are looking to use 'bootcfg' this will check for errors in the boot.ini if problems are returned use 'bootcfg /rebuild' which will rebuild the boot files.

While you are there you can have a look at the command 'chkdsk' which will check your hard drive is ok and has no errors.

Hope this helps :-)

[rshaffer61]

If you are worried about losing files I would suggest backing them up first using a Linux Live cd to gain access to the hard drive.

Use Puppy Linux Live CD to Recover Your Data:

===================
***Required Hardware***
CD Burner (CDRW) Drive,
Blank CD,
Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)
===================

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

• Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-520.iso)
  Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software
  
  
• Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer
• Extract All files to a location you can remember
• Double Click BurnCDCC
• Click Browse and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded
• Open/Double Click that file
  IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x
• Click Start
• Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically
• Insert a blank CD and close the tray
• Click OK

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created
2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second

• Start the computer/press the power button
• Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup"
  (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen)
• Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to:
  CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd
• Open your ROM drive and insert the disk
• Press F10 to save and exit
• Agree with "Y" to continue
• Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD
  
  

3. Recover Your Data

• Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM). You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer". Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning. Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy. To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once. Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to. This is normal. Ready? Let's get started.
  
  3a. Mount Drives
• Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop.
• A Window will open. By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted. Click on Mount for your hard drive.
• Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount.
• USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted.
• If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab. Mount it now.

3b. Transfer Files.

• At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon.
• Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1
• Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1
• If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows)
• From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window.

For The Novice: The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each idividual name of each user. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos.

Remember to only click once! No double clicking! Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy. Choose COPY each time you drag and drop.

YOU ARE DONE!!! Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer. Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations!





If you're doing this to recovery from a virus or malware infection, (or even if you're not), DO NOT copy executable files (.exe, .scr. etc...) if any of these files are infected you could be copying the corruption over to any new device/computer. just copy documents, pictures, music, or videos.

[retroman]

Thanks for this both of you ,I'll try the backup at the weekend. Re you believing that I'm seeing what I should, shouldn't it say 1.C:\WINDOWS rather than just C:\> .
Where he refers for example to commands CD..
ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini
is he saying that you would literally type in C:\WINDOWS>CD..ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini

As you can probably tell I'm something of a novice!

thanks :-)

Edited by retroman, 12 January 2012 - 06:27 PM.

[Owen Davies]

Where he refers for example to commands CD..
ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini
is he saying that you would literally type in C:\WINDOWS>CD..ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini

We all start somewhere!

No ever line in the guide is where you press enter:

CD.. <enter>
ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini <enter>
Etc...

[retroman]

Yes but when I put CD.. and then entered , it simply said The command is not recognised!

I must be missing something.
Anyway signing off for tonight . So grateful for your help so far.

Edited by retroman, 12 January 2012 - 06:40 PM.

[Owen Davies]

Sorry I see what u mean try dropping the dots and just putting CD <enter>

[Macboatmaster]

retroman

Does this assist you.

You are at the prompt

C:\Windows>

In order to execute the cmds in the article you refer to you need to work on just a C:\> prompt

You therefore type the cmds pressing enter after each line as indicated on the article you refer to in post one.
CD means Change Directory
So you are at the Windows prompt
to get to the C:\ > prompt
you type
as shown on my screenshot and YES it does include the CD and the two ..
the .. mean go back one directory.

[attachment=55310:Untitled.jpg]

CD on its own will NOT work.

If the CD.. does not work then try CD /

[retroman]

Hi Macboatmaster
I don't get the prompt C:\Windows> ( should I ?)

I just get C:\>

so my question ( as an ignoremus)is do I actually need to go back one directory at all?
Please bear with me, when it comes to this level of computing, you are best assuming that I am a half-wit.
kind regards
retroman

[Macboatmaster]

Go back to the guide on your opening post - when you are at the screen of the image shown below and have selected the windows installation - you will more than likely only have the one - you should then be at the prompt show on the image.
The CD.. means as I said go back, one directory
You then type the commands to rebuild the boot configuration of the file boot.ini.
ARE YOU saying that the CD does not at sometime in the porcess find a windows installation..
IF HOWEVER you are saying that it has and after typing CD.. or CD/ you are now at a C only prompt that is whaere you should be

I HAVE REPRODUCED the relevant image and part of the guide HERE for you
3. After you have selected the appropriate option from step two, you will be prompted to select a valid Windows installation (typically number "1″).
Select the installation number, and hit Enter.
If there is an administrator password for the administrator account, enter it and hit Enter (if asked for the password, and you don't know it, you're out of luck).
You will be greeted with this screen, which indicates a recovery console at the ready:



4. There are eight commands you must enter in sequence to repair your problem..
I will introduce them here, and then show the results graphically in the next six steps.
NOTE. Make sure, you press Enter after each command. Make sure, all commands are exact, including "spaces".
These commands are as follows:

CD..
ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini
ATTRIB -S C:\\boot.ini
ATRIB -R C:\\boot.ini
del boot.ini
BOOTCFG /Rebuild

[retroman]

Hi Macboatmaster

What I am saying is that when I get to the screen you refer to I simply get:
C:\>
If for example I type in WINDOWS so that it then says
C:\>WINDOWS it says The Command is not recognised

so I guess i am saying at some point in the process it appears it is not finding a window installation.
So do I proceed with the other commands ( other than the CD one) or is the fact that it is not finding WINDOWS means that i have a more serious problem.

thanks
retroman

[Macboatmaster]

Well if you are at the C prompt you cannot type windows as that is not a command.

Type cd windows.
then are you at the windows prompt
if so type dir

Do you now get a list of directories etc

If so go back to C and try the commands there is nothing to lose.

[retroman]

If you are worried about losing files I would suggest backing them up first using a Linux Live cd to gain access to the hard drive.

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second
[list][list]
[*]Start the computer/press the power button
[*]Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup"
(Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen)
[*]Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to:
CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd
[*]Open your ROM drive and insert the disk
[*]Press F10 to save and exit
[*]Agree with "Y" to continue
[*]Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD

I am having problems with this process as well. As soon as I insert the disc I get a message saying "strike F1 to retry reboot". In fact, I get this with every disc other than the Dell Reinstallation CD Windows XP disc. Any ideas anyone?

[retroman]

Well if you are at the C prompt you cannot type windows as that is not a command.

Type cd windows.
then are you at the windows prompt

If I type C:\>CD WINDOWS it says The path of file specified is not valid

I think I'm at the stage where I need to take it to a computer shop. My other post above refers. Thanks to you all for your help.

Edited by retroman, 19 January 2012 - 01:17 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

1. Have you made the Puppy CD
It is an ISO file so you have to make it using the special program that is on the details my colleague rshaffer61 sent you.

If you simply burn the ISO image it will not work.

2. Type dir at the C prompt - what is the result pls