How recover XP without losing data or applications

[kathie]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

It won't boot to safe mode. (After the Windows boot screen it shows
a "DOS" list of dll files in System32 and the system hangs there.)

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

 

[C]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

It won't boot to safe mode. (After the Windows boot screen it shows
a "DOS" list of dll files in System32 and the system hangs there.)

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

Did you try hitting F8 and choosing "Use last known good configuration"?

If that won't work and you have another computer, remove the hard drive
and install it as a slave drive in the other computer to copy your data.
Back up is a computer user's best friend.

C

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

It won't boot to safe mode. (After the Windows boot screen it shows
a "DOS" list of dll files in System32 and the system hangs there.)

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

You can save your data, using the method suggested by C. You cannot save
your applications. To restore your applications you would need to have a
fairly up-to-date image of your system partition, using an imaging product
such as Acronis TrueImage. And as C mentioned, this is time to review your
backup policy. Consider the current event as a warning shot. Next time you
might lose the lot. A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is an excellent
backup medium that costs very little.

 

[JS]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

It won't boot to safe mode. (After the Windows boot screen it shows
a "DOS" list of dll files in System32 and the system hangs there.)

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

Using your original Windows Setup CD,
boot from the CD and follow all the instructions until you get to the point
where Setup finds your current Windows installation.

Just follow the instructions posted at one of the web sites below,
read each of the steps carefully so you understand what you will be doing a
step by step before you actually start the repair process.
Windows will keep your previous settings, including applications and
device drivers.

Word of warning: Always backup any important data files just incase
things don't go as expected. Read all three articles mention below
"carefully" and see if a Repair Install meets your needs

See: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
and: Windows XP Repair Install - How extreme can you go
http://www.pagestart.com/repairinstall.html

Note: IE7 and IE8 users read this before you start:
"How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if a later version of
Internet Explorer is installed"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964

Finally go to Windows Update site and install all the updates as they will
need to be reinstalled.

Also read:
Non Destructive Repair of XP by Fred Langa:
http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341
Fred Langa:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897

 

[Daave]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

It won't boot to safe mode. (After the Windows boot screen it shows
a "DOS" list of dll files in System32 and the system hangs there.)

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

No approach is 100% foolproof. That being said, the best (safest)
approach is to:

1. Copy all your data as a safeguard. You can either phyically remove
the hard drive and place it either in an external enclosure or in
another PC as a slave *OR* boot off an emergency CD like Knoppix,
Ubuntu, UBCD4Win, or Bart PE and copy the data to an external hard
drive. Once this is done, data can be copied to another location. (Feel
free to ask if you need guidance.)

2. After pressing F8, attempt to start your PC by using the Last Known
Good Configuration:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

(Who knows? You might luck out with that!)

3. If the above doesn't work, perform what is often called a manual
System Restore. Instructions are here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

If you have an XP installation CD, you may the Recovery Console found
there. (Or perhaps it is a choice in your F8 menu.) If you don't have an
XP installation CD, you may burn your own bootable Recovery Console CD,
using the information here:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/recovery-console-for-those-without-an-xp-disk/

If you need a program that can create a CD from an .iso, I recommend
ImgBurn:

http://www.imgburn.com/

Another option is a Repair Install, but these can be tricky with regard
to Service Pack levels not matching and the version of IE installed. If
the above doesn't work, post back and we can give you better guidance
with regard to performing a Repair Install (its advantage is all your
programs and data would remain intact -- *if* done without issues...).

As I said, the above is not 100% foolproof, and the possibility exists
that you will need to perform a Clean Install. :-( Its disadvantage is
that all your data and programs would be erased. That is why it is
important to back up all your data!

In the future, if you want to avoid this situation (the possibility of
losing all your installed applications), it is best to regularly image
or clone your hard drive. If you would eventually like guidance for
that, please start a new thread.

Good luck.

 

[db]

one of the options you have since
your hard drive won't boot up

is to boot with a winxp cd and run
some disk commands.



--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per kathie:

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

Dunn from "best", but one last-ditch fallback position would be
to buy a USB drive wrapper, temporarily install your PC's system
disc in it, connect it to another PC, and copy *everything* to a
directory on that PC.

This will not save your apps, but with enough digging you will be
able to recover your data.

But, as somebody else said: consider this a shot across your bow.

Backing up to a second drive is minimal. What I always do is
keep my data on a separate physical drive - that is another disc
in the PC. Second-best is to keep it on another partition of
the system drive.

Then, of course, one still does regular backups to an external
drive. I used to use a "real" backup program called
"Retrospect", but now I use a file-based product called
"SecondCopy". Probably sb using Retro.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

It won't boot to safe mode. (After the Windows boot screen it shows
a "DOS" list of dll files in System32 and the system hangs there.)

I heard of various methods to recover XP Pro but I don't want to
lose data or applications.

What's the best approach to take?

You might be able to put things right with a repair installation, but
you should make sure you back up your data before starting. You'll
probably need to use something like Hirem's Ultimate Boot CD to copy the
data to an external drive.

UBCD for Windows
http://www.ubcd4win.com/index.htm

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[kathie]

No approach is 100% foolproof. That being said, the best
(safest) approach is to:

1. Copy all your data as a safeguard. You can either phyically
remove the hard drive and place it either in an external
enclosure or in another PC as a slave *OR* boot off an
emergency CD like Knoppix, Ubuntu, UBCD4Win, or Bart PE and
copy the data to an external hard drive. Once this is done,
data can be copied to another location. (Feel free to ask if
you need guidance.)

2. After pressing F8, attempt to start your PC by using the
Last Known Good Configuration:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

(Who knows? You might luck out with that!)

3. If the above doesn't work, perform what is often called a
manual System Restore. Instructions are here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

If you have an XP installation CD, you may the Recovery Console
found there. (Or perhaps it is a choice in your F8 menu.) If
you don't have an XP installation CD, you may burn your own
bootable Recovery Console CD, using the information here:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/recovery-console-for-those-witho
ut-an-xp-disk/

If you need a program that can create a CD from an .iso, I
recommend ImgBurn:

http://www.imgburn.com/

Another option is a Repair Install, but these can be tricky
with regard to Service Pack levels not matching and the version
of IE installed. If the above doesn't work, post back and we
can give you better guidance with regard to performing a Repair
Install (its advantage is all your programs and data would
remain intact -- *if* done without issues...).

As I said, the above is not 100% foolproof, and the possibility
exists that you will need to perform a Clean Install. :-( Its
disadvantage is that all your data and programs would be
erased. That is why it is important to back up all your data!

In the future, if you want to avoid this situation (the
possibility of losing all your installed applications), it is
best to regularly image or clone your hard drive. If you would
eventually like guidance for that, please start a new thread.

Good luck.

Hello Daave, thank you. You and others have given me a lot of info
and I'm going to need some time to read thru the links. The reapir
install is looking less attractive because of the hotfix updates I
need to apply but maybe I have no choice!

 

[kathie]

Using your original Windows Setup CD,
boot from the CD and follow all the instructions until you get
to the point where Setup finds your current Windows
installation.

Just follow the instructions posted at one of the web sites
below, read each of the steps carefully so you understand what
you will be doing a step by step before you actually start the
repair process. Windows will keep your previous settings,
including applications and device drivers.

I'll look thru the links you have kindly provided.

Word of warning: Always backup any important data files just
incase things don't go as expected. Read all three articles
mention below "carefully" and see if a Repair Install meets
your needs

I tried a back up and found some NTFS errors. I wonder if they
were the cause of my problem rather than bad drivers.

See: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
and: Windows XP Repair Install - How extreme can you go
http://www.pagestart.com/repairinstall.html

Note: IE7 and IE8 users read this before you start:
"How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if a later
version of Internet Explorer is installed"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964

Finally go to Windows Update site and install all the updates
as they will need to be reinstalled.

This sounds unappealing I reckon I don't have the choice.

 

[Daave]

Hello Daave, thank you. You and others have given me a lot of info
and I'm going to need some time to read thru the links. The reapir
install is looking less attractive because of the hotfix updates I
need to apply but maybe I have no choice!

Before you consider the Repair Install, you should try Options 2 and 3
from above (LKGC, first, and if that doesn't work, the manual System
Restore). One of these methods might solve your particular problem, so
you should try them before reinstalling the OS.

Otherwise, your choices are limited to a Repair Install (with no
guarantee that will solve your problem) or a Clean Install. Don't be
afraid of re-applying security updates. That should be the least of your
worries! Remember, Repair Installs can be tricky, so if this is what you
decide to do, be sure to get the proper guidance first (with regard to
Service Pack level and IE version).

 

[Daave]

My XP Pro system won't boot after I installed some applications.

I fogot to ask:

Which applications did you install? That would provide a helpful clue.