XP Pro recovery console issue

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G

Guest

I have a XP Pro installation using NTFS file system.
Yesterday Windows pretty much shut down and all I get is a black screen when
i try to start up.

I've found a similar question elsewhere in here, and it seems to be same
issues I'm dealing with. I've learned that one should use the XP installation
CD to fix the problem using repair - unfortunately this option is not
available when I'm at the installation list.

However, this was also shown as a potential problem in the above mentioned
question and the solution seems to be:

(Quote:)
Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair option, only an option to
reinstall. We have discovered that sometimes this is caused by damaged
boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also note, in the
instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you have placed the XP CD,
replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on your system, "K" is
simply an example.

Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is the section I told
you to skip above. In this case, you will need to get to the Recovery
Console to perform the function below), and if the CD letter is say K: give
these commands

COPY K:\i386\ntldr C:
COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:
(two other files needed - just in case)
ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini
DEL C:\boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild

Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if you can access XP as
sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini. If you still cannot access
XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install instructions at the beginning
of this message.

(end quote)

I've looked and allthough I do have the mentioned files, I can't get acces
to c: (all I get is something like "the path or file chosen is invalid" - I'm
using a Danish system so it might be something else in English, but the
meaning should be obvious). I realize this is an issue concerning acces to
systemroot (where recovery console operates within c:/windows), as I've tried
copying the file to a different partition succesfully - one without the
windows installation.

Anyways, I looked into it and found that I would have to use the SET
AllowAllPaths = true, but I apparently don't have acces to this, and should
enable this option within Windows - not a very helpfull piece of information
as this is not functioning.

So now I'm stuck and don't know how to proceed any further. Does anyone know
how i can bypass any of these 'roadblocks' so I can get back to using Windows?

Thank you for your time - Jens Genders...
 
Sorry for posting two topics - I got an error so I tried reposting,
apparently resulting in dual topics.

Please feel free to remove the second one

- Jens Genderd
 
So you are still booting to a blank screen?

Try a boot disk:

301680 How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=301680

If that works, you have really narrowed down your problem. Either a
problem with one of the files (ntldr, ntdetect.com, boot.ini), so copy them
over from the boot disk, or a problem with the MBR on the hard disk. In
which case, see the following:

314058 Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314058

<from Q314058>

FIXMBR
fixmbr device name
Use this command to repair the MBR of the boot partition. In the command
syntax, device name is an optional device name that specifies the device
that requires a new MBR. Use this command if a virus has damaged the MBR
and Windows cannot start.

Warning This command can damage your partition tables if a virus is present
or if a hardware problem exists. If you use this command, you may create
inaccessible partitions. We recommend that you run antivirus software
before you use this command.

You can obtain the device name from the output of the map command. If you
do not specify a device name, the MBR of the boot device is repaired, for
example:
fixmbr \device\harddisk2
If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or non-standard partition table
signature, fixmbr command prompts you for permission before rewriting the
MBR. The fixmbr command is supported only on x86-based computers.

<END>

I hope this helps :)

****************************************************************************
*
Jonathan
Microsoft Server Setup Team

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp

See the Windows NT Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

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The views and opinions expressed in this newsgroup posting are mine and do
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****************************************************************************
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