Used wrong System Disk for Recovery Console ...... What to do ne

[Guest]

In attempt to repair my registry which would not allow me to boot (even in
safe mode), I inserted what I thought was my XP System Disk but in fact was
the XP Upgrade disk from my other PC. I only discovered that I inserted
the wrong disk when the OS would not accept my original product keys
previously installed. Oops .... I need some advice as to whether I reboot
out of the screen since I can't go back or cancel and run the correct CD
version with the proper keys. or obtain an upgrade set of keys somewhere to
complete the process then reinstall using my original product key. My fear
is that I will lose my data files I wish to preserve on my PC if I reboot
now. Please advise and thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Dan

A 'Repair' install of XP would seem to be the best idea - with your original
CD. Although you may have a problem if you are now running SP2 and the
original CD is of a previous version.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I see what you are saying, the upgrade disk is SP1
and I have already migrated to SP2 with all the updates. Damn, I didn't
think of that. Anyone else have any ideas ?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Patrick Keenan]

In attempt to repair my registry which would not allow me to boot (even in
safe mode), I inserted what I thought was my XP System Disk but in fact was
the XP Upgrade disk from my other PC. I only discovered that I inserted
the wrong disk when the OS would not accept my original product keys
previously installed. Oops .... I need some advice as to whether I reboot
out of the screen since I can't go back or cancel and run the correct CD
version with the proper keys. or obtain an upgrade set of keys somewhere to
complete the process then reinstall using my original product key. My fear
is that I will lose my data files I wish to preserve on my PC if I reboot
now. Please advise and thanks in advance.

Dan

You shouldn't actually need the product keys to get into the Recovery
Console. In fact, I've used XP Pro disks on OEM XP Home installations for
this purpose, and those key types are not compatible. And for the common
registry repairs, you would use the Recovery Console.

You *do* need the keys and the correct install disk type to do a Repair
Install. A Repair Install will - or should! - not damage your data. If
you do a parallel install, though, you will probably wind up with a second
set of account folders and will have to migrate the data and settings after
taking ownership of the old account folders.

So, if you intended to use the Recovery Console, you pressed incorrect keys
and are in the wrong place. You will have to terminate Setup and restart
the system to get another chance at the console. Read the screens
carefully to determine the correct key sequence. Do not enter Setup.

As I recall, Setup asks for the keys before it does much of anything past
partitioning and formatting and copying base install files to a temporary
folder. If you didn't format, your data should be safe, though you should
always back it up before any maintenance like this.

Regarding backing up drives from unbootable systems, an easy way to do this
is to connect the drive to a working XP system that has disk imaging
software and sufficient space, via a USB2 connector. I use Acronis True
Image for this, and can image a drive and have it back in the original
system in usually under half an hour.

HTH
-pk

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Create a slipstreamed SP2 CD:

http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Guest]

Thanks Patrick, That is the most concise reply I have recieved during my
quest for a solution. I previously knew some of that info. However, let
me give you more details.

I had started with the recovery console using the XP Upgrade disk thinking
it was my original XP system disk and it would not let me get past the
administrator password, although I have used my password as the admin. and
also used no password to no avail. I have seen this problem before and
never found the resolution but, that is a problem for another day. Moving
forward ......... I entered into the install area and selected repair.
Shortly after that, it rebooted and continuted to load from the disk for
another 20-30 mins. then asked me for the Product key. Which I find odd
because that sounds like an install however, I know I selected a repair.
My system has been in the state of waiting for upgrage product key since I
began with this problem and wish I could back out so I can insert my original
disk with the proper key however, I may already be comitted to completing the
repair cycle at this time. What would happen if I just aborted with a
reboot and started with my original disk? Any Ideas from here ?

Thanks again,

Dan

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thanks Patrick, That is the most concise reply I have recieved during my
quest for a solution. I previously knew some of that info. However, let
me give you more details.

I had started with the recovery console using the XP Upgrade disk thinking
it was my original XP system disk and it would not let me get past the
administrator password, although I have used my password as the admin. and
also used no password to no avail. I have seen this problem before and
never found the resolution but, that is a problem for another day. Moving
forward ......... I entered into the install area and selected repair.

And that's quite different from the Recovery console. If the you don't
have the passwords, or if they are corrupt, you'll need to clear them.
There are a number of boot CD utilities for this. Note that clearing
account passwords in this way (from outside an account) can have disastrous
effects if the OS is XP Pro and encryption was invoked.

Shortly after that, it rebooted and continuted to load from the disk for
another 20-30 mins. then asked me for the Product key. Which I find odd
because that sounds like an install however, I know I selected a repair.

Yes, a repair install. This recopies Windows files but does not recreate
accounts and should not affect user data. It may or may *not* fix the
registry problem you're experiencing.

My system has been in the state of waiting for upgrage product key since I
began with this problem and wish I could back out so I can insert my original
disk with the proper key however, I may already be comitted to completing the
repair cycle at this time. What would happen if I just aborted with a
reboot and started with my original disk? Any Ideas from here ?

Try to cancel the install, which should delete the files it's copied and
undo changes to the boot files.

Otherwise, I think you should be able to bail and restart Setup with the
correct disk without damage to your data, or to simply stop, reboot to the
recovery console as intended, and then fix the registry as described in :
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/

I have to admit, though, I can't recall trying this.

However, nothing's guaranteed, so be prepared for Plan B, which would be
shifting that system's drive over to your other PC and backing your data up
to it.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Thanks again,

I had researched that link before on the MS website for registry repair and
will revisit again. I am using Home edition XP. There is no way to
cancel or abort from the location I am at while in this process. I tried
esc, all the F-Keys, Cntl-C, Cntrl-Break, and Cntl-Alt-Del........... nothing
!!

However, a couple of screens prior to the Product Key screen (which I can go
back to but, can only go back 2 screens total) says the following, This
Wizard installs XP on to your computer. The wizard needs to gather some
information about you and your computer to set up windows XP properly. So,
I am wondering if the files being copied were only being copied to a temp
area and not to the kernel. If then aborting with a powerdown might work
but will be faced with cleanup and a possible continuence of the XP repair ?

Dan

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thanks again,

I had researched that link before on the MS website for registry repair and
will revisit again. I am using Home edition XP. There is no way to
cancel or abort from the location I am at while in this process. I tried
esc, all the F-Keys, Cntl-C, Cntrl-Break, and Cntl-Alt-Del........... nothing
!!

However, a couple of screens prior to the Product Key screen (which I can go
back to but, can only go back 2 screens total) says the following, This
Wizard installs XP on to your computer. The wizard needs to gather some
information about you and your computer to set up windows XP properly. So,
I am wondering if the files being copied were only being copied to a temp
area and not to the kernel. If then aborting with a powerdown might work
but will be faced with cleanup and a possible continuence of the XP repair ?

Dan

Yes, it copies files to a temporary directory. You may find some changes
made to the boot.ini file that has to be edited manually, to return boot up
to XP rather than Setup.

-pk