Windows Restore from C prompt

[Craig A.]

I have a problem where I am not able to boot windows in either SAFE MODE or
in Normal Mode, I was able to boot from a borrowed WIndows CD and get to a c:
prompt. I do not think the path to C:\windows even loaded so how would I get
to Windows Restore from just directory and files?????
Thanks

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If you are talking about System Restore you have to be able to run Windows
to use it. Try the recovery console to repair the startup.

 

[Big Al]

I have a problem where I am not able to boot windows in either SAFE MODE or
in Normal Mode, I was able to boot from a borrowed WIndows CD and get to a c:
prompt. I do not think the path to C:\windows even loaded so how would I get
to Windows Restore from just directory and files?????
Thanks

How much of the C:\ root do you see? Can you do a dir? The C: drive
might be a virtual drive and not the HD.
Hang in, I'm just trying to follow what you are doing. For my own
education in case I'm hopefully never in your shoes, but maybe.
Hope you get more response.

 

[Daave]

I have a problem where I am not able to boot windows in either SAFE
MODE or in Normal Mode, I was able to boot from a borrowed WIndows CD
and get to a c: prompt. I do not think the path to C:\windows even
loaded so how would I get to Windows Restore from just directory and
files?????

What do you mean by the term Windows Restore?

 

[Craig A.]

Windows sets RESTORE POINTS, is there anyway to ACCESS these Restore files
from the C:\windows prompt???

Correct me if I am wrong, Windows is nothing more than a batch program
hidden behind an ICON, so can I access the exe file or sys file or whatever
that is the RESTORE Command for a peticular date?

I can not get into windows nor can I get into SAFE MODE I have a hal.dll
error that stops me from going anywhere. I was able to boot from a boorowed
Windows XP cd and get to a C:\ prompt and I am hoping I can restore to an
early point. I tried that from the SAFE MODE screen where it says to load
the last configuration that worked but got the erro again. The actual error
message is
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll What does the <windows root> is that the
same as C:\windows\system32 ??? I could copy the hal.dll from the CD to that
location if it is the directory.

Thanks

 

[Bob I]

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us

 

[PD43]

Windows sets RESTORE POINTS, is there anyway to ACCESS these Restore files
from the C:\windows prompt???

WHAT - pray tell - would you do with them IF you could access them?

They are only usable from within Windows.

 

[Lem]

I have a problem where I am not able to boot windows in either SAFE MODE or
in Normal Mode, I was able to boot from a borrowed WIndows CD and get to a c:
prompt. I do not think the path to C:\windows even loaded so how would I get
to Windows Restore from just directory and files?????
Thanks

It's a little more complicated than that.

If this is the same problem that you mentioned in your "Danger Will
Robinson" post, follow the advice that Malke gave you. That is, first
use the Attrib command to see the boot.ini file, then delete it, then
use BootCfg to rebuild a new one.

Otherwise, depending on what your problem is, this KB article may (or
may not) help. You should also read the articles linked under "References."

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Phisherman]

I have a problem where I am not able to boot windows in either SAFE MODE or
in Normal Mode, I was able to boot from a borrowed WIndows CD and get to a c:
prompt. I do not think the path to C:\windows even loaded so how would I get
to Windows Restore from just directory and files?????
Thanks

There should be a restore option when booting from the Windows CD. If
you can't access your drive from the prompt, you may have a bad hard
drive, bad drive controller, or corrupted BIOS.

 

[Daave]

Windows sets RESTORE POINTS, is there anyway to ACCESS these Restore
files from the C:\windows prompt???

If you're talking about System Restore, you can follow the instructions
that Bob I wrote:

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us

Correct me if I am wrong, Windows is nothing more than a batch
program hidden behind an ICON, so can I access the exe file or sys
file or whatever that is the RESTORE Command for a peticular date?

Sorry to be dense, but I'm just not following.

I can not get into windows nor can I get into SAFE MODE I have a
hal.dll error that stops me from going anywhere. I was able to boot
from a boorowed Windows XP cd and get to a C:\ prompt and I am
hoping I can restore to an early point. I tried that from the SAFE
MODE screen where it says to load the last configuration that worked
but got the erro again. The actual error message is
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll

Is there anything else to this message? Does it say that HAL.DLL is
missing?

Did you try Malke's idea from your other thread?

Boot from your CD and follow the directions to start Recovery Console.
Then:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

Although you can't perform a repair install with a different-version XP
disk, you may be able to run the Recovery Console. (It's worth a try.)

If nothing works, you might need to perform a clean install (or in your
case, use the hidden restore partition). You will need to salvage your
data first, of course.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Windows sets RESTORE POINTS, is there anyway to ACCESS these Restore files
from the C:\windows prompt???

Yes and no. It's not necessarlily a really simple task, and won't fix your
problem.

Correct me if I am wrong, Windows is nothing more than a batch program
hidden behind an ICON, so can I access the exe file or sys file or
whatever
that is the RESTORE Command for a peticular date?

You are very wrong about Windows, though you can perhaps run System Restore
from the command prompt.

However that won't be possible given the error you cite. You have to fix
that error first, and then you won't need to do this at all.

I can not get into windows nor can I get into SAFE MODE I have a hal.dll

error that stops me from going anywhere. I was able to boot from a
boorowed
Windows XP cd and get to a C:\ prompt and I am hoping I can restore to
an
early point.

Please see the instructions you got earlier. That is what you should be
doing.

I tried that from the SAFE MODE screen where it says to load
the last configuration that worked but got the erro again.
The actual error
message is
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll What does the <windows root> is that
the
same as C:\windows\system32 ??? I could copy the hal.dll from the CD to
that
location if it is the directory.

The restore points will not fix this error.

Please see the instructions Malke referred to earlier regarding using a boot
CD to get to the Recovery Console.

 

[jake]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945380/

Make a boot disk and see if that works.If it does then you know either the
mbr or the boot.ini is corrupt

heres how to start restore from command prompt but I dont think it will work
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

 

[jake]

restore files are stored in the System Volume Information folder on your root
drive.
heres how to restore the registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/