xp repair without xp cd, um possible?

[fleamailman]

hi, I am on linux but my friend computer won't boot even in safemode, she does not have the XPcd to do the repair.

I asked on my usual site if there was a site where I could download the iso so as to make a bootable cd but got told that there isn't and I am not allowed to, so what else can one do here, I just want to repair the system so that it will boot even into safe mode

[Seth]

The way I see it flea, if you own the product key, then you have the right to obtain the iso online. Any torrent will have os iso's.

BTW-What happens at boot?

[dbarrow]

You can use any XP cd to boot to REPAIR CONSOLE
First step is doing this and copying the files in \repair to \system32. That will fix 90% of the no boot problems with a blown reg hive.
Failing that, for a REPAIR INSTALL you will need the original product key.

[fleamailman]

thanks for the replies, will download iso then since I don't have a the cd at hand, I am also looking for something simple to use for a repair, is there a repair tool per se, nice if there was one iso that one could use on both flavors of xp

the comp boots into safe mode choice but will not go from there to post, it ends up on a blanc blue screen, without safe mode the comp also ends up at the same blue screen, because of this I feel that it is not the mbr so much as corrupt system files.

thanks

[Seth]

You can use any XP cd to boot to REPAIR CONSOLE
First step is doing this and copying the files in \repair to \system32. That will fix 90% of the no boot problems with a blown reg hive.
Failing that, for a REPAIR INSTALL you will need the original product key.

Right.

What I was going to suggest first however, is trying Last Known, and a chkdsk /r.

[Seth]

Here's something ironic:

As I was writing my last post, I just got a call from a very informed user that plugged in her USB flash drive, the computer shut down, and now she has blown config files!

I've had many similar such calls with usb devices. I'm at the point where I now tell my customers to forget about the whole "Hot Swap-able" thing, and shut down the computer before plugging in a USB device.

[fleamailman]

last know and all other chooses in safemode are out, she does not have a copy of xp, and my guess is that her instalation of xp is iffy since the comp looks like millenium, I have told her to go back to the man who put the system in but I get the feeling that he is yet another cowboy. anyway, one way or another I will get her system going even if has to be linux which I like more and more

[dbarrow]

Flea, and once repaired, setup with a functional Acronis backup solution... "don't let this happen again"

Seth, yeah a chkdsk /r prior to any repair attempt is appropriate. Forgot to say that.
99% of the time, failure to boot is either some lost or farkled system files... chkdsk may or may not resolve.
Farkled HD going south for the last time.
Farkled reg hive ... the most common cause where you can often recover using file copy from the XP CD.

The USB problem is an old one I believe we have discussed here many times. Hot plugging many USB hardwares has been known to blow the system for some time.
But... with all the USB stuff on the market and the mnfrs trying to keep this hushed up... you don't see it in print very often and they certainly aren't about to put warning labels on the products!

Can you imagine a big red warning label on your USB flash drive: "WARNING - plugging this into your machine may cause DEATH"

[fleamailman]

thks, how am I going to do check disk, if I can't get into safemode with command prompt

[dbarrow]

Chkdsk can be run from the Repair Console off the XP CD.
But of course...you need a CD!

[Dan18960]

Flea,

While everyone is saying you need the XP cd - you need the EXACT release of that CD. ie - if the system was installed with XP Pro sp2, you need that cd media, if it was XP Pro sp1, you need that cd media, if it was XP Media Center 2005, you need that cd media, etc. etc.

[mylanta]

Actually Dan, Home Full vs Pro Full etc vs Upgrade...you need the same version but you do not need the same SP version.

[Dan18960]

OH contar RichM!

I had a computer in that I had to go back to the client because EVERY copy I had of media laying around did not work in the computer. The computer had been upgraded with XP Home sp2 Upgrade. I had XP Home sp1 upgrade, XP Home full version sp1, XP Home full version sp2 BUT when I tried to do a repair it came back that I had the wrong version. Of course I KNEW that my Pro versions would have never restored.

[mylanta]

The only time I have seen that is with actual mfgr oem versions, and it wasn't the SP#, it was the fact it was a Dell or Gateway cd.

[fleamailman]

Ok, let go back to my original idea, while I know I should just use a bit torrent and download the same flavor XP I have reasons that stop me for the moment, is there a free program already out there that will mend the hive from boot, or is there a way of using my XP runnig XP system as a benchmark for making a bootable cd to mend her hive. In turth I am trying to find a ligitamate way of doing this without downloading the os from a p2p, I live in a little village where no one seems to have a xpcd, the only good thing is that I am now in England so we are dealing with an english system.

One reason is that this problem crops up often enough and I cannot suggest to people on forum to download the xp os since I have already been told that this is ilegit, and I cannot ask to use a bit torrent either; also, it is often the case that the poster has not got the cd seeing that the system came with a restore or that it really isn't their os

[mylanta]

I'm sorry but I will have to close this thread if you go one step further into discussion of illegal p2p sites or downloading illegitimate copies of Windows...due to forum rules as we cannot offer assistance with illegal operations of any kind.
Suffice it to say there are copies of Windows available to buy which will solve the problem, and lack of correct copy of software is hardly a reason to consider illegal solution to save money. Please use caution here.

[fleamailman]

rich m, yes, I do not want to discuse ilegal p2p downloading here either, please feel free to close this thread if this thread ventures that way but my goal is to find a program that is free and that is legal that repaairs the xpsystem from boot up, in that I want to be able to help people who don't have the xp cd by linking something on the internet, hence my original question in tital but not anything ilegal, nor anything that costs money too.

in my own case I am sure that if I wait a week the person whose computer won't boot will find someone who has an XPcd, in fact I wish I could get her to go for linux now, so this whole question is more for my knowledge than a problem in itself
thanks

[Seth]

Is there a free program already out there that will mend the hive from boot

If you find one, let me know, as I've gone through enough frustration trying to repair XP's hive.

This can work at times:

cd \windows\system32\config

ren system system.bad

copy \windows\repair\system

Then there is Microsoft's lengthy fix (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545). Forget about it using it on an oem system though, as every step forward you get knocked back two because of hash checks in logons, the product key, and other security hashes.

[fleamailman]

thanks seth, that is why I am asking, give me a little more detail here, I imagine that this is safemode with command prompt that one does the cure you suggest,

another question, , the system files in relationship to the hive, the hive is the registry, please explain the relationship between the hive, the registary and system files. I am thinking that the hive is the registary but I begin to see wood for trees

[Seth]

thanks seth, that is why I am asking, give me a little more detail here, I imagine that this is safemode with command prompt that one does the cure you suggest,

another question, , the system files in relationship to the hive, the hive is the registry, please explain the relationship between the hive, the registary and system files. I am thinking that the hive is the registary but I begin to see wood for trees

When xp's config files are blown, you won't able to get into any form of Safe Mode. You'll need to get to a command prompt by means such as Bootable dos cd (google it), or the Recovery Console.

The registry is the "files" that hold the system settings and configuration. They are no different than any other files, but for easy access they are stored in one location called the "registry".

A hive refers to parts of the registry that have a backup. When you have blown startup files, you try to replace them with good copies from it's hive.

[dbarrow]

The registry hives (4) live in %\Windows\system32\config
You will see System, software, SAM, Security
XP, by default, keeps 2 copies of those files. One is in "Last known good" which stems out of restore so XP can load the last known good version of the registry when you have a problem.
The other is in %\Windows\repair folder.
XP updates these on a regular and unspecified basis (around every 4-6 days I believe)

When the reg files in \system32\config get farkled, as with a bad or incomplete shutdown, it is possible to replace them with a previously working version.
If you can boot to "Last Known Good", XP will load that version, which hopefully recovers from the problem.
If you can't, the next step is booting to the REPAIR CONSOLE with an XP cd. Once in Repair Console, COPY
%\Windows\repair\ (The 4 files) to %\Windows\System32\config

Providing the files in the repair folder are good, this solves 99% of no boot problems.
Other than that....

Where is the Acronis backup you should have been running at least weekly?

[fleamailman]

that's clear now thanks,
I am going to make a post with:
- the iso download link(bootable dos)
- the simplest of iso burnning programs
- the steps you have mentioned

I will put the post below as it is a very common problem seen often enough in posts, please correct it where it is either wrong or missleading, thanks

[dbarrow]

BartPE
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

I have it stashed somewhere but never used it.
This may get you where you want to go to copy those repair files.

[fleamailman]

thanks, last question then, if one creates(builds) this bootable cd(one mentioned in last post above) on this computer, using the system files, can I take it over to a different pc providing that it is the same flavor and boot up on it to mend the instalatoin, or would the fact that it is oem complicate things, the problem being that the majority of posters will not know if their system is oem or standard xp

[Seth]

Flea,

While everyone is saying you need the XP cd - you need the EXACT release of that CD. ie - if the system was installed with XP Pro sp2, you need that cd media, if it was XP Pro sp1, you need that cd media, if it was XP Media Center 2005, you need that cd media, etc. etc.

I just repaired a Compaq Presario Laptop that was running XP Home SP2. It needed a repair install, and I used an HP-XP SP1 for the repair. XP wouldn't take the valid Compaq key. I then tried a retail copy, but it wouldn't take the key either. I popped in a Dell XP Home SP1 cd, and it took the key without any problem. I had to activate by phone though. She sure has a sweet voice. I asked her a few questions, but for she wouldn't answer.

[mylanta]

Yep I have had the same experience Seth...Dan now pay attention!

[Seth]

Yep I have had the same experience Seth...Dan now pay attention!

I ended up having to do a clean install with the Dell cd. I'm just formatting now. I can't wait to call Microsoft again about this.

[Seth]

Yep I have had the same experience Seth...Dan now pay attention!

Just did a clean install for a crappy emachines.

Retail and HP cd's wouldn't accept the product key. My burnt copy of a Dell XP SP1 slid it right in. For an added bonus, online activation accepted the key without a call to MS.

Rich my friend...we rule:peace:

[fleamailman]

well the women rang me back with the news that she now had the XPhome cd, but being that there was no repair option given where it should be, I took it the she had XPpro betting that it is vlk license, no joy there, also the one time I could get into the safemode with command prompt I tried restore more out of clutching straws than real computer mending, no joy either, returning back to Switzerland at the end of the week so she will have to ask someone else so it is out of my hands.

[Dan18960]

I ended up having to do a clean install with the Dell cd. I'm just formatting now. I can't wait to call Microsoft again about this.

Rich,

Your time to pay attention LOL.;)

Like I said to do a REPAIR requires the same version of the cd. A clean install is a completely different "animal".

As for Compaq/HP - it seems that their license Product key must be a specific OEM license agreement. I have NEVER had it authenticate when using a different copy of XP. It has required me to call M$ and just tell them I replaced the dead hard drive. Never an issue to get the authentication from the other side of the swamp (Pacific).