Making XP forget about an installation attempt

[Daniel Prince]

I can not get into safe mode, or safe mode with command prompt,
because of a failed repair installation. When I try to go into
either type of safe mode I get a message saying XP is unable to run
setup in safe mode. When I click on the X in the upper right corner
of the message box, all I get is a blank screen or my computer
reboots.

Is there a way that I can edit or delete a file, or files, so that
XP will not know that I tried to do an install? If I could get into
safe mode I might be able to fix my system by using a restore point
older than the one Windows thinks is the last good one. (It is not
good.)

Thank you in advance for all replies.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I can not get into safe mode, or safe mode with command prompt,
because of a failed repair installation. When I try to go into
either type of safe mode I get a message saying XP is unable to run
setup in safe mode. When I click on the X in the upper right corner
of the message box, all I get is a blank screen or my computer
reboots.

Is there a way that I can edit or delete a file, or files, so that
XP will not know that I tried to do an install? If I could get into
safe mode I might be able to fix my system by using a restore point
older than the one Windows thinks is the last good one. (It is not
good.)

Thank you in advance for all replies.
--

Try getting into Last Known Good Configuration.

 

[Daniel Prince]

Try getting into Last Known Good Configuration.

It does not work. I want to get into a configuration that is
earlier than the one Windows thinks is the Last Known Good
Configuration before I do a new install.

 

[Answerguy]

Have you tried editing the boot.ini file?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;289022

The part about removing an operating system is what you
are looking for. You should see a reference to setup. Try
removing that reference.

 

[Alex Nichol]

It does not work. I want to get into a configuration that is
earlier than the one Windows thinks is the Last Known Good
Configuration before I do a new install.

You may well have a related line in the boot.ini file. No guarantee,
but try rebuilding that. Boot the CD to the immediate R Recovery mode,
and there give
ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini
DEL C:\boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild