Trying to use Recovery Console.

[Randy Williams]

So I want to use method 2 listed here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US;
Q315341

to re-install by starting the computer from the Windows CD.

I get as far as "Which Windows installation would you like to log onto?"

I don't know what this means but by typing any letter it says; "Please
select a valid installation number." So using the word "number" as a clue I
type 1 which gets me to "Type the Administrator password".

I have no passwords. I used no passwords setting up this OS originally.

I am trying to recover the system because it is asking me for a non-existent
password when I try to boot up.

So, another frustrating computer loop.

Any suggestions.

 

[Ronald Nissley]

I have no passwords. I used no passwords setting up this OS originally.

I am trying to recover the system because it is asking me for a
non-existent
password when I try to boot up.

So, another frustrating computer loop.

Any suggestions.

Randy,

Did you try pressing Enter (blank password) when prompted?

Hope that's helpful,

Ronald Nissley

 

[David Webb]

You do not use the Recovery Console (RC) to reinstall the OS. The RC is used to
repair the OS.

You must have made the wrong choice at this part of the procedure:

You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen that appears:

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your
computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.
[end quote]

 

[randwill]

Hold the phone.

I'm back in with system restore from Safe Mode.

But while I have your attention, any answer on how to get rid of the
nonexistent DVD drive which is still hogging the "E" position in My
Computer. This causes the newly installed drive, and another drive to be
pushed one letter ahead and to not function.

I have gone to Device Manger and to View>Show Hidden Devices and found it
there and greyed out. So I uninstalled from there but on re-boot it is still
listed at "E" in My Computer and the other DVD drives will not function.

Using the RegistryFix software, which temporarily screwed me up, was an
attempt to solve this drive letter issue. Which it didn't.

 

[David Webb]

I'd start with the registry fix for drive associations listed under the Windows
XP Tips & Fixes section of this website:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/index.html

Create a new restore point before merging this into your registry.

Let us know if it cured the problem.

 

[Unknown]

Get rid of virus programs especially 'GOBACK' if you have it before
restoring.

 

[Nightowl]

Hi Randy

I wonder if there are still other instances of the old E: drive still in
the registry.

Open up a command window, then type:
set devmgr_ show_nonpresent_devices=1 <enter> then type:
devmgmt.msc <enter> (Device Manager opens up). Leave the command window
open for now, because as soon as you shut it the option to view
nonpresent devices will be lost.

In Device Manager, check Show Hidden Devices as you did before and see
if there are any further grayed-out "ghosts" of the old drive there.
Delete any you find.

Then I'd shut down, open up the computer and disconnect your new DVD
drives. Reboot and check to see if the E: drive has finally gone from My
Computer and Device Manager.

Once you've had a clean start without any DVDs at all, reconnect your
new drives and let Windows detect them.