Question about system repair and restore

[adrianse]

For some reason, my system has a hiccup. Out of the blue upon bootup my system tells me that Windows cannot startup due to windows\system32\config\system is missing or corrupt. It suggest that I run the repair utility found on the Win XP setup disk. So I go to and run the repair utility and it doesn't seem to work, it just goes straight to the windows directory immediately. So I figure I'll try system restore by pressing F2 at the beginning of the Win XP setup sequence. This utlility prompts me for a Windows Automated System Recovery Disk and tell me to put it in the floppy drive. Where do I get this???

Advice on either the repair or the recovery issue would be appreciated.

Thanks

adrianse

[lil Jimmie]

The ASR will not do any good if you have not made a ASR disk

To run the repair you will need to skip the initial option of recovery by means of recovery console and go on to the install option.

The setup at this point will load miscellaneous files and look for previous versions installed on your PC. When it finds your previous version choose to repair it. Basically it will reinstall on top of your original setup and retain your files but you will have to reinstall all MS updates and service packs.

[adrianse]

This is what Im trying to communicate jimmie. When I go to the repair utility (hit r) and I choose the only option availble which is 1 and hit enter nothing happens and I get a c:\windows prompt. It should go ahead and repair it as you stated but it doesn't.

Why wouldn't it go ahead and repair it?

[lil Jimmie]

Try this http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

It sounds to me like you are going into the recovery console and not to the repair install. Sorry if I'm wrong on this.

[fftaz336]

Start your computer with the WinXP CD and boot from CD. You are going into recovery console when you press 'R' Instead select "install windows" It will run a check on your system and then ask you if you want to repair or perform a format and new install. Select repair and it will repair all of your system files and leave your settings intact.

[adrianse]

Before I got the help in the posts on this forum I thought to myself "Self, I wonder what would happen if I installed a new copy of Windows XP and instead of writing over c:\windows I will just make a new directory called c:\windows1 . This way I can at least log onto windows and fix the problem in c\windows from there. Well, this lets me log onto windows but now when I follow the advice in the above posts and let the CD boot up, hit enter for a new setup, then hit R, the only directory that pops up that I can select is the c:\windows1. Why doesn't the c:\windows also available? With this new development, here are my new questions:

1.) I don't mind re-formatting and starting fresh but I would like to extract some things from the first installation like e-mail addys, personal docs etc. Is there a program that starts in DOS that will allow me to do this?

2.) Maybe I need to delete the c:\windows1 and then the c:\windows would be availble in the windows setup, I could install the good stuff over the bad stuff and I would be good to go. So if this is what I need to do, what program will allow me to do this? Partition Magic?

I am really frustrated because I just bought a new MB and cannot even enjoy it yet until I get the files I need off the c:\windows. I need some ajor help here.

Thanks

adrianse

[adrianse]

Is it bad form to BUMP this? I really need some help.......

[pam123]

Option 2 looks like your best bet to escape reformatting at this point.
You don't need another program just the XP cd.
As jim and fftaz told you all you ever needed was a repair reinstall of XP.
There is no DOS in XP and partition magic will not get you out of this.
So delete the C1 you created and try to get back to the damaged version of XP.
If you can do the repair install then fine. If not, well, it's always good to reformat when installing a new motherboard.

[adrianse]

Thanks for the info pam123. I tired to delete just the C:\windows1 and could not do it. Now I am wondering if anyone knows of any data extraction programs (free ones) that would let me extract my word docs and e-mail addys.

If you know of one post it here......

[Confused]

What exactly happens if you boot from the CD? If it gives you the option to install, click yes. It should then see a previous copy of XP and give you the optione ot repair on install. Repair should install over existing copy.

Even if you wind up with a second install of XP, it should set up a boot loader and then on boot you can choose the first install.

[adrianse]

Thats what I should have done BUT I cannot accesss the first install now that I have installed the second install. Your right, I do get a choice of what to boot to, but as stated in my first post, the system tells me something is corrupt and missing and suggests running the repair.

So you see chossing the first install only reproduces the error in my original post, it does not allow me access through windows setup. This is why I have decided to try to extract the files that I need and re-format, but first I need a software referral so that I can acomplish this. Preferably free of course.

Thanks though confused.....

[Confused]

Did you finish the second install? If so it will be on a different partition. If you boot the second install, does it see the first install partition? If so, can you open it using explorer? If you can open it, search for .dbx that will be your email. .wab is email address book I think. Anyway if you can boot to the second install and see the first partition you should be able to browse it with explorer and copy what you need.

You might also hook the HD to another PC and see if you can browse it using explorer. (It would have to be a PC that can read NTFS if you set the original up with NTFS. WIN98 cain't read NTFS. So it would need to be a 2000 or another XP system).
Chas

[andyms18a]

can you boot to the windows1 desk top if so you have access to all your files from that open my computer and browse for them if you cant find them thay shod be in c:\documents and settings \ your old name \ my documents \
the second instal may have made a new my documents folder but the old one must be on the drive someware

[adrianse]

I can access the first install by booting to te second install and looking at it from explorer, let me give that a shot....

Thanks

[pam123]

If you can see it you can have an effect on it.

[zincter]

I have a friend who is having the same problem as described in the original post. When I try and go through the boot from cd process, and then try the repair install as described in the followup posts, I'm not seeing the repair option. I stop at a screen that warns me that if I continue (by pressing L), I will delete the contents of the \windows folder. It also gives me the option of choosing another folder (Esc), or quitting the installation altogether (F3). This is where i stopped, as it is not my computer to re-format. Does the repair option come after pressing L to continue? or am I not understanding the instructions? Oh, it's XP home on a Compaq Presario, by the way.

Thanks

[andyms18a]

is it a compaq xp recovery cd or a full microsoft xp cd ?

[zincter]

the compaq recovery cd

[andyms18a]

most recovery cds dont give you a repair option it will just format the drive and return the computer back to the day it was first swiched on you can use any xp home full cd to do a recovery instal as long as you have the cd key for the compaq
to type in

[zincter]

I'll try that, thanks