Biosinfo.inf missing or corrupt? XP/SP2 won't boot!

[Guest]

My primary computer CRASHED after the last (3 days ago) MS Update and I have
spent 2 days so far trying to get it back up. I THINK I have it all where it
SHOULD work, but continue to get this error message about Biosinfo.inf begin
missing (it's not) or corrupted (it's not) and it won't boot. The hard
drives are (mostly) fine since I can boot into Linux and read pretty much
everything on them with no trouble - but somewhere deep in the innards of MS,
it's hosed.

Seems an incredible shame to have to spent MANY days reinstalling Windows
(XP/SP2) from scratch and then all my applications (quite a few). Especially
when I know that everything is still intact there somewhere.

First I had a 'Hard Drive Read Error' and nothing would happen. I found and
installed Ultimate Boot CD and was able to boot and observe that the HD info
seemed intact and functional. I then tried a 'new' repair (not the Recovery
Console) using my original XP Pro/SP2 CD - went fine and got to the error
above. Went back to Recovery Console and directly copied the Biosinfo.inf
file from the CD to the HD - same error message. Went to Recovery Console
and did a FIXBOOT and FIXMBR - same error message.

Searched MS support for 'Biosinfo.inf' and found only a single entry about
viruses. Went back to my UBCD and renamed the virus (Avast4) files with a
..bak extension so that they could not be loaded - same error msg as above.

Any other suggestions? Biosinfo.inf opens and reads fine from UBCD - and I
see NO references to my system at all (it's basically a home built now after
several upgrades of MOBO and HD's). P4, 3.8G, with 1GB and 256MB mem sticks.
2 HD's - 160 GB master and 120 GB slave, as well as 2 CD's a Zip 100 and a
floppy. USB 2.0 PCI card.

Any help would be sincerely appreciated...
Steve (Steve (at) WedgeRacing (dot) com)

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My primary computer CRASHED after the last (3 days ago) MS Update and I have
spent 2 days so far trying to get it back up. I THINK I have it all where it
SHOULD work, but continue to get this error message about Biosinfo.inf begin
missing (it's not) or corrupted (it's not) and it won't boot. The hard
drives are (mostly) fine since I can boot into Linux and read pretty much
everything on them with no trouble - but somewhere deep in the innards of MS,
it's hosed.

Seems an incredible shame to have to spent MANY days reinstalling Windows
(XP/SP2) from scratch and then all my applications (quite a few). Especially
when I know that everything is still intact there somewhere.

First I had a 'Hard Drive Read Error' and nothing would happen. I found and
installed Ultimate Boot CD and was able to boot and observe that the HD info
seemed intact and functional. I then tried a 'new' repair (not the Recovery
Console) using my original XP Pro/SP2 CD - went fine and got to the error
above. Went back to Recovery Console and directly copied the Biosinfo.inf
file from the CD to the HD - same error message. Went to Recovery Console
and did a FIXBOOT and FIXMBR - same error message.

Searched MS support for 'Biosinfo.inf' and found only a single entry about
viruses. Went back to my UBCD and renamed the virus (Avast4) files with a
.bak extension so that they could not be loaded - same error msg as above.

Any other suggestions? Biosinfo.inf opens and reads fine from UBCD - and I
see NO references to my system at all (it's basically a home built now after
several upgrades of MOBO and HD's). P4, 3.8G, with 1GB and 256MB mem sticks.
2 HD's - 160 GB master and 120 GB slave, as well as 2 CD's a Zip 100 and a
floppy. USB 2.0 PCI card.

Any help would be sincerely appreciated...
Steve (Steve (at) WedgeRacing (dot) com)

Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.

 

[Guest]

:

Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.

That key doesn't exist - should it?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

:



That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:



That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and get my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories. Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".

Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and get my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

Thanks, but I already tied the repair installation. I just can't figure out
WHY Windows is giving me this error message. There must be SOMETHING I can
do to avoid having to reinstall all of my apps! (Windows 'restoration' from
backup leaves an incredible amount to be desired :-(. )
Steve

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories. Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".

Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and get my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:




:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Google is your friend.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829784

Thanks, but I already tied the repair installation. I just can't figure out
WHY Windows is giving me this error message. There must be SOMETHING I can
do to avoid having to reinstall all of my apps! (Windows 'restoration' from
backup leaves an incredible amount to be desired :-(. )
Steve

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories. Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".

Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and

get
my

system back with all the apps working??
Steve

:

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:




:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

Yes - I found that 3 days ago - however, that ONLY applies on a computer that
will actually START Windows. Mine will NOT start windows - not in safe
mode, not in ANY mode. I've also read up (googled) the 'Repair' installation
and all say that Windows 'repair' will continue after the reboot - mine
doesn't since it STILL stops at the Biosinfo.inf message and won't continue.

I even have a full backup as of a week ago, but no ASR disk to go with it
(only one from an earlier version of backup). I started it once, but the
FIRST thing it started to do was REFORMAT my HD - so I killed it to save
whatever data I could.

My hair is falling (has fallen) out over this.

Google is your friend.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829784

Thanks, but I already tied the repair installation. I just can't figure out
WHY Windows is giving me this error message. There must be SOMETHING I can
do to avoid having to reinstall all of my apps! (Windows 'restoration' from
backup leaves an incredible amount to be desired :-(. )
Steve

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories. Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".


Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full
reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and get
my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

:

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error
message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:




:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

Well... CRAP!! I thought I had it. I went into the Recovery Console and did
a Bootcfg /Rebuild - it found that my only Windows installation was on drive
D rather than Drive C. (This is no doubt because of the odd drive letter
assignments I was using due to HD upgrades - the OS was on 'Drive H:'). At
any rate, I gave the 'found' installation a name and .. lo and behold... it
BOOTED into it. Then immediately took off on the finish of its INSTALL from
the repair install I did previously. Did what it should do (I think) for
about 10 minutes and then came to the screen where it asks for my Product
Code. I entered it and IT SAYS ITS INVALID. I have an OEM version of
WinXP/SP2 and that code DID work when I installed it. Only reason I can
think of why it won't buy it now, is that it considers the 'Repair' an
"upgrade" and I'm betting the code hash for upgrades is different from OEM
installs.

Suggestions on how to get around THAT now?? My next attempt will be to go
back into UBCD and see if I can find out where Win is looking to find that it
needs to continue the install - probably in the registry. If I can eliminate
that 'continued install', the rest of the files SHOULD still be functional -
at least I hope.

Thanks for your suggestions so far. I might get there yet... .
Steve

Yes - I found that 3 days ago - however, that ONLY applies on a computer that
will actually START Windows. Mine will NOT start windows - not in safe
mode, not in ANY mode. I've also read up (googled) the 'Repair' installation
and all say that Windows 'repair' will continue after the reboot - mine
doesn't since it STILL stops at the Biosinfo.inf message and won't continue.

I even have a full backup as of a week ago, but no ASR disk to go with it
(only one from an earlier version of backup). I started it once, but the
FIRST thing it started to do was REFORMAT my HD - so I killed it to save
whatever data I could.

My hair is falling (has fallen) out over this.

Google is your friend.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829784

Thanks, but I already tied the repair installation. I just can't figure out
WHY Windows is giving me this error message. There must be SOMETHING I can
do to avoid having to reinstall all of my apps! (Windows 'restoration' from
backup leaves an incredible amount to be desired :-(. )
Steve

:

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories. Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".


Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full
reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and get
my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

:

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error
message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:




:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

OK, OK :-(.... My error AGAIN. I dug up a keyfinder and found that I
mistyped a letter in the key when I wrote it down. (No idea what happened to
the original MS decal). But... I got to fly again using the correct key (and
corrected my note <G>). Hopefully THIS will finally get me going again.

Still in process at this moment. Says I have 19 minutes more to go .
Steve

Well... CRAP!! I thought I had it. I went into the Recovery Console and did
a Bootcfg /Rebuild - it found that my only Windows installation was on drive
D rather than Drive C. (This is no doubt because of the odd drive letter
assignments I was using due to HD upgrades - the OS was on 'Drive H:'). At
any rate, I gave the 'found' installation a name and .. lo and behold... it
BOOTED into it. Then immediately took off on the finish of its INSTALL from
the repair install I did previously. Did what it should do (I think) for
about 10 minutes and then came to the screen where it asks for my Product
Code. I entered it and IT SAYS ITS INVALID. I have an OEM version of
WinXP/SP2 and that code DID work when I installed it. Only reason I can
think of why it won't buy it now, is that it considers the 'Repair' an
"upgrade" and I'm betting the code hash for upgrades is different from OEM
installs.

Suggestions on how to get around THAT now?? My next attempt will be to go
back into UBCD and see if I can find out where Win is looking to find that it
needs to continue the install - probably in the registry. If I can eliminate
that 'continued install', the rest of the files SHOULD still be functional -
at least I hope.

Thanks for your suggestions so far. I might get there yet... .
Steve

Yes - I found that 3 days ago - however, that ONLY applies on a computer that
will actually START Windows. Mine will NOT start windows - not in safe
mode, not in ANY mode. I've also read up (googled) the 'Repair' installation
and all say that Windows 'repair' will continue after the reboot - mine
doesn't since it STILL stops at the Biosinfo.inf message and won't continue.

I even have a full backup as of a week ago, but no ASR disk to go with it
(only one from an earlier version of backup). I started it once, but the
FIRST thing it started to do was REFORMAT my HD - so I killed it to save
whatever data I could.

My hair is falling (has fallen) out over this.

Google is your friend.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829784


Thanks, but I already tied the repair installation. I just can't figure
out
WHY Windows is giving me this error message. There must be SOMETHING I
can
do to avoid having to reinstall all of my apps! (Windows 'restoration'
from
backup leaves an incredible amount to be desired :-(. )
Steve

:

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories.
Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".


Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full
reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and
get
my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

:

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error
message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:




:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in
here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"

 

[Guest]

OK - I'm back up. Most stuff is intact, but some things are hosed.
Apparently the drive designation was NOT the problem and Windows has
installed itself onto my backup drive. At least my applications are working
- just have to figure out how to get all of my Outlook messages back.
Everything else seems to be working (at least of those that I've checked.)
tks,
Steve

OK, OK :-(.... My error AGAIN. I dug up a keyfinder and found that I
mistyped a letter in the key when I wrote it down. (No idea what happened to
the original MS decal). But... I got to fly again using the correct key (and
corrected my note <G>). Hopefully THIS will finally get me going again.

Still in process at this moment. Says I have 19 minutes more to go .
Steve

Well... CRAP!! I thought I had it. I went into the Recovery Console and did
a Bootcfg /Rebuild - it found that my only Windows installation was on drive
D rather than Drive C. (This is no doubt because of the odd drive letter
assignments I was using due to HD upgrades - the OS was on 'Drive H:'). At
any rate, I gave the 'found' installation a name and .. lo and behold... it
BOOTED into it. Then immediately took off on the finish of its INSTALL from
the repair install I did previously. Did what it should do (I think) for
about 10 minutes and then came to the screen where it asks for my Product
Code. I entered it and IT SAYS ITS INVALID. I have an OEM version of
WinXP/SP2 and that code DID work when I installed it. Only reason I can
think of why it won't buy it now, is that it considers the 'Repair' an
"upgrade" and I'm betting the code hash for upgrades is different from OEM
installs.

Suggestions on how to get around THAT now?? My next attempt will be to go
back into UBCD and see if I can find out where Win is looking to find that it
needs to continue the install - probably in the registry. If I can eliminate
that 'continued install', the rest of the files SHOULD still be functional -
at least I hope.

Thanks for your suggestions so far. I might get there yet... .
Steve

Yes - I found that 3 days ago - however, that ONLY applies on a computer that
will actually START Windows. Mine will NOT start windows - not in safe
mode, not in ANY mode. I've also read up (googled) the 'Repair' installation
and all say that Windows 'repair' will continue after the reboot - mine
doesn't since it STILL stops at the Biosinfo.inf message and won't continue.

I even have a full backup as of a week ago, but no ASR disk to go with it
(only one from an earlier version of backup). I started it once, but the
FIRST thing it started to do was REFORMAT my HD - so I killed it to save
whatever data I could.

My hair is falling (has fallen) out over this.

:

Google is your friend.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829784


Thanks, but I already tied the repair installation. I just can't figure
out
WHY Windows is giving me this error message. There must be SOMETHING I
can
do to avoid having to reinstall all of my apps! (Windows 'restoration'
from
backup leaves an incredible amount to be desired :-(. )
Steve

:

What you propose is called a "Substitution racket". I don't think that
it will work because many applications place some of their files into
the Windows directory and/or into various profile directories.
Furthermore,
if the problem is caused by the registry then you would restore the
problem after fixing it.

Your best bet would be a "Repair Installation".


Is there any chance that, if I backup the registry, I can do a full
reinstall
of windows into it's original location, then reimport the registry and
get
my
system back with all the apps working??
Steve

:

Well - it was worth a shot, but no go. I added it and same error
message.
(This is MADDENING!!!).
Steve

:




:


Perhaps the value InfName points to the wrong file name in
here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo, or maybe
it is not a Reg_SZ value.


That key doesn't exist - should it?

This is what I have:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Biosinfo]
"InfName"="biosinfo.inf"
"SystemBiosDate"="05/30/06"