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How to repair Windows XP/2000 if you are unable to boot into Windows

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  #361  
Old 08-15-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Aug 2007, 19 posts
I had to repair install, xp with my recovery disc just as well described here after being infected by a mal. exe. I knew that I would lose all of my OS updates, but now windows update doesn't want to work at all anymore, Im stuck with the standard (unupdated) version. Although I get notified that there are updates available, it is only "Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1", after thinking it is installed, It always gives the message that the update can't be installed. Ive also tried to manually download and install IE7 but that also doesn't want to work (same with MP11).
I also end up at the same spot when I use windows update from the browser.
Could someone help me out, with this one? Thx
Ask me if you need more details.
  #362  
Old 08-24-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Aug 2007, 1 posts
ummm... not sure if this has been mentioned befor(19 pages is little much....)but my windows scred up becasue i held the on button on my Pc while it was installing an update(i know alil noobish) any ways when i try booting from disk it says "Seup is now inspecting your systems configuration" for justa hundredth of a second then it goes blasck and hags so i cant do anything witha a keyboard ands its entirely balnc. Dammit now i cant even reformat

P.S plz reply bak to me fas t i cant do annnything
___
d--b

Last edited by Tv.boy; 08-24-2007 at 03:51 AM..
  #363  
Old 09-03-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2007, 2 posts
Just as SornyPanafonic, I also recently upgraded from an ASRock mobo, 2.4 Celeron with 1G DDR, to a GeForce 6100/64 bit Dual Core Athlon with 2G DDR2. I conducted a repair vice a new O/S install and only get as far as the Win XP Home Edition logo screen before I get a blue screen with the following stop code:

***STOP: 0x0000007E (0x0000005, 0xBA248750, 0xBA4C3450, 0xBA4C3150).

Everything was working fine prior to the upgrade. Please, if there is anyone that can assist me in getting my system back up and running, I would greatly appreciate it.
  #364  
Old 09-12-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2007, 2 posts
Rick (or anyone else for that matter):

I'll start from the beginning. The other day, the power went out several times in the span of maybe 45 minutes. After the first power loss, I turned my computer back on, thinking nothing of it...when the power went out a second time. I thought that was strange, but I turned it back on shortly after the second outage, and it had barely finished loading my desktop when the power went out again. I gave up trying to turn the computer on for a while after that, and just let it be. However, when I went back to turn it on, I got the familiar symptoms: "Windows couldn't be activated," a list of choices like, "Start Windows in Safe Mode," "Start Windows Normally," etc. and none of them worked. So I found this thread, and followed Rick's instructions until I came to a screen that showed this:

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartioned space on this computer

To set up Windows XP on the selected item press ENTER

To create a partition in the unpartioned space press C

To delete the selected partition press D

and when I selected C: Partition2 (Unknown) 76254MB
it told me that "The partition is either too full, damaged, not formatted, or formatted with an incompatible file system. To continue installing Windows, Setup must format this partition". So what do I do next? There is an option to "Format the partition using the NTFS file system"...not sure what that means. I'm just trying to figure out how to get my files back without having to take my computer in and pay a few hundred bucks.

Any help is appreciated (and sorry for the length, but I figured the more details, the easier it would be to help).
  #365  
Old 09-12-2007
N3051M's Avatar
TechSpot Guru
 
Location: Sydney, Australia
Member since: Jan 2006, 2,799 posts
System specs
Quote:
"Format the partition using the NTFS file system"
Do NOT use this if you wish to see your files again. You can at this point, if your files are that important try and use the hdd on another pc to transfer the contents off it just in case, otherwise, try the below:

Load up the bood cd again, instead of going through the installer, hit "R" to get to Recovery Console. Perform these commands in bold (just type in that command when it comes up with C:\>)

CHKDSK /f - this will check the HDD of any errors present and attempt to fix it
sfc /scannow - this will check your windows system files to see if they are ok. You will need the Windows XP cd to perform this step (which you've booted from.. so don't worry).

sfc /scannow might be able to fix up your problem without the need of the repair, so try to boot back into windows again to see if it worked or not. If it still doesn't, then go ahead and try the repair.
  #366  
Old 09-12-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2007, 2 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by N3051M

CHKDSK /f - this will check the HDD of any errors present and attempt to fix it
sfc /scannow - this will check your windows system files to see if they are ok. You will need the Windows XP cd to perform this step (which you've booted from.. so don't worry).

sfc /scannow might be able to fix up your problem without the need of the repair, so try to boot back into windows again to see if it worked or not. If it still doesn't, then go ahead and try the repair.
I did the CHKDSK command, and it found one or more errors on the volume. sfc /scannow was not a recognized command (did I do it wrong?) And should I run Automated System Recovery when the Windows Setup is starting? (it says press F2 to run ASR when I press any key to boot from the disc)

Nevermind, the CHKDSK got me back into my computer. Thanks a million, you saved me big time!!

Last edited by howard_hopkinso; 09-12-2007 at 04:56 AM..
  #367  
Old 09-19-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2007, 1 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
[COLOR=Navy]HOW TO PERFORM AN 'IN PLACE UPGRADE' / SYSTEM REPAIR[/COLOR]

Is your system unable to boot into Windows XP/2000 or even Safe Mode? Whether you get a blue screen or XP/2000 just hangs, then this information is for you. This will allow you to repair your Windows XP/2000 installation (hopefully) without having to losing your data or settings.

Indications:
  • May allow Windows to load properly if there are critical driver, software or registry problems which have rendered the system unbootable. (Blue screens, hanging, errors etc..)
  • May repair/reinstall missing Windows components or solve otherwise quirky behavior
  • May allow drive to be installed on another system or motherboard with different chipset
  • May allow you to install new motherboards or make other large hardware changes that XP may not readily accept with PnP.

Note: The system repair function will remove any updates you have previously installed that are not included on the CD. Drivers will also be reverted to their original XP versions, as well as some settings (Including by not limited to network & performance settings). It may be necessary to reactivate your Windows XP as well.

Step 1: Determine the problem
  • First, figure out what CAUSED the problem. Often times, when Windows is rendered unbootable, there is a good reason. This can often be due to hardware failure (bad hard disk, memory or CPU for example). In these cases, the system repair function will not work. System repair will only repair your software.

    I strongly recommend you run a disk utility on your hard drive before performing a system repair. You can find more information about disk utilities here:
    http://www.techspot.com/vb/showthrea...&threadid=7602

    Memory can also cause these problems. A good memory test can be found here: http://www.memtest.org

Step 2: Begin the repair process
  • You must boot from your XP or 2000 CD. Please make sure it is the same version of Windows that is currently installed on your computer (ex. XP Home cannot repair XP Professional). Place the CD in your CDROM and start your computer. Newer versions will work as well (ie. Windows XP Pro SP2 CD will work on an older WinXP Pro SP1 installation)

    Before the Windows logo appears, you will be asked to press any key to boot from CD, so do just that.

    If you are unable to boot from the XP/2000 CD, then please check the last step in this short guide.

Step 3: System repair steps
  • A blue screen will appear and will begin loading XP setup from the CD.

    RAID/SCSI/Unsupported UDMA users:
    You will be prompted to "press F6 to install any third party SCSI or RAID drivers". Most users will not have to press F6, but if you are running RAID, SCSI or unsupported ATA controllers, then you need your controller drivers on a floppy disk. If you are unsure whether you have RAID/SCSI, then simply let the CD load without pressing F6.

    Once completed, you will be confronted with "Windows Setup". You will be asked to setup up Windows, or repair Windows with the recovery console. Choose the FIRST option, NOT recovery console.




Choose F8 to continue.


  • Next, Windows Setup will find existing Windows XP/2000 installations. You will be asked to repair an existing XP installation or install a fresh copy of Windows XP/2000.

    If no installations are found, then you will not be given the option to repair. This may happen if the data or partition on your drive is too corrupted.



  • That should be it. Windows XP/2000 will appear to be installing itself for the first time, but it will retain all of your data and settings. Just follow the prompts, have your CD-KEY handy and hope for the best!
Hi I googled this forum as I am having problems with my computer not starting up after we had a power surge. Is the information in this thread what I should follow? as I am really scared of stuffing it up and deleting or losing all my photos and stuff on the computer. The computer doesn't get any further than the first screen and just sounds like its working it's a... off trying to boot up....but nothing!

Please someone help (not too technically savvy so please no fancy tech talk)

tamsicle
  #368  
Old 09-20-2007
zipperman's Avatar
TechSpot Maniac
 
Location: Mississauga,ONT.
Member since: Dec 2006, 1,423 posts
System specs
First repair

It's very possible you might need a new Power Supply.
Would you like an outline of what to do if you have a Power Surge.
1.Use a Quality Power Surge Power Bar if you hadn't been.
Mine has $ 10.000 insurance.
Home insurance might cover this if the computer is destroyed.
More if you ask.
  #369  
Old 09-28-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2007, 1 posts
Trying to re-install windows xp

Hello,

I was trying to re-install windows xp just following the instructions here. The problem is after windows installer uploads file to the computer, the computer crashes (blue screen) it says isapnp.sys. Thanks for any help.
  #370  
Old 09-30-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2007, 3 posts
Hey newcomer Will here,
I have a /windows/system32/config/system problem and i have read previous articles about going into setup but there is not welcome setup screen it goes from first screen to the second where it says to boot from cd (the origional xp cd) press any key and i do but there is no response, and then i go to the window on the config problem....help....and thanks

Will
  #371  
Old 10-07-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Oct 2007, 1 posts
windows won't boot and when i follow the directions to repair windows through the setup it says that it is an unrecognisable partition and asks to format the partition in order to install xp i ran chkdsk and it got to 25% before it stopped and said their were unrecoverable errors on the disk.

can anyone help me?
  #372  
Old 10-07-2007
zipperman's Avatar
TechSpot Maniac
 
Location: Mississauga,ONT.
Member since: Dec 2006, 1,423 posts
System specs
What i just done

I was going to try repair,but decided to Format and reinstall XP.
If you can save all your personal files and things like Favorites to another partition or disk,judgeing by chdsk results that seems best.
I'm not sorry i did as my computer performs much better.
But i also updated Mbd and cpu in a new case.
If you decide to and want to save OExpress email it's very easy.
  #373  
Old 10-18-2007
Banned
 
Member since: Aug 2004, 25,945 posts
Computer questions/problems are not supposed to be posted in this forum.

If you have any questions pertaining to any of the topics in this forum, open a new thread in the appropriate forum and ask. I.E for this topic, questions should probably be posted in our Windows OS forum.

Thread closed.

Regards Howard
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