[Jintan]

That list of boot options is just in your boot.ini file, with that Debug option likely from some past ComboFix run. So not so important.

And so chkdsk /r did run successfully, and the drive was scanned at reboot? I need to know this before we move forward.

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Yes, CHKDSK /R was run and found no problems.

[kirkbu]

Yes, CHKDSK /R was run and found no problems.

[Jintan]

I would suggest you go ahead and run a Repair Install of XP. It will revert the system back to whatever XP version is on your disk, so if the disk is SP1, it will remove any upgrades past that point. So they will need to be reinstalled. This also requires the Windows key info located on the C0A sticker I assume located on the computer's case. If you do not have this, do not do the following:


Load the XP CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the system. On reboot watch for and agree to any prompts to boot from the CD. If the system only reboots to Windows stop and post back here and we will discuss steps to make changes in the BIOS. You may see the Boot menu option as you first start the system. If so, choose this, and select CD-ROM.

After the installation software inspects the system and loads all necessary device drivers you will see the the "Welcome To Setup" screen, with the following menu:

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup 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.

Press "ENTER" to start Windows setup. Although you see the words "repair a Windows XP" you do not want to press "R" (this will only lead to a console command prompt, which won't be helpful for this process).

Again accept any required agreements until you arrive at the display to select which XP installation you want to repair. Make your selection and press "R" to start the repair. Once the repair has completed allow the system to reboot itself, but this time do not agree to any prompts to boot from the CD (just allow Windows to boot up as it would normally do).

This repair will only restore the system files to the Service Pack level of the initial installation, so if any XP Upgrades such as SP3 that were made later on, they will need to be reinstalled at this time.

[kirkbu]

I can not run the Windows Install or Repair.

When I have the Windows XP CD inserted, it installs the necessary drivers and this is where the blue screen pops up stating that windows has been shut down to protect my system. I have done all of those recommendations and this message continues to pop up.

There is an option to use the "Automated System Recovery" by pressing F2 during the loading of the CD but this is when I get the message about installing the floppy disk mentioned earlier.

[Jintan]

Dell. I forget, but you'll have to enable or disable AHCI mode in the BIOS. Boot to the BIOS (and startup, press F2). I'll have to check further cause I am rusty on this, but there is some setting there to change AHCI mode. Without the change, you'll get a blue screen when trying to run a Repair Install. I will have to check on it further, but you can also check there in the meantime.

[Jintan]

These are some examples:

http://imageshack.us...n0114i.jpg/sr=1

http://img139.images...36/biosahci.png

http://img684.images...36/dscf5925.png

[kirkbu]

Found that option under SATA Operation--it was set to IRRT so I set it to AHCI. When I ran install it gave me the blue screen. So I went back to BIOS and set that option to Disabled. It gave me an error saying no bootable devices were found. When I pressed a key it ran a "Pre-boot System Assessment " which ran what appears to be a diagnostic. Although it would have allowed me to abort by pressing ESC I will let it run and then try to boot again to the WinXP CD to attempt the repair.

I will post results for the diagnositc and ability to repair or not.

[kirkbu]

Back to the original installation.

For your reference, the Diagnostic tool found no problems so I rebooted and tried to boot from the WinXP CD. However it installed the drivers and then showed the blue screen again. I went back to BIOS. I set the SATA Operation to ATA, rebooted and booted from the CD at which point it was able to go to Windows Setup where I was able follow the previously posted directions.

Upon rebooting (not from the CD) it gives me a blue screen with the similar errors previously discussed. However, the last line is different. It reads,

"kdcom.dll - Addfess F7898160 base at F7897000, DateStamp 4f8f0f42.

Went back to BIOS and set the SATA Operation to IRRT and rebooted. It ran through the normal process, I ignored the option to boot from CD so it ran the Windows XP Setup. Upon completing and rebooting I am not able to connect to the internet to obtain the updates. I have a connection to my WAP but IE can not open the page. Connections are set to automatically detect settings as is the computer I am using to send this. Because I can not connect I can not verify Windows nor connect to obtain updates.

[Jintan]

You'll have to download and transfer the next tool, if you have the means.

Go HERE and download CAT – Crisis Aversion Tool, then click that cat.exe to run the tool.

When CAT opens, click the left-side Fixes tab. Place a check next to:

Flush DNS Resolver Cache
Reset All Networking Interfaces
Reset Default Services Start States

Then click Apply Checked Fixes, and agree to start the installer service. When it completes it's changes, click the upper left X and agree to close CAT. It will also open a log file - just close that for now.

A Caution - Please refrain from the temptation to effect other changes with CAT.

Note - If you use iTunes, you will need to reinstall Bonjour, as the changes will have altered it's setting.

Then reboot, and check for Internet access.

-----------

Failing that, right click Computer, left click Manage, click Device Manager. Click Network adapters, right click on the network adapter you are having trouble with, then click Uninstall. Do no agree to delete the files, if asked.

Reboot and try Internet access again. Windows wil locate and reinstall the network adapter during the reboot.

[kirkbu]

I started the Repair last night. When I returned this morning it appears to have performed a fresh install of WinXP...

I no longer have access to SD Card to transfer CAT and can not access the 'net.

[kirkbu]

I used a USB Drive to run CAT. Upon rebooting I was still not able to connect to the internet.

I tried uninstalling the Network Adapter and rebooted. It detected and installed the driver as expected. When opening Windows Update or IE it says "Detecting Proxy Settings for about 30 seconds and then says Cannot find server.

[Jintan]

I started the Repair last night. When I returned this morning it appears to have performed a fresh install of WinXP...

If you did the steps as posted, it just did a repair. Your personal folders etc. are intact, yes?

We can solve Update problems, but do you have just basic Internet access?

Connect to the Internet. Go to Start > Run and type:

cmd.exe

and OK. At the prompt type or copy/paste the following, pressing Enter after:

ping www.google.com

Do you get a ping response - 4 hits?

[kirkbu]

My user accounts that were previously there are all gone. The Program files, etcl. are all present but it was as if I had just upgraded to WinXP when I woke up. I have run all of the Windows Updates and everything appears to be working again. Not the best way to get it working but it seems to be okay.

At this point I have things running so I assume it's safe to install AVG again and proceed. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you for the help and time!!

[Jintan]

A Repair Install is literally upgrading Windows XP to Windows XP. You may have checked on some option to save files, or create a new user account. If so, your personal files will have been saved to a different folder (I am rusty on all this). Under Windows1 or 0 or something like that. Take a look before you add AVG and we start closing out here.

[kirkbu]

I set up the same user name so the previous files are all in place in the appropriate location. It looks like everything is in place.