Please help, I am a newbie

[fleamailman]

There, I will admit anything to get your attention then.

Fact is I a have this canned which I understand and yet in the middle of the instruction is 'akka' which I think is a type set miss, is it?

I am going to rewrite this later my way but any opinions and suggestions welcome, here is the original:

Quote
------------------------

Do you have your windows XP CD? If you do, I want you to put it in and turn on your computer. When you are given the message press any key to boot from cd..., press a key and Windows Setup will start. At the first screen where you have to enter input, hit R to enter the Recovery Console. Then you will have to hit 1 to log into your windows installation and then just hit Enter for the Administrator password because it is normally blank unless you changed it. Once you are at the command prompt C:\WINDOWS I want you to type chkdsk /p /r. This will run a VERY THOROUGH check of both your hard drive and also your windows installation files and replace any that are missing/corrupt.

Once the check is complete, I want you to also do the following:

Do you have your windows XP CD? If you do, I want you to put it in and turn on your computer. When you are given the message press any key to boot from cd..., press a key and Windows Setup will start. At the first screen where you have to enter input, hit R to enter the Recovery Console. Then you will have to hit 1 to log into your windows installation and then just hit Enter for the Administrator password because it is normally blank unless you changed it. Once you are at the command prompt C:\WINDOWS I want you to type each of the following, hitting enter after each line:
attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini (NOTE: If it says bad command or filename, then you will have to enter each line individually, aka type: attrib -s c:\boot.ini and hit ENTER and then type attrib -h c:\boot.ini and hit ENTER and type attrib -r c:\boot.ini and hit ENTER)
del c:\boot.ini
bootcfg /rebuild
fixboot
Now type Exit and take your XP CD out. Your computer will reboot itself. Post back how things are going.

----------
End,

first off:
- I think it should mention the XPtypes things
- normally one cannot put the CD in the computer and then turn the computer on
- needs spacing
- needs member's imput here

[Seth]

/R implies /P

[fleamailman]

missed that, is that an edit of or a comment

[fleamailman]

Ok I have split the canned in two, questions:
- is this clearer for the second part
- are the commands correct as in the original(I am not sure on the "aka type" since I thought aka was active X
- is the name correct
- is it an improvement on the orriginal
- what needs doing


Repair with recovery console
- have ready an XP cd
(the XPhome cd for XPhome os, XPpro cd for XPpro os)
- put cd in into computer and turn the computer off
- turn the computer on
message: "press any key to boot form cd"
- press: b(any key will do here)
Windows Setup will start and first screen will appear
- press: r
- press: enter
(the Recovery Console)
- press: 1
- press: enter
Administrator password screen
- press: enter
(Note:if you have set a password then you must type that too, if not pressing enter is enough).
command prompt C:\WINDOWS
attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini
press: enter
(NOTE: If it says bad command or filename, then you will have to enter each line individually)
aka type: attrib -s
type: c:\boot.ini
press: enter
type: attrib -h c:\boot.ini
press: enter
type: attrib -r c:\boot.ini
press: enter)
type:del c:\boot.ini
press: enter
type: bootcfg /rebuild
press: enter
type: fixboot
press: enter
type: exit
take your XP CD out.
Your computer will reboot itself.
Post back how things are going

[rVidia]

Fleamailman:

Things are looking good. However, I think you should first explain why you want the user to follow those instructions / what they will accomplish by doing so.

Also,
- have ready an XP cd
(the XPhome cd for XPhome os, XPpro cd for XPpro os)
- put cd in into computer and turn the computer off
- turn the computer on
message: "press any key to boot form cd"
- press: b(any key will do here)
Windows Setup will start and first screen will appear
- press: r
- press: enter
(the Recovery Console)
- press: 1
- press: enter
Administrator password screen
- press: enter
(Note:if you have set a password then you must type that too, if not pressing enter is enough).
In my opinion, it would be easier to follow steps as such:

To use the Windows XP Recovery Console,
1. Insert your Windows XP installation CD.
2. Restart your computer and press any key when prompted to boot from CD.
3. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to open the Recovery Console.
4. When prompted, enter your administrator password. If you don't remember creating a password for the Administrator user account, it may be a blank password (so press ENTER).

meaning 1.,2.,3.,4., maybe combining some steps, etc., as I find that to be shorter and easier to follow.

You might also consider providing instructions on how to install the Recovery Console (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654).

Ray

[fleamailman]

Yes, yours is clearer, I will adopt it.

[PeteF]

I have lots of experience writing procedures.
See how you like this version. ---pete---

WinXP Fix It Routine

1.) Boot to the Windows XP CD.

2.) Press R to enter the Recovery Console.

3.) Press 1 to log into your windows installation and
then just press Enter for the Administrator password
because the password is typicaly blank unless you
changed it.

4.) At the command prompt C:\WINDOWS
type... chkdsk /p /r
Then press ENTER to execute the command.

Note: This will run a VERY THOROUGH check
of both your hard drive and also your windows
installation files and replace any that are
missing/corrupt.


Once the above check is complete, do the following:

1.) Boot the the Windows XP CD.

2.) Press R to enter the Recovery Console.

3.) Press 1 to log into your windows installation and
then just press Enter for the Administrator password
because the password is typicaly blank unless you
changed it.

4.) At the command prompt C:\WINDOWS
type... attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini
Then press ENTER to execute the command.

NOTE: If it says bad command or filename,
you will have to enter each line individually
as indicated below:

attrib -s c:\boot.ini
ENTER

attrib -h c:\boot.ini
ENTER

attrib -r c:\boot.ini
ENTER


5.) Enter the following commmands:

del c:\boot.ini
ENTER

bootcfg /rebuild
ENTER

fixboot
ENTER


6.) Quit and reboot the computer as follows:

Exit
ENTER

Take your XP CD out.

Your computer will reboot itself.
Hopefully the problem will be fixed.

---end---

[fleamailman]

Thanks, that is oh so much better that the original, I wish I could write like that.

Last questioins

- does the commands, in the second part to this tut, actually repair or replace the boot.ini
- what short tital would you give this tut as it must pull the member to the thread but one can't call it repair with XP cd because there are many like that already there, what about 'so your computer won't boot; or 'to reppair a corrupted boot.ini in XP'(but in that case I would only have the second of the tut shown)
- is it done or is it still missing something

[Guest110]

Thanks, that is oh so much better that the original, I wish I could write like that.

Yours was fine:)
it had the information but it was not set out very clearly... if i had have been following that i would have lost track of where i was
Given up and gone :fish2:

[mylanta]

I think you need to back up and add "how to boot to cd" as this seems to be what most newbies are clueless on and while newer bios are defaulted to cd boot priority, older ones are not.

[Guest110]

and maybe an addition for us poor creatures who were not trusted with the original xp cds and have nasty little recovery ones.. Please.. for which i believe there is no such repair facility.. it goes wrong only option is to restore back to factory settings >> please correct me if i am wrong

[fleamailman]

[Very good point, thanks, edited, and now reads as below, btw what do you think, and I have chosen repair the boot.in even though the process replacing it, is that wrong]

To run checkdisk with XPcd
Note: please check that the bootup sequence in the BIOS is set boot from the cd.
1.) Boot to the Windows XP CD.

2.) Press R to enter the Recovery Console.

3.) Press 1 to log into your windows installation and
then just press Enter for the Administrator password
because the password is typicaly blank unless you
changed it.

4.) At the command prompt C:\WINDOWS
type... chkdsk /p /r
Then press ENTER to execute the command.

Note: This will run a VERY THOROUGH check
of both your hard drive and also your windows
installation files and replace any that are
missing/corrupt.


Once the above check is complete, do the following:

To repair the boot.ini of the os with an XPcd
1.) Boot the the Windows XP CD.

2.) Press R to enter the Recovery Console.

3.) Press 1 to log into your windows installation and
then just press Enter for the Administrator password
because the password is typicaly blank unless you
changed it.

4.) At the command prompt C:\WINDOWS
type... attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini
Then press ENTER to execute the command.

NOTE: If it says bad command or filename,
you will have to enter each line individually
as indicated below:

attrib -s c:\boot.ini
ENTER

attrib -h c:\boot.ini
ENTER

attrib -r c:\boot.ini
ENTER


5.) Enter the following commmands:

del c:\boot.ini
ENTER

bootcfg /rebuild
ENTER

fixboot
ENTER


6.) Quit and reboot the computer as follows:

Exit
ENTER

Take your XP CD out.

Your computer will reboot itself.
Hopefully the problem will be fixed.

[June]

I am back to having problems with MSN and I am going to try a repair. It worked on my desktop when I was having the same problems. Does everything in this post still apply? I am asking because Fleamailman asked a question on his last post (9-26-06) that was not answered.
Also, do you still recommend removing IE7 first?

Thanks.

[mylanta]

I am back to having problems with MSN and I am going to try a repair. It worked on my desktop when I was having the same problems. Does everything in this post still apply? I am asking because Fleamailman asked a question on his last post (9-26-06) that was not answered.
Also, do you still recommend removing IE7 first?

Thanks.

I don't think these solutions of checkdisk and boot.ini have a thing to do with any Msn issues. here is XP repair June:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Wolfeymole]

Booting from the CDROM (http://www.hiren.info/pages/bios-boot-cdrom)

[June]

Thanks. Is it necessary to uninstall IE7 first?

[mylanta]

Thanks. Is it necessary to uninstall IE7 first?
No not at all.

[June]

One last question. Do I have to use the CD that came with the computer or can I use the one I purchased when I did a clean install for my other computer from ME to XP? HP recommends using only the one that came with the computer.

[mylanta]

You will not even be able to doi XP repair with HP restore cd's. Use the Ms retail cd.

[Seth]

You will not even be able to doi XP repair with HP restore cd's. Use the Ms retail cd.

Since June has already used that product key, that won't work.

By default, HP's recovery partition has a sort of half assed "repair" (as opposed to the advanced options which is a destructive recovery).

The repair will fix XP and keep your personal files, but most programs will need to be reinstalled. The personal files are kept in the Documents and Settings folder.

Reinstall XP for an MSN problem? That's like buying a new car because a spark plug is shot.

[mylanta]

Seth,
Actually that HP repair is excellent, like our old "clean install" where it restores the os and files and you install programs. You can use the XP disk for checkdisk or boot.ini but not XP repair correct.
Actually I/m with you as I don't see any of this fixing a problem with Msn and I always uninstall that anyway so even wanting it is beyond my realm or reality. However Jun mentioned she did this once before to fix the problem so I just complied with info.
June it occurs to me you could just go into Control Panel, Add/Remove programs and on the left choose Windows Components and uncheck Msn browser then reboot and come back and check it which will reinstall it if you must have it.

[June]

We have discussed this one before. I am just comfortable with the MSN email. Been using it since I started computing. The problem I am having is I keep getting the "MSN has encounted an internal error and must close" message. So it closes and I have to sign in again. It happens 2 or 3 times while reading, sending or clicking on an attachment. When I click on information it shows ntdll.dll in a list. Don't know if that's the error. I have uninstalled and reinstalled. Uninstalled again removing all core components. Thought I would try repair next as that did work when I had the same problem on my desktop. MSN is also working on it. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

[mylanta]

June,
You can acces the Msn email from IE or FF or any browser you like. Copy and paste the address in any browser, then sign in and read it and make Favorite or Bookmark to get to it.

[June]

Thanks Rich. I am aware of that. They call it Live Hotmail. But it is not the same setup and has some features I don't like. I'll fix this problem one way or another. Thanks again.

[mylanta]

Thanks Rich. I am aware of that. They call it Live Hotmail. But it is not the same setup and has some features I don't like. I'll fix this problem one way or another. Thanks again.

No June, you can receive Msn mail as you do now on any browser. Do as I suggested.