Repair option from Setup CD

[Richard]

I have a 2+ year old ACER running XP Media Center 2005 which was preloaded.
There is now a problem with BOOTing and it says that I should try the repair
option from the Setup CD, which I don't have because ACER does not provide
one. How can I get a Setup CD or something similar to try the Repair
option???

 

[DL]

Exactly what is the boot problem?
What method of recovering your sytem did Acer supply?

 

[Richard]

BOOT problem..... never goes to Windows...black screen...
msg: Win could not start because following file missing or corrupt:
windows\system32\config\system
can attempt to repair by starting Win setup using original setup CD. Select
'R' at first screen to start repair.

ACER provided with the system a set of 6 RECOVERY CDs that are for RESTORING
the system to its original status.... that is the only option available on
them.

Nothing I can find can read NTSF so I can copy a file back to the hard drive.

 

[Richard in AZ]

Now you know the reason we preach "Backup your data to a removable drive or CD"
I assume you meant that you can not find a boot disk that will read your NTSF drive to recover your
personal files.
Some will tell you to remove the drive, buy a external case and attach it to another computer.
This will work, most of the time, but here is an alternative.
Try one of the Linux self-running CD's.
If the drive is not physically dead, you should be able to copy files from your hard drive to a USB
flash drive, using the Linux program. These Linux disks can be made from a downloaded ISO file or
you can find places on the Internet to buy one already setup.

To other watchers, I am not promoting any Linux. I use ERD Commander myself, but I have used an
Ubuntu disk to recover files to a usb drive (make sure the usb drive is mounted before you start
Ubuntu or it wont see it.)

| BOOT problem..... never goes to Windows...black screen...
| msg: Win could not start because following file missing or corrupt:
| windows\system32\config\system
| can attempt to repair by starting Win setup using original setup CD. Select
| 'R' at first screen to start repair.
|
| ACER provided with the system a set of 6 RECOVERY CDs that are for RESTORING
| the system to its original status.... that is the only option available on
| them.
|
| Nothing I can find can read NTSF so I can copy a file back to the hard drive.
|
|
| "DL" wrote:
|
| > Exactly what is the boot problem?
| > What method of recovering your sytem did Acer supply?
| >
| > | > >I have a 2+ year old ACER running XP Media Center 2005 which was preloaded.
| > > There is now a problem with BOOTing and it says that I should try the
| > > repair
| > > option from the Setup CD, which I don't have because ACER does not provide
| > > one. How can I get a Setup CD or something similar to try the Repair
| > > option???
| >
| >
| >

 

[DL]

This is often the problem with OEM pc's and their recovery disks.
You can sometimes use a winxp generic cd to repair, but I would suggest in
your case you concentrate in first recovering your data, and only then
attempt to repair.
www.bootdisk.com has utilities for reading/copying ntfs files, but if
significant amounts of data are involved, then an alternate solution is
required, one of which is detailed in the other response.

 

[ju.c]

You need an "Windows XP Media Center 2005" disc. Either borrow one or download a copy from
a torrent.


ju.c

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a 2+ year old ACER running XP Media Center 2005 which was preloaded.
There is now a problem with BOOTing and it says that I should try the
repair
option from the Setup CD, which I don't have because ACER does not provide
one. How can I get a Setup CD or something similar to try the Repair
option???

Preloaded systems should provide you a way to create re-install CDs, though
these are often of the "restore" type that doesn't provide the Repair
option.

Aside from that, the only way for you to do that now is to buy a new XP
license and reinstall it. Preloads with restore partitions, or recovery
disks, generally don't have this option.

The other problem you'll find is that MEdia Center was, IIRC, only available
as an OEM version and could not be purchased at retail.

I see from later posts that you have a set of 6 CDs, and those will not have
the Repair option.

So unfortunately, you likely can not run the Repair option.

I would suggest that you remove the drive from your system, attach it to
another system, copy all the data off, then put the drive back in place and
use those disks. Later, copy your data back into place.

If you are unsure of where exactly your data is, you can take an image of
the entire disk using imaging software like Acronis TrueImage. This will
likely be faster than copying and will ensure that you get *everything*.

HTH
-pk