Corrupted Windows XP Professional (?) SP2 or SP3

[garavan]

Frustrating, that the OS can't be accessed. Last night,I started downloading
SP3 and because of it's size of (over 300MB) I let the PC on and went to
sleep. This morning, however I could not restart Windows. Before that I
created a backup copy of the OS (C on the second partition (D: a 5.5GB
file).
When trying to run the OS, it dies after the
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System32\Drivers\Mup.sys is
loaded, regardless of the Safe Mode.
The disk (chkdsk), the MBR (fixmbr) and boot.ini (fixboot) are all OK.
The partition 1 was formatted and a new setup was previously executed with
all the updates offered from the Windows Update site. I also updated all
drivers. Only Firefox and openoffice.org were additionally installed. I do
not have any diskette drive. What I've is another PC networked with the
problem PC and all have internet access. I also installed ZoneAlarm and
firewalled the PC. I'm trying to avoid another fresh installation. I can also
boot to Ubuntu live.
Question 1. - What can I do to fix or even better to repair whatever caused
the problem?
Question 2. - What can I achieve with the Backup file?
Please help me to get my PC back.
Thanks

 

[Bill in Co.]

When you've fixed your problem, wait until the OFFICIAL release of SP3
before attempting to download it again.

Better yet, just skip it.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Don't pay attention to this bozo, "garavan". He's only been using XP
since January and still wishes he was using Win98SE.

LOL. You go right ahead and install it. Best of luck to ya.

 

[Bill in Co.]

I "mis-remembered": I once installed a driver update LONG-LONG ago.
Learned my lesson the hard way.

I have passed up EVERY driver update.

Good. There may be some hope for you yet!

 

[garavan]

Thanks to you all, but guys I really awaited a reply especially how to use my
windows backup file. Btw. on the second partition I just re-installed the x64
for my AMD (This is my main Windows XP system. The x86 is only needed because
some drivers and progs cannot be run on the x64 platform).

How can I load the Windows backup for the corrupted x86?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Thanks to you all, but guys I really awaited a reply especially how to use
my
windows backup file. Btw. on the second partition I just re-installed the
x64
for my AMD (This is my main Windows XP system. The x86 is only needed
because
some drivers and progs cannot be run on the x64 platform).

How can I load the Windows backup for the corrupted x86?

The answer to that lies in the utility that you used to back it up. I
don't see that you have mentioned this key detail.

If you used Windows Backup as non-ASR (i.e. you didn't have to make a
floppy) then you have to reinstall Windows first, as this relies on a
working Windows install. If you used ASR, IIRC you get out your Windows
CD, start setup, press F2 to run ASR, and give it the floppy and tell it
where the files are. It will then wipe the drive and reinstall the backup.

Other utilities are simpler, but if they don't offer bootable system
restoration you will need to get back to a working install - first.

HTH
-pk

 

[Script]

Thanks to you all, but guys I really awaited a reply especially how to use my
windows backup file. Btw. on the second partition I just re-installed the x64
for my AMD (This is my main Windows XP system. The x86 is only needed because
some drivers and progs cannot be run on the x64 platform).

How can I load the Windows backup for the corrupted x86?

Depends; what method/software did you create the backup with?
What kind of backup is it? Clone? Image? Other?
Do you mean Window's *native* backup? (Hope not)