WinXP Pro Not Booting === Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery Console or Repair, Ins

P

Paul

WinXP Pro Not Booting - Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery
Console or Repair, Install Loops + Encrypted Data to retrive

******Issue******

Laptop wouldnt boot due to a registry issue/corruption - Was able to go into
windows and login, but no shell (start menu, desktop, icons etc)

Safe Mode, Last Know Good and all other users profiles didnt work either -
same issue as above.

I do not have a ASR Boot Disk, but do have a System State backup on my
drive.

*****Fixs Tried******

1. Recovery Console

Tried using Recovery Console from WinXP CD, ie. Boot from XP CD

Refer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting.
(The procedure described in this article uses Recovery Console and System
Restore)

This worked until I got to the Admin password prompt. It then failed as
there is a bug with Recovery Console and some machines where XP was OEM
installed. So its not possible to run Recovery Console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402 - 'The
Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in WinXP

2. Repair from XP CD

I next tried a repair from CD per MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341 - How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

This started to work but then after installing drivers and adding CD Key it
restarted the PC (reading about 32 minutes remaining). It restarts the
install from scratch again (......"restarting Setup.....")

And It goes round and round in this loop. Probably due to the auto restart
on device install failure or perhaps because of the corrupt registry.

*******Current Status******

Starting PC now restarts the WinXP install as it never finished last time,
ie. it DOESNT go to a Win Startup Adv Start Up menu now.

So I'm kind off half way into an install that wont complete. Its possible to
boot with XP CD and go to Recovery Console and/or XP Install. But neither
work.

I could do a new install maybe but this may not work either and may????
result in me not being able to access user profiles and data that is
ENCRYPTED using WinXP EFS - I do not have the key saved anywhere to disk
etc.

*******
I am really desperate on what to do with this due ro my 8GB's of encrypted
data, can anyone please help?
*******

I have contacted MS and the OEM and they are no help, expect to try a
parallel install of Windows which will I'm sure will lose all my encrypted
data, or at leas never allow me to access it again.

I think I need an NTFS Dos type app so that I can follow a [semi] normal
procedure for system restore per KB article on using the recovery console.


*****Can anyone provide any light please:*******

1. What options do I have?

2. Can I save my data anyway? esp. given that its encrypted?

3. Is using some sort of NTFS DOS type app going to be enough for me to
restore some standard registry setting settings to boot?

4 If I do this will it boot given that I am now half way through a new
install that wont finish?

5. Is it possible to force the install to complete, disable the flag
somewhere that is making it reboot?

6. Will the restore options,ie. converting back to an original registry work
given that I seem to be half way through an install? If I do this it may not
boot anyway?

*******

I'd really appreciate any help that people can give me, feel free to email
group or myself direct. Im sure that others must have had this problem.
Basically if it had not been for the MS BUG with Recovery Console and OEM
version of XP I would have had it fixed in 30 minutes.

Regards
Paul

ps. For more on the repair options I have tried you can check out this
excellent resource with screen shots:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Also I think reinstalling will also cause some data loss according to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;312369 -You May Lose
Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows
XP
 
B

Bill James

The KB article for password rejection using the Recovery Console gives information on how to obtain the hotfix by calling MS Support. As long as you have that specific problem and do not ask any other support questions during the call you will not be charged for the call.

You might want to check your RAM with a good boot disk diagnostic checker such as Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page: http://www.memtest86.com/. Bad RAM could have caused the original problem and the problems with repair install.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

Paul said:
WinXP Pro Not Booting - Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery
Console or Repair, Install Loops + Encrypted Data to retrive

******Issue******

Laptop wouldnt boot due to a registry issue/corruption - Was able to go into
windows and login, but no shell (start menu, desktop, icons etc)

Safe Mode, Last Know Good and all other users profiles didnt work either -
same issue as above.

I do not have a ASR Boot Disk, but do have a System State backup on my
drive.

*****Fixs Tried******

1. Recovery Console

Tried using Recovery Console from WinXP CD, ie. Boot from XP CD

Refer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting.
(The procedure described in this article uses Recovery Console and System
Restore)

This worked until I got to the Admin password prompt. It then failed as
there is a bug with Recovery Console and some machines where XP was OEM
installed. So its not possible to run Recovery Console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402 - 'The
Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in WinXP

2. Repair from XP CD

I next tried a repair from CD per MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341 - How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

This started to work but then after installing drivers and adding CD Key it
restarted the PC (reading about 32 minutes remaining). It restarts the
install from scratch again (......"restarting Setup.....")

And It goes round and round in this loop. Probably due to the auto restart
on device install failure or perhaps because of the corrupt registry.

*******Current Status******

Starting PC now restarts the WinXP install as it never finished last time,
ie. it DOESNT go to a Win Startup Adv Start Up menu now.

So I'm kind off half way into an install that wont complete. Its possible to
boot with XP CD and go to Recovery Console and/or XP Install. But neither
work.

I could do a new install maybe but this may not work either and may????
result in me not being able to access user profiles and data that is
ENCRYPTED using WinXP EFS - I do not have the key saved anywhere to disk
etc.

*******
I am really desperate on what to do with this due ro my 8GB's of encrypted
data, can anyone please help?
*******

I have contacted MS and the OEM and they are no help, expect to try a
parallel install of Windows which will I'm sure will lose all my encrypted
data, or at leas never allow me to access it again.

I think I need an NTFS Dos type app so that I can follow a [semi] normal
procedure for system restore per KB article on using the recovery console.


*****Can anyone provide any light please:*******

1. What options do I have?

2. Can I save my data anyway? esp. given that its encrypted?

3. Is using some sort of NTFS DOS type app going to be enough for me to
restore some standard registry setting settings to boot?

4 If I do this will it boot given that I am now half way through a new
install that wont finish?

5. Is it possible to force the install to complete, disable the flag
somewhere that is making it reboot?

6. Will the restore options,ie. converting back to an original registry work
given that I seem to be half way through an install? If I do this it may not
boot anyway?

*******

I'd really appreciate any help that people can give me, feel free to email
group or myself direct. Im sure that others must have had this problem.
Basically if it had not been for the MS BUG with Recovery Console and OEM
version of XP I would have had it fixed in 30 minutes.

Regards
Paul

ps. For more on the repair options I have tried you can check out this
excellent resource with screen shots:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Also I think reinstalling will also cause some data loss according to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;312369 -You May Lose
Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows
XP
 
P

Paul

Bill, thanks for the response, however as I am unable to boot the machine
into anything resembling Windows I am therefore unable to apply a patch to
resolve the Recovery Console password problem (KB 307545).

Anyone know a way of fixing the recovery Console Password issue by say
getting the files themselves and copying them to the appropriate location?

Basically I need to get a recovery console type thing happening so that I
can restore registry files for the system to boot, assuming it can given
that it has stopped half way through an install......Please see email below
regarding full extent of issue........

Cheers
Paul

<<>>
The KB article for password rejection using the Recovery Console gives
information on how to obtain the hotfix by calling MS Support. As long as
you have that specific problem and do not ask any other support questions
during the call you will not be charged for the call.

You might want to check your RAM with a good boot disk diagnostic checker
such as Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page: http://www.memtest86.com/. Bad
RAM could have caused the original problem and the problems with repair
install.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

Paul said:
WinXP Pro Not Booting - Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery
Console or Repair, Install Loops + Encrypted Data to retrive

******Issue******

Laptop wouldnt boot due to a registry issue/corruption - Was able to go into
windows and login, but no shell (start menu, desktop, icons etc)

Safe Mode, Last Know Good and all other users profiles didnt work either -
same issue as above.

I do not have a ASR Boot Disk, but do have a System State backup on my
drive.

*****Fixs Tried******

1. Recovery Console

Tried using Recovery Console from WinXP CD, ie. Boot from XP CD

Refer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting.
(The procedure described in this article uses Recovery Console and System
Restore)

This worked until I got to the Admin password prompt. It then failed as
there is a bug with Recovery Console and some machines where XP was OEM
installed. So its not possible to run Recovery Console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402 - 'The
Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in WinXP

2. Repair from XP CD

I next tried a repair from CD per MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341 - How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

This started to work but then after installing drivers and adding CD Key it
restarted the PC (reading about 32 minutes remaining). It restarts the
install from scratch again (......"restarting Setup.....")

And It goes round and round in this loop. Probably due to the auto restart
on device install failure or perhaps because of the corrupt registry.

*******Current Status******

Starting PC now restarts the WinXP install as it never finished last time,
ie. it DOESNT go to a Win Startup Adv Start Up menu now.

So I'm kind off half way into an install that wont complete. Its possible to
boot with XP CD and go to Recovery Console and/or XP Install. But neither
work.

I could do a new install maybe but this may not work either and may????
result in me not being able to access user profiles and data that is
ENCRYPTED using WinXP EFS - I do not have the key saved anywhere to disk
etc.

*******
I am really desperate on what to do with this due ro my 8GB's of encrypted
data, can anyone please help?
*******

I have contacted MS and the OEM and they are no help, expect to try a
parallel install of Windows which will I'm sure will lose all my encrypted
data, or at leas never allow me to access it again.

I think I need an NTFS Dos type app so that I can follow a [semi] normal
procedure for system restore per KB article on using the recovery console.


*****Can anyone provide any light please:*******

1. What options do I have?

2. Can I save my data anyway? esp. given that its encrypted?

3. Is using some sort of NTFS DOS type app going to be enough for me to
restore some standard registry setting settings to boot?

4 If I do this will it boot given that I am now half way through a new
install that wont finish?

5. Is it possible to force the install to complete, disable the flag
somewhere that is making it reboot?

6. Will the restore options,ie. converting back to an original registry work
given that I seem to be half way through an install? If I do this it may not
boot anyway?

*******

I'd really appreciate any help that people can give me, feel free to email
group or myself direct. Im sure that others must have had this problem.
Basically if it had not been for the MS BUG with Recovery Console and OEM
version of XP I would have had it fixed in 30 minutes.

Regards
Paul

ps. For more on the repair options I have tried you can check out this
excellent resource with screen shots:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Also I think reinstalling will also cause some data loss according to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;312369 -You May Lose
Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows
XP
 
B

Bill James

With the problems you are describing, I still think you should check the RAM. If that checks out, I would be sure to remove any PCMICA cards or external devices you might have, including docking port if present, then try the repair install again.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

Paul said:
Bill, thanks for the response, however as I am unable to boot the machine
into anything resembling Windows I am therefore unable to apply a patch to
resolve the Recovery Console password problem (KB 307545).

Anyone know a way of fixing the recovery Console Password issue by say
getting the files themselves and copying them to the appropriate location?

Basically I need to get a recovery console type thing happening so that I
can restore registry files for the system to boot, assuming it can given
that it has stopped half way through an install......Please see email below
regarding full extent of issue........

Cheers
Paul

<<>>
The KB article for password rejection using the Recovery Console gives
information on how to obtain the hotfix by calling MS Support. As long as
you have that specific problem and do not ask any other support questions
during the call you will not be charged for the call.

You might want to check your RAM with a good boot disk diagnostic checker
such as Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page: http://www.memtest86.com/. Bad
RAM could have caused the original problem and the problems with repair
install.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

Paul said:
WinXP Pro Not Booting - Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery
Console or Repair, Install Loops + Encrypted Data to retrive

******Issue******

Laptop wouldnt boot due to a registry issue/corruption - Was able to go into
windows and login, but no shell (start menu, desktop, icons etc)

Safe Mode, Last Know Good and all other users profiles didnt work either -
same issue as above.

I do not have a ASR Boot Disk, but do have a System State backup on my
drive.

*****Fixs Tried******

1. Recovery Console

Tried using Recovery Console from WinXP CD, ie. Boot from XP CD

Refer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting.
(The procedure described in this article uses Recovery Console and System
Restore)

This worked until I got to the Admin password prompt. It then failed as
there is a bug with Recovery Console and some machines where XP was OEM
installed. So its not possible to run Recovery Console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402 - 'The
Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in WinXP

2. Repair from XP CD

I next tried a repair from CD per MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341 - How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

This started to work but then after installing drivers and adding CD Key it
restarted the PC (reading about 32 minutes remaining). It restarts the
install from scratch again (......"restarting Setup.....")

And It goes round and round in this loop. Probably due to the auto restart
on device install failure or perhaps because of the corrupt registry.

*******Current Status******

Starting PC now restarts the WinXP install as it never finished last time,
ie. it DOESNT go to a Win Startup Adv Start Up menu now.

So I'm kind off half way into an install that wont complete. Its possible to
boot with XP CD and go to Recovery Console and/or XP Install. But neither
work.

I could do a new install maybe but this may not work either and may????
result in me not being able to access user profiles and data that is
ENCRYPTED using WinXP EFS - I do not have the key saved anywhere to disk
etc.

*******
I am really desperate on what to do with this due ro my 8GB's of encrypted
data, can anyone please help?
*******

I have contacted MS and the OEM and they are no help, expect to try a
parallel install of Windows which will I'm sure will lose all my encrypted
data, or at leas never allow me to access it again.

I think I need an NTFS Dos type app so that I can follow a [semi] normal
procedure for system restore per KB article on using the recovery console.


*****Can anyone provide any light please:*******

1. What options do I have?

2. Can I save my data anyway? esp. given that its encrypted?

3. Is using some sort of NTFS DOS type app going to be enough for me to
restore some standard registry setting settings to boot?

4 If I do this will it boot given that I am now half way through a new
install that wont finish?

5. Is it possible to force the install to complete, disable the flag
somewhere that is making it reboot?

6. Will the restore options,ie. converting back to an original registry work
given that I seem to be half way through an install? If I do this it may not
boot anyway?

*******

I'd really appreciate any help that people can give me, feel free to email
group or myself direct. Im sure that others must have had this problem.
Basically if it had not been for the MS BUG with Recovery Console and OEM
version of XP I would have had it fixed in 30 minutes.

Regards
Paul

ps. For more on the repair options I have tried you can check out this
excellent resource with screen shots:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Also I think reinstalling will also cause some data loss according to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;312369 -You May Lose
Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows
XP
 
P

Paul

All - I have got access to my machine now, I used Windows PE
(Preinstallation Environment) - I believe used for embeded devices, anyway
gives a nice DOS style window and allows access to all files and folders,
similar I guess to Recovery Console.

Anyways I restored my windows\repair registry files this way (similar to
307545) - its actually easier than using Recovery Console, and this
obviously bypassed the looping boot problem with the repair install and got
me into Windows.

However If I login normally - any user - I get an error saying that windows
is unable to check to see if the product is activated. It actually
references an error msg which normally relates to VB controls, so figure on
start up there is a little app that check this. Now remember I was running
SP1, then couldnt run Recovery Console, so tried a Repair install - which
only half completed (as it keep rebooting) so I have a bit of a micture of
XP and XPSP1 files, also the laptop was originally an OEM install, so
slightly different again, esp with licensing. There are some issues I
believe with SP1 and licensing/activation......anyway I can get into the
system with Safe Mode (only, ie. no networking support). Awesome, happy
about that at least, no I decrypt al my data.....Yay!!.

I did this and restored the system state that I had, this worked OK and then
I find out that there is another problem with SP1, if you restore a system
state created on SP1 and restore onto an XP install you get a stop error on
rebooting (Entry Point NOt Found 0xc0000139 - KB:328035)......emm back to
where I stated (but now I have decryted my data ;-)), and before anyone
asks, No I couldnt run the SP1 upgrade or windows update because I'm in Safe
Mode!.........

KB 328035 states to do a repair to fix this (and then upgrade to SP1 before
applying System State to get back to your good system state!) - OK so start
the repair again, of course knowing that this wouldnt work either as I
probably still wouldnt be able to boot to Windows without Safe Mode. Anyway
I got further than last time but around 15 minutes to go I get a "Entry
Point Not Found error referencing some Dll and GETIUMS. No KB on this, so
figure its to do with the XP cross SP1 install........

OK back into Windows PE, restore windows\repair files and I'm back into
Windows Safe Mode again. Yay!

So thats where I am at, I'm going to pull the drive out of the laptop and
plug it into a desktop with an IDE cable and download 15gb of data and then
format and reinstall.

I'm happy that I got my data back.

However If anyone has any other suggestions they would of course be greatly
appreciated.

Cheers
Paul


Kent W. England said:
You can download the XP boot floppies. They are at SP1 rev now and
include the patch for the OEM password bug.

310994 - Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310994

However, since you have already started a repair installation, I doubt
that you can fix things with the Recovery Console. If you complete a
clean install, your encrypted files are gone forever unless you created
a recovery certificate. If you can get the repair install to complete,
then I think you'll be able to read your encrypted files.

--
Kent W. England, Microsoft MVP for Windows



Paul said:
Bill, thanks for the response, however as I am unable to boot the machine
into anything resembling Windows I am therefore unable to apply a patch to
resolve the Recovery Console password problem (KB 307545).

Anyone know a way of fixing the recovery Console Password issue by say
getting the files themselves and copying them to the appropriate location?

Basically I need to get a recovery console type thing happening so that I
can restore registry files for the system to boot, assuming it can given
that it has stopped half way through an install......Please see email below
regarding full extent of issue........

Cheers
Paul

<<>>
The KB article for password rejection using the Recovery Console gives
information on how to obtain the hotfix by calling MS Support. As long as
you have that specific problem and do not ask any other support questions
during the call you will not be charged for the call.

You might want to check your RAM with a good boot disk diagnostic checker
such as Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page: http://www.memtest86.com/. Bad
RAM could have caused the original problem and the problems with repair
install.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

Paul said:
WinXP Pro Not Booting - Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery
Console or Repair, Install Loops + Encrypted Data to retrive

******Issue******

Laptop wouldnt boot due to a registry issue/corruption - Was able to
go
into
windows and login, but no shell (start menu, desktop, icons etc)

Safe Mode, Last Know Good and all other users profiles didnt work either -
same issue as above.

I do not have a ASR Boot Disk, but do have a System State backup on my
drive.

*****Fixs Tried******

1. Recovery Console

Tried using Recovery Console from WinXP CD, ie. Boot from XP CD

Refer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting.
(The procedure described in this article uses Recovery Console and System
Restore)

This worked until I got to the Admin password prompt. It then failed as
there is a bug with Recovery Console and some machines where XP was OEM
installed. So its not possible to run Recovery Console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402 - 'The
Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in WinXP

2. Repair from XP CD

I next tried a repair from CD per MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341 - How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

This started to work but then after installing drivers and adding CD
Key
it
restarted the PC (reading about 32 minutes remaining). It restarts the
install from scratch again (......"restarting Setup.....")

And It goes round and round in this loop. Probably due to the auto restart
on device install failure or perhaps because of the corrupt registry.

*******Current Status******

Starting PC now restarts the WinXP install as it never finished last time,
ie. it DOESNT go to a Win Startup Adv Start Up menu now.

So I'm kind off half way into an install that wont complete. Its
possible
to
boot with XP CD and go to Recovery Console and/or XP Install. But neither
work.

I could do a new install maybe but this may not work either and may????
result in me not being able to access user profiles and data that is
ENCRYPTED using WinXP EFS - I do not have the key saved anywhere to disk
etc.

*******
I am really desperate on what to do with this due ro my 8GB's of encrypted
data, can anyone please help?
*******

I have contacted MS and the OEM and they are no help, expect to try a
parallel install of Windows which will I'm sure will lose all my encrypted
data, or at leas never allow me to access it again.

I think I need an NTFS Dos type app so that I can follow a [semi] normal
procedure for system restore per KB article on using the recovery console.


*****Can anyone provide any light please:*******

1. What options do I have?

2. Can I save my data anyway? esp. given that its encrypted?

3. Is using some sort of NTFS DOS type app going to be enough for me to
restore some standard registry setting settings to boot?

4 If I do this will it boot given that I am now half way through a new
install that wont finish?

5. Is it possible to force the install to complete, disable the flag
somewhere that is making it reboot?

6. Will the restore options,ie. converting back to an original
registry
work
given that I seem to be half way through an install? If I do this it
may
not
boot anyway?

*******

I'd really appreciate any help that people can give me, feel free to email
group or myself direct. Im sure that others must have had this problem.
Basically if it had not been for the MS BUG with Recovery Console and OEM
version of XP I would have had it fixed in 30 minutes.

Regards
Paul

ps. For more on the repair options I have tried you can check out this
excellent resource with screen shots:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Also I think reinstalling will also cause some data loss according to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;312369 -You
May
Lose
Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows
XP
 
J

Jamie

Anyone know a way of fixing the recovery Console Password issue by say
getting the files themselves and copying them to the appropriate location?

No I have always also had this problem but I can tell you using a Win2k CD
bypasses the password.

Jamie

Paul said:
Bill, thanks for the response, however as I am unable to boot the machine
into anything resembling Windows I am therefore unable to apply a patch to
resolve the Recovery Console password problem (KB 307545).
Basically I need to get a recovery console type thing happening so that I
can restore registry files for the system to boot, assuming it can given
that it has stopped half way through an install......Please see email below
regarding full extent of issue........

Cheers
Paul

<<>>
The KB article for password rejection using the Recovery Console gives
information on how to obtain the hotfix by calling MS Support. As long as
you have that specific problem and do not ask any other support questions
during the call you will not be charged for the call.

You might want to check your RAM with a good boot disk diagnostic checker
such as Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page: http://www.memtest86.com/. Bad
RAM could have caused the original problem and the problems with repair
install.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
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Paul said:
WinXP Pro Not Booting - Challenging Problem for Experts - Cant use Recovery
Console or Repair, Install Loops + Encrypted Data to retrive

******Issue******

Laptop wouldnt boot due to a registry issue/corruption - Was able to go into
windows and login, but no shell (start menu, desktop, icons etc)

Safe Mode, Last Know Good and all other users profiles didnt work either -
same issue as above.

I do not have a ASR Boot Disk, but do have a System State backup on my
drive.

*****Fixs Tried******

1. Recovery Console

Tried using Recovery Console from WinXP CD, ie. Boot from XP CD

Refer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting.
(The procedure described in this article uses Recovery Console and System
Restore)

This worked until I got to the Admin password prompt. It then failed as
there is a bug with Recovery Console and some machines where XP was OEM
installed. So its not possible to run Recovery Console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402 - 'The
Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in WinXP

2. Repair from XP CD

I next tried a repair from CD per MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341 - How to
Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

This started to work but then after installing drivers and adding CD Key it
restarted the PC (reading about 32 minutes remaining). It restarts the
install from scratch again (......"restarting Setup.....")

And It goes round and round in this loop. Probably due to the auto restart
on device install failure or perhaps because of the corrupt registry.

*******Current Status******

Starting PC now restarts the WinXP install as it never finished last time,
ie. it DOESNT go to a Win Startup Adv Start Up menu now.

So I'm kind off half way into an install that wont complete. Its
possible
to
boot with XP CD and go to Recovery Console and/or XP Install. But neither
work.

I could do a new install maybe but this may not work either and may????
result in me not being able to access user profiles and data that is
ENCRYPTED using WinXP EFS - I do not have the key saved anywhere to disk
etc.

*******
I am really desperate on what to do with this due ro my 8GB's of encrypted
data, can anyone please help?
*******

I have contacted MS and the OEM and they are no help, expect to try a
parallel install of Windows which will I'm sure will lose all my encrypted
data, or at leas never allow me to access it again.

I think I need an NTFS Dos type app so that I can follow a [semi] normal
procedure for system restore per KB article on using the recovery console.


*****Can anyone provide any light please:*******

1. What options do I have?

2. Can I save my data anyway? esp. given that its encrypted?

3. Is using some sort of NTFS DOS type app going to be enough for me to
restore some standard registry setting settings to boot?

4 If I do this will it boot given that I am now half way through a new
install that wont finish?

5. Is it possible to force the install to complete, disable the flag
somewhere that is making it reboot?

6. Will the restore options,ie. converting back to an original registry work
given that I seem to be half way through an install? If I do this it may not
boot anyway?

*******

I'd really appreciate any help that people can give me, feel free to email
group or myself direct. Im sure that others must have had this problem.
Basically if it had not been for the MS BUG with Recovery Console and OEM
version of XP I would have had it fixed in 30 minutes.

Regards
Paul

ps. For more on the repair options I have tried you can check out this
excellent resource with screen shots:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Also I think reinstalling will also cause some data loss according to:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;312369 -You May Lose
Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows
XP
 

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