recoving from lost system file, xp pro

[Dave]

Hi

Switched my machine on to find that it wouldn't boot, saying that a system
file was missing or corrupt and that I should use original installation disk
and type r.

I booted from the original XP Pro installation cd, pressed r. After I was
asked to select the windows disk I got the recovery console, c:\windows
prompt.

When I type in chkdsk /f it says it is an invalid parameter. When I type
chkdsk /? it lists only /p and /r as valid parameters.

I then tried to Boot from the XP cd, and when prompted I hit enter to begin
setup. Pressed F8 to accept the license agreement and choose install option
hoping that it would give me the ability to repair the existing
installation. However, it gave me an error about loading two operating
systems might cause problems etc. I also noticed that it showed an 8Mb
partition that I had not originally created.

Could this be a virus?

Should I try booting from a floppy with a copy of chkdsk?

Thanks
Dave

 

[owlbird]

Hi, it's easy. Please visit http://www.ptdd.com and download Partition
Table Doctor to help you. Partition Table Doctor( PTD ) is a powerful
recovery tool for your harddisk partition tables, it checks and
repairs partition table error automatically

 

[sgopus]

Don't know about virus, but it sure sounds like your system
has been hacked. someone has created another partition
and the operating system doesn't like the change.
I urge you to format your disk, and do a reinstall.
make sure all connections to the internet are disconnected
while doing the install, activate your firewall before
connecting to the net. and or install zonealarm a free
software firewall, disable the existing xp firewall.