Nearly all inf files under windows/inf directory are missing

[jimjxr]

Hi,

I have a very strange problem on my IBM T40 and Windows XP SP2, the
symptoms are:
1. When trying to open "Windows Components" on Add/Remove Program, I
got "Unable to open information file sysoc.inf."
2. When I connect a USB disk to the USB port, it is not auto installed,
instead the find driver wizard came up as if it couldn't find the
proper driver for this USB disk. (This disk works fine on another T41
with WinXP)

During my debugging of this problem, I found there're less than 10 inf
files in directory C:\Windows\inf, apparently a lot of them are
missing, including sysoc.inf. (I checked another XP, there're about
1500 files in this directory, half of them are inf)

I realized I can restore these from the other XP or from the
installation disk, and this would probably remove the symptoms. But
what I don't understand is how these inf files could be missing? Could
this be part of XP's normal operation? Or caused by virus/worm? Or
maybe malfunction of other software (I have norton antivirus, IBM's
software installer, MS' windows defender installed, among other
unlikely candidates)?

I tried to reinstall XP once, but the problem came back after a few
days. So I would really appreciate if someone can tell me how to stop
this from happening all together.

Thanks

Jim

 

[thecreator]

Hi Jim,

1. - Open up a Command Window. After it opens, type in without the
quotes, "sfc /scannow" and then hit the Enter Key.

2. - What do you mean by USB disk? Are you talking about an USB
Thumbnail Drive? Does the IBM T40 have a 2.0 USB Port or 1.1 USB Port? All
USB Ports are not created equal nowadays.

 

[jimjxr]

Hi,

Thanks for the help:
1. I tried this, but it didn't work, I think it can only repair
dll/exe, not inf
2. Yes, I meant the thumbnail flash drive, T40 has a 2.0 USB port. The
drive works fine on other laptops.

Thanks

Jim

 

[thecreator]

Hi Jim,

You can either Repair XP or Reformat and reinstall XP, as long as you
have the correct Windows XP CD. And if your repair only lasts a few days,
then your computer isn't well protected.

Instead of simply reinstalling XP, reformat and then reinstall XP using
the XP CD.

Procedure to Reinstall Windows XP!

If you want to save any files, make a backup of those files off the Hard
Drive and proceed.

0. - Turn off the printer.
1. - Go into Computer Bios and Set Defaults and Exit, if you know how.
Make sure the Boot Order is set to Boot to CD-Rom Drive First.
2. - Insert Windows XP CD into CD-Rom Drive.
3. - Reboot the computer.
4. - Welcome to Setup.
5. - Reinstall XP - Press Enter
6. - F8 - I Agree
7. - Esc: Don't Repair
8. - Select Partition to Install Windows XP on.
Use UP and DOWN ARROW Keys to Highlight Partition.
9. - Press Enter.
10. - Press C to Continue.
11. - Highlight the Action You Want To Take.
Type of Format you want to perform.
12. - I selected Format The Partition using the Fat File System.
13. - Then Press Enter to Continue
14. - Warning Message
15. - Press F
16. - To Continue To Format Partition with the FAT32 File System.
17. - Press Enter.
18. - Now it formats.
19. - After Formatting It Checks The Drive.
20. - Then Copies files to partition.
21. - Now it Reboots to Windows XP. Don't press a key to boot to CD.
22. - And now it installs Windows XP.
23. - You need to be here now.
24. - Starts at 39 Minutes to Complete.
25. - At 33 minutes, you need to set Time and Time Zone.
26. - And Enter The Product Key.
27. - At 29 minutes, you need to pick the Network.
28. - Now wait for Reboot and you are done.