Laptop file deleted when upgrading to Windows XP

[Guest]

I was upgrading my old laptop (Windows ME) to XP Home SP2(newly purchased
installation CD). I had problems during installation and read the
instructions to copy I386 folder from the CD upgrade disk to my laptop.
Something happened during installation and now my PC will not boot to the
system disk.

I need to know what files may have been deleted or corrupted and understand
how I can get the laptop to boot up again to the C drive. I don't even care
if it doesn't boot to Windows ME.

I have an old boot CD from Norton and can get to the C prompt. I can work
in DOS on the laptop. Is there a way to copy a file from a sub directory to
get my laptop to boot up again. I just want to be able to read from the XP
upgrade disk and try the upgrade again.

Unfortunately it is an old laptop and all the old cd's were discarded.

Help is greatly appreciated!

 

[databaseben]

you didn't say how old
the laptop was. but if
it was a windows me ready
laptop, then it's not too old.

there is likely to be alot of
helpful information at the laptops
parent website, including downloads
and explanations of failures, possibly
one like yours too.

another source of information is
microsoft.com. you can search
there for something like "troubleshooting
winxp installations"

also, your newly purchased windows
provides 2 free technical support/service
tickets from microsoft certified technicians.
read your documentation or look for this
information at microsoft.com

my guess is that when you copied the i386 folders/files
over to your harddisk, you may have overwritten
the i386 folder you already had. however, i don't
have all the data or the laptop on my lap, so you
may have purchase the upgrade with the hopes
of fixing a problem you were already having, like
a boot virus, a dysfunctional harddrive, etc...

maybe you can try accessing
the folder above and look for a winnt32.exe
and run it. just drill down to the folder, type
that file name at the prompt and hit enter.

if this still doesn't work. then you should be
able to do a clean/complete new install
of windows.

it would not be unreasonable
to consider fdisk your harddrive for
a clean install. but this is the nuclear option
and should be one of last resort and encourage
you to let us know before you use this option
so we can make sure you have all your basis
covered.

keep in mind that if your version of xp is an upgrade, then
you will need to provide a prior version
of windows to proceed.

if your prior version of windows is an upgrade too then you need to go to a
prior version again,
until you get (or acquire) a free standing/
full version windows, like win95 or maybe win3.1.

i don't remember but i think the upgrade will still install
but with a time out or something. (maybe not)

 

[Guest]

Usually when says the c drive is the A drive then the A drive (floppy) has
been disabled, check your bios and enable it, it should then see the HD and
CD drives, although the older OS, ME being one of them you need to boot to a
floppy that contains the drivers to support the cd drive

 

[databaseben]

ok,
we are standing by
to help.....

Thanks for the prompt response. I tried typing winnt32.exe from the dos
prompt and of course get the error that this file does not run in dos.

I can only work in dos from the book CD I have. I've tried typing all of
the windows commands at the c: prompt, but it doesn't work. I don't know
if
it is because of the boot cd I am using.

When I boot up from the CD it registers as the A drive. I can change to
the
C drive and work in DOS. If I take out the boot disk and insert the XP CD
and type at the c prompt A:setup, I get a message Abort, Retry, Fail and
that
the drive is no longer valid.

So, I will try the other help items you mentioned in your post. Again, I
appreciate your help and will post my update, if I get this solved.

Thanks!

 

[databaseben]

btw

as you discovered dos disks cannot
work on a winxp system.

however, you can create emergency
boot up disks from "any" pc/laptop
running winxp.

the files to create them can also be
downloaded from microsoft.com

simply search for boot up disks
and related termonolgies to get
to the respective pages.....

 

[Guest]

Thank you again for your help! I was able to create an emergency boot cd
after checking microsoft's link that you listed.

I managed to get the XP install disk started and encounted problems. So, I
took you advise again and called Microsoft for support (since you said I
should receive 2 free support calls with the installation).

They were able to help me start the install, but with only 39 minutes left
(it was originally at 89 minutes) I received a "cyclic redundancy check"
error. A file GDIPLUS.man on line file errored out with a the error
SXS.DLL: syntax error in manifest or policy file
d:\I386\asma\10\msft\windows\gdiplus\gdiplus.man on line 4"

But, I was able to schedule a call back from Microsoft for more support.

I must say, it was great just being able to get some advice from you since I
really wasn't sure where to turn. I always thought it would cost a fortune
to have support from Microsoft.

Anyway - your help is greatly appreciated. I'm assuming that they will be
able to figure it out. Something tells me it may be a hardware problem -
maybe the CD? - anyway I'll see what they are able to do. Thank you for
being out there!!!!

Jackie K.

 

[databaseben]

i'm glad your getting somewhere
with it. It's likely to be hardware
that has worn out, as you beleive.

considering that the laptop
is still using a floppy drive, it
might not be a bad idea to begin
considering acquiring a better
and more reliable machine.

i look forward to knowing how
"official microsoft technicians"
diagnose your problem and
their resolution.

hope you keep us updated here....

thanks for your feedback.