Inaccessible Folders and Incorrect System Disk

[Guest]

I tried reinstalling Windows XP Home (which was itself the OS I was running at the time), and it offered a patched/updated version of the install, so I accepted it. However the install crashed after the first reboot. I booted from CD and installed the unupgraded version to another partition, which I am running now, which seems to be running fine

I have three partitions: C, E and D. The first two are primary and the last is a logical. The working version of XP Home I am running at the moment is on D, the old OS was on C, as was the first upgraded install, which was still unresolved. I tried formatting drive C, but it got stuck when trying to delete certain files/folders. Manually deleting the files, there were three objects that could not be deleted

Program Files\Common Files\BTLINK\tem
Program Files\Search Toolbar\tem
Windows\System32\aux.ex

aux.exe was a 'ghost' file, having a size of 0 bytes, no title, no last date of creation/modification/access etc. But with help from this Newsgroup have been able to remove it. The two temp folders I have yet been unable to remove. I cannot access them, change their attributes, or delete them. They also seem to contain files and/or subfolders that I am also unable to access in any way

Additionally, my D drive is apparently only my Boot drive, and C is still my System. This remains even when there is nothing on drive C except those two inaccessible folders! This probably has something to do with my old OS or my first, still as yet unresolved install. It was also coming up with a dual boot options ('Windows XP' and 'Windows XP' hmm), one of which led to the continuation of the first install (which still comes up with errors, and which I am unable to abort/rollback). The temp folders probably hold the temp files used in that install (but the directory path?). Drive C also has unmovable memory that is probably what windows thinks is its MFT zone (or whatever). Also because C is still apparently my System disk, I am disallowed many devices

Any suggestions as to how to delete these temp folders, rollback the first install, reallocate system drive or anything else that might resolve these problems would be greatly appreciated
I am no windows or computer expert, but from what I've seen displayed on drive C, I don't think I'll be ripping off the 'System' drive tag from drive C without scrubbing my entire computer clean. However, I will be content, in the meantime, just removing the temp folders, as they are the only things causing any real/effectual damage - jamming Defragmenter and thus making the C drive horribly fragmented. (The system disk confusion is, in the end, just an organisational thorn, although one that does get on my nerves.

Anyhow, thanks for reading this far, any suggestions are welcome and appreciated

- Jon Le

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I would suggest you start over from scratch and perform
a "clean install".

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

2. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

3. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
4. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
5. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

6. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------


| I tried reinstalling Windows XP Home (which was itself the OS I was running at the time), and it offered a
patched/updated version of the install, so I accepted it. However the install crashed after the first reboot.
I booted from CD and installed the unupgraded version to another partition, which I am running now, which
seems to be running fine.
|
| I have three partitions: C, E and D. The first two are primary and the last is a logical. The working
version of XP Home I am running at the moment is on D, the old OS was on C, as was the first upgraded install,
which was still unresolved. I tried formatting drive C, but it got stuck when trying to delete certain
files/folders. Manually deleting the files, there were three objects that could not be deleted:
|
| Program Files\Common Files\BTLINK\temp
| Program Files\Search Toolbar\temp
| Windows\System32\aux.exe
|
| aux.exe was a 'ghost' file, having a size of 0 bytes, no title, no last date of creation/modification/access
etc. But with help from this Newsgroup have been able to remove it. The two temp folders I have yet been
unable to remove. I cannot access them, change their attributes, or delete them. They also seem to contain
files and/or subfolders that I am also unable to access in any way.
|
| Additionally, my D drive is apparently only my Boot drive, and C is still my System. This remains even when
there is nothing on drive C except those two inaccessible folders! This probably has something to do with my
old OS or my first, still as yet unresolved install. It was also coming up with a dual boot options ('Windows
XP' and 'Windows XP' hmm), one of which led to the continuation of the first install (which still comes up
with errors, and which I am unable to abort/rollback). The temp folders probably hold the temp files used in
that install (but the directory path?). Drive C also has unmovable memory that is probably what windows thinks
is its MFT zone (or whatever). Also because C is still apparently my System disk, I am disallowed many
devices.
|
| Any suggestions as to how to delete these temp folders, rollback the first install, reallocate system drive
or anything else that might resolve these problems would be greatly appreciated.
| I am no windows or computer expert, but from what I've seen displayed on drive C, I don't think I'll be
ripping off the 'System' drive tag from drive C without scrubbing my entire computer clean. However, I will be
content, in the meantime, just removing the temp folders, as they are the only things causing any
real/effectual damage - jamming Defragmenter and thus making the C drive horribly fragmented. (The system disk
confusion is, in the end, just an organisational thorn, although one that does get on my nerves.)
|
| Anyhow, thanks for reading this far, any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
|
| - Jon Lee
|

 

[Guest]

Yeah that's what I feared I had to do. Well it's done now, after a lengthy time backing up all the files I wished to keep. All of my aforementioned glitches have been resolved.

Thanks for your help and confirmation of the deed Carey Frisch (and Michael Stevens)