WinXP repair errors - upgrd lost?!?! HELP!!

[Guest]

Upgraded my IBM Thinkpad A22m from Win2k to WinXP Pro seemingly ok and
complete. (Win2k was upgrade from Win98 2+ yrs ago) Post-upgrade had driver
support issues and decoder issues with my CD/RW-DVD combo drive - driver
became disabled, and drive didn't show up in directory. Updated my BIOS,
attempted to update drivers, upgraded w/ WinXp ServPk 2, then all hell broke
loose. I started encountering catastrophic blue screen errors - eventually
could not get back past boot into WinXP. System seemed to be in fatal loop.
So...

Attempted OS repair by booting direct from WinXP CD-ROM. Attemped to repair
the auto-detected WinXP OS. Repair progressed fine until midway during
installation, dialog box appeared saying that system needed file "asms" from
CD-ROM. Attempted to direct system to disc but install program would not
access D:\ drive or disc in it. System got hung, did not apparently complete
repair process. So...

Attempted repaid again, same problem w/ same result. So I attempted a new
"clean install" over first of the 2 listed disc partitions (the one which
appeared to have prior OS). Went fine apparently, has since been completed.
HOWEVER: PROBLEMS!

1) On re-boot all my prior files, programs, settings, etc. are GONE.
Nothing is left, not even Office suite!

2) Hard disc free space is significantly less than before post. orig. OS
upgrade. I've since "lost" about 4 GB - or about the size of my prior files
(prior to loss)!

3) On re-boot (black screen at start, prior to WinXP load) I now must choose
to load from list of 2 OS's shown...BOTH are WIN XP! Second one is
apparently the OLD upgrade install w/ attempted repair, b/c when I load that
one, the system returns to resuming "setup" and gets hung in same place as
experienced during attempted (failed) boot disc repair!?!?

Can ANYONE help me? Is my earlier install of WinXP upgrade still there w/
my old files and programs? If so, how can I recover to it? How can I finish
botched repair job? IS ALL LOST and I should just move on?!? PLEASE HELP!
I will PAY $$ FOR SUCCESSFUL ASSISTANCE...I AM SERIOUS!

Thanks, Josh

 

[neil]

Sound to me like you have installed into a new folder, perhaps "windows.0".
Have a look at the windows folder names or start a cmd prompt that has the
path listed in the info bar across the top.
Have a read of this, http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
see if it looks familiar. Not sure how to correct your problem unfortunately
it may be to do with the fact you are using an upgrade disk and you need a
Full Retail Version.

Still best of luck, you should still be able to recover your files by
finding the original "documents and settings" and then take ownership (look
in Help and Support) that's where the 4GB has gone.

Neil

 

[D.Currie]

Upgraded my IBM Thinkpad A22m from Win2k to WinXP Pro seemingly ok and
complete. (Win2k was upgrade from Win98 2+ yrs ago) Post-upgrade had
driver
support issues and decoder issues with my CD/RW-DVD combo drive - driver
became disabled, and drive didn't show up in directory. Updated my BIOS,
attempted to update drivers, upgraded w/ WinXp ServPk 2, then all hell
broke
loose. I started encountering catastrophic blue screen errors -
eventually
could not get back past boot into WinXP. System seemed to be in fatal
loop.
So...

Attempted OS repair by booting direct from WinXP CD-ROM. Attemped to
repair
the auto-detected WinXP OS. Repair progressed fine until midway during
installation, dialog box appeared saying that system needed file "asms"
from
CD-ROM. Attempted to direct system to disc but install program would not
access D:\ drive or disc in it. System got hung, did not apparently
complete
repair process. So...

Attempted repaid again, same problem w/ same result. So I attempted a new
"clean install" over first of the 2 listed disc partitions (the one which
appeared to have prior OS). Went fine apparently, has since been
completed.
HOWEVER: PROBLEMS!

1) On re-boot all my prior files, programs, settings, etc. are GONE.
Nothing is left, not even Office suite!

2) Hard disc free space is significantly less than before post. orig. OS
upgrade. I've since "lost" about 4 GB - or about the size of my prior
files
(prior to loss)!

3) On re-boot (black screen at start, prior to WinXP load) I now must
choose
to load from list of 2 OS's shown...BOTH are WIN XP! Second one is
apparently the OLD upgrade install w/ attempted repair, b/c when I load
that
one, the system returns to resuming "setup" and gets hung in same place
as
experienced during attempted (failed) boot disc repair!?!?

Can ANYONE help me? Is my earlier install of WinXP upgrade still there w/
my old files and programs? If so, how can I recover to it? How can I
finish
botched repair job? IS ALL LOST and I should just move on?!? PLEASE
HELP!
I will PAY $$ FOR SUCCESSFUL ASSISTANCE...I AM SERIOUS!

Thanks, Josh

Your "clean" install is actually a parallel install with all of the old
files remaining. But since it's a new copy of XP, it doesn't recognize the
old programs.

Your best bet at this point is to back up whatever files you need, then
format the hard drive, then do a clean install of the OS. After that, you'll
need to reinstall all of your programs and copy your data back.

What you've got is probably fixable, but it would take quite a bit of time
for someone who has the experience to see what's wrong as it occurs, and
take care of it.