Setup cannot find a previous version of windows etc..

[Jerry Spence1]

I have a laptop that won't boot. It starts up and I get the initial XP-Pro
splash screen - then nothing. Just a blank screen.



I have put in the XP-Pro CD to try and repair it, but it says "Setup cannot
find a previous version of windows installed on your computer.." I know I
can fool it by putting in a CD of Windows98 or 95 but it then does a new
install and warns me about loosing files in My Documents etc. which I want
to avoid. Has anyone tried this and does it really remove everything?



I noticed a few files were missing from System32 so I copied those from a
Ghost backup of another PC. I have tried all the various safe boot, command
prompt boot to no avail. I suspect there has been a crash, which has removed
some vital files (or the user deleted some files).



How do I get it in a state whereby the windows CD will recognise there is a
valid version present? What vital files is it looking for? Any other plans
of attack?



Thanks



-Jerry

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jerry,

The section "If the Repair Option is not Available " in the following
article might help:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Please read all the Warnings in the page and take the appropriate action
before proceeding!!!

<quote>
Very important!!
If you still have the ability to access the Windows XP installation, backup
all important files not restorable from other sources before attempting any
recovery console or other trouble shooting attempts.
</quote>