Hi George--
I've described and screenshot in detail 4 basic options for you below. I
wouldn't even try to repair a no boot corrupted XP which is what I believe
you're describing by doing an upgrade to Vista any more than I'd try to
build a new World Trade Center on the stupidly engineered wreck of the
Minnesota I-35W Bridge that connects downtown Minneapolis and the University
of Minnesota (or used to). Thank you moronic US Congress in substantive
part for that and the many other bridges that will soon collapse in the US.
You don't need to post this problem twice. Once is enough. You posted on an
earlier thread. I agree with Bruce Chambers--you don't even want to try to
install a Vista upgrade onto a corrupted XP as a building block. I don't
know if Steve Easton's interesting presicent solution at a command prompt
would work, but the way to get a command prompt if you cannot boot to
regular Windows is to use the F8 key by tapping it slightly faster than once
per second and choose Safe Mode with Command. I'd give Steve's command a
try, because you have everything to gain and nothing to lose with it.
If you have an error (you really weren't explicit) that is keeping you from
your data and files because you CANNOT BOOT TO XPSP2) you aren't likely to
fix it by upgrading to Vista. However, I believe that you can fix it, and
there is more than one way that might work.
***SFC as a Remedy***:
Either from Windows or by Booting to Safe Mode with Command and running sfc
/scannow command from the command prompt):
If you can boot to XP SP2 (and the comment you can't recover or retrieve
your files makes me think you're saying you can't between the lines), I'd
run SFC. Hitting the Windows key +R>type sfc /scannow into your run box.
***Reinstalling XP SP2 as a Remedy***
(Provided you can boot to Windows)
You also could try downloading and reinstalling XP SP2 if you can boot to
Windows (and I'm guessing you can't). The download is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en
***Repair Install as a Remedy***
If you have an XP CD (it need not be XP with SP2 on the CD) --it will repair
to whatever the CD is and you can upgrade to SP2 after you have done the
repair install.
If not, and you have an XP CD (it's not necessary to have one with SP2
slipstreamed or on the CD) you can always add it later using the link above,
you can try one of the most successful fixes for XP--a repair install or an
inplace upgrade. Directions for that are here:
Repair Install MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
Repair Install (for XP or Vista)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
Repair Install (Method 2): (for XP or Vista)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/315341
See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS (Applies to Vista as well)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
http://www.short-media.com/images/mm/Articles/build_computer/bios/bios03.jpg
______________________________________
***Using the F8 Environment or a Repair Install from the CD:***
Press F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen:
***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:
The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).
Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
You could also:
Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration
Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.
These methods are outlined in
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449
Good luck,
CH
