Repair install questions

[Daniel]

Hi

I am running Windows XP pro

I have a really big problem and hope someone can help.
I have a Compaq EVO N800v Laptop which will not boot up.
This started this morning after having no problem shutting
down the night before.
The boot cycle keeps repeating with a blu screen showing
very quickly, too quickly to read, after the "starting
windows" box appears.
I have tried restarting with the last known good
configuration but get exactly the same response.
I have tried booting into safe mode but my password is not
accepted, and I definitley know the correct password.
I have tried to do repair install from the Windows CD but
I am asked for the administrators password, I enter my
password and it is not accepted, I am the administrator,
although the Laptop came with the OS installed so maybe
Compaq loaded another password.

Is there something I can do to fix this?
If I reinstall Windows XP will I lose my files? I know I
will lose the contents of My Documents but that is okay as
long as I do not lose everything else, I do not keep stuff
in My Documents, I create seperate folders on the C: drive.

all help appreciated.

regards

Daniel

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

A repair install doesn't require a password, you likely went to the recovery
console. However, if you don't have an XP CD and only have a recovery CD or
a customized OEM CD, repair install won't be available to you. If Compaq
supplied you with an actual XP CD, the following instructions will get you
to the repair install. ***NOTE: you will come to a section below that has a
repair option. However, at the point, as specified below, you use the
Install Windows option.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.

 

[Guest]

The user passwords are'nt the same in repair,or ADM.,press the ente
key only,when prompted for one.You can try repair,type:CHKDSK C: /
At the cmd screen,to start windows,try tapping the F8 key at restarting or startin
up the computer,enter in ADM.,capacity safe-mode with net capabilities,once o
desktop,go to run,type:cmd in cmd type:Sfc /Scannow youll need to insert the xp cd
exit the info page.

 

[Steve]

I beleive that thru the course of time and operator
interference, my XP Home Edition has become corrupted. I
have been trying to figure out how to do a repair of XP.

Your posting brings up several interesting issues. I
have and XP Upgrade CD, which, if I understand you
correctly, cannot be used to run a repair. Also, XP Home
Edition has no "BACK UP" utility.

Are there any other options for a repair ??

Thanks !

 

[Malke]

Hi

I am running Windows XP pro

I have a really big problem and hope someone can help.
I have a Compaq EVO N800v Laptop which will not boot up.
This started this morning after having no problem shutting
down the night before.
The boot cycle keeps repeating with a blu screen showing
very quickly, too quickly to read, after the "starting
windows" box appears.
I have tried restarting with the last known good
configuration but get exactly the same response.
I have tried booting into safe mode but my password is not
accepted, and I definitley know the correct password.
I have tried to do repair install from the Windows CD but
I am asked for the administrators password, I enter my
password and it is not accepted, I am the administrator,
although the Laptop came with the OS installed so maybe
Compaq loaded another password.

Is there something I can do to fix this?
If I reinstall Windows XP will I lose my files? I know I
will lose the contents of My Documents but that is okay as
long as I do not lose everything else, I do not keep stuff
in My Documents, I create seperate folders on the C: drive.

If the data is crucial and you haven't backed it up, then you should
probably take the machine to a good local computer repair shop (not a
BestBuy or CompUSA type of store) and have them rescue your data. They
will be able to remove the laptop hard drive and slave it to another
machine. Another option is to boot with Knoppix and if Knoppix can see
the Windows installation, burn the files to cd-r with K3b. Once you've
saved your data, you can try repairing the installation and if you lose
the original install, it won't matter so much.

Malke

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

If the upgrade CD is identical to or is the retail upgrade CD, you have the
repair install option, simply follow these instructions:
Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.

As to the backup utility, again, if your upgrade version is the retail
upgrade CD or identical to it, it includes the backup utility:
Go to the valueadd\msft\ntbackup folder on the XP Home Edition cd and
install ntbackup manually by double clicking the file.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I beleive that thru the course of time and operator
interference, my XP Home Edition has become corrupted. I
have been trying to figure out how to do a repair of XP.

Your posting brings up several interesting issues. I
have and XP Upgrade CD, which, if I understand you
correctly, cannot be used to run a repair.

No, that's not correct.

Also, XP Home
Edition has no "BACK UP" utility.

Also not correct.

Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional, but not on
XP Home. If you have the complete XP Home CD, find backup on the
CD, in \ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by
doubleclicking the file ntbackup.msi.

If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi

Also see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

 

[daniel]

You guys are great, thank you so much for your help, I am up and running
again.
This was a life saver.

thanks again

Daniel