XP Pro repair problem

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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...
 
Hi, Jens.

Do you have a retail WinXP CD-ROM? Or only a Recovery Disk from the OEM who
built your computer? Many OEMs leave out some of what Microsoft includes in
the full retail version of WinXP. Assuming you have the full version
CD-ROM...

Follow the instructions in this Knowledge Base article:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

You might find it easier to follow MVP Michael Stevens' description of the
same process:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

This will reinstall WinXP itself, but preserve your installed applications
and data - and most of your tweaks. Use Method 2 and read Steps 3 and 5
carefully. DO NOT choose "R" the first time it is offered, in Step 3. Just
press Enter here and continue to Step 5 and THEN press "R". If you have
more than one installation of WinXP already installed, be sure you choose
the right one; because this program uses HD# and partition #, rather than
Drive Letter, in several places, it's easy to get the wrong one.

Pressing "R" at the first option (Step 3) starts the Recovery Console, which
is powerful, but awkward to use because of its DOS-like (but not really
MS-DOS) interface. And like any powerful utility, it can do as much harm as
good if you make a mistake.

Of course, you really should try to determine WHY "Windows pretty much shut
down". The "in-place upgrade" will take about as long as a fresh install,
so it is not a quickie exercise. And it may not help your problem at all,
depending on what caused the shutdown in the first place. A more complete
description of your system (make and model of your computer, or of your
motherboard if you built it yourself, plus HDs (how many, how partitioned,
which interface (SCSI, SATA, IDE, RAID?), and which partition holds WinXP)
would help us help you. So would a narrative of what happened just before
it shut down. Perhaps a less-drastic solution would work for you.

RC
 
Can you see your C: drive at all if you boot into Recovery Console or
from a bootable floppy? It sounds as if you may have something more
than a Windows problem!

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...
Click to expand...


Please respond to the Newsgroup, so that others may benefit from the exchange.
Peter R. Fletcher
 
Thank you for answering in such depth and with good explanation.

I’m familiar with the repair install option, but my problem is that I don’t
have that choice when I get to that point. I did however see this mentioned
in the guide you provided, and it seems to be similar to what I’ve learned in
another question.

I need to use the recovery console to copy ntldr from the XP CD to c:
But for some reason I can’t – my theory is lack of acces (I’m pretty much
limited to c:\windows in recovery console).
So how can I get the sufficient privileges so I can copy the file where it
needs to go?

As far as specs on my hardware:
I do have the full version of the XP CD.
I have 2 partions of close to 130 gb each (c: and d:) where XP is installed
on c:
The machine is a P4 3,2 Ghz computer – I didn’t put it together myself (I
know my limitations), but it’s not any famous brand either…

I’m not all that experienced when it comes to SCSI and RAID items, and
barely aware of what it is. I do my work in PHP and mysql, so this is
somewhat uncharted territory for me.

My computer crashed as I was doing some work in dreamweaver and not by any
means pushing the limits. I have however experienced something like this
about a month ago, when I upgraded to SP2 and was forced to make a clean
install. Lost a lot of files back then, and I’m at the same point right now.
I’m thinking there’s a common issue here, as I couldn’t do the repair install
back then either.

Thank you,
Jens Genders
 
Hi, Jens.

First, let's clear away some of the deadwood so that we can concentrate on
the actual problem...
I’m not all that experienced when it comes to SCSI and RAID items, and
barely aware of what it is. I do my work in PHP and mysql, so this is
somewhat uncharted territory for me.
Click to expand...

The only reason for my question about this was, as I said, to be sure we
don't need to go down that path. We don't.
The machine is a P4 3,2 Ghz computer – I didn’t put it together myself (I
know my limitations), but it’s not any famous brand either…
Click to expand...
I do have the full version of the XP CD.
Click to expand...

This is the key point: we don't have to worry about OEM limitations in a
"recovery" CD-ROM.


OK, now that we've cleared all that out of the way...
I need to use the recovery console to copy ntldr from the XP CD to c:
But for some reason I can’t – my theory is lack of acces (I’m pretty much
limited to c:\windows in recovery console).
So how can I get the sufficient privileges so I can copy the file where it
needs to go?
Click to expand...

Now we're getting to the heart of the matter. As I said earlier, the
Recovery Console is DOS-like, but NOT MS-DOS. One of its limitations is
that it can deal only with certain partitions. But you CAN deal with the
Root of any volume, and C:\ (the Root of the system partition) is the only
one you need for this. And you don't need "privileges" or permissions. You
can't even start the Recovery Console without entering the Administrator
password, and you are there already. Fom that point on, the computer thinks
you are God and you can do ANYTHING. Including copying NTLDR from the
CD-ROM to C:\.

Usually you don't need to explicitly copy the "system files" (ntldr,
ntdetect.com and boot.ini). Run the commands FixBoot and BootCFG. FixBoot
should write NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM to the Root of the System Partition,
which is typically (almost always) Drive C:. After FixBoot, C:\NTLDR and
C:\NTDETECT.COM should be in place. Also in place (but invisible to you
since it is not a "file") will be the Boot Sector (the first physical sector
of the partition). Then run BootCFG. This will detect all copies of WinXP
installed on your computer and update C:\boot.ini to include the pointers to
each of them. These pointers will be by HD number and partition number, NOT
by Drive letter, since NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM must find and load WinXP
before the system is ready to use drive letters. (Bootcfg from the Recovery
Console is similar but not identical to bootcfg.exe from within WinXP
itself.)

If for any reason you do need to manually copy NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM to the
system partition, navigate to that partition and use this syntax from the
Recovery Console command prompt (where X: is your CD-ROM drive):

copy X:\I386\ntldr
copy X:\I386\ntdetect.com

You'll have to answer the Overwrite system? question with Yes. Then reboot.
I’m familiar with the repair install option, but my problem is that I don’t
have that choice when I get to that point.
Click to expand...

Do you mean that you do not see the line, "To setup Windows XP now, press
ENTER."? What DO you see at Step 3 when you follow Method 2 of KB article
315341?

Just to make sure we are on the same wavelength here, since you can watch
your computer and we cannot: You ARE following the steps in Method 2 of KB
315341, aren't you? You are setting your computer to boot from the CD
drive, then putting the retail WinXP CD-ROM into your drive and rebooting,
including pressing "any key" to boot from the CD? And then do you see the
opening screen described in Step 3 of Method 2? If you don't see that
screen, just as described there, please abort the procedure - after noting
EXACTLY what your screen does say at that point - and include that screen in
your next post here.

If you want to read a lot more about all this, the complete Windows XP
Resource Kit Documentation is online at
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?

Look especially at Appendix D. Navigate to Welcome > Part VII Appendices >
Appendix D Tools for Troubleshooting > Disaster Recovery Tools > Recovery
Console, and Using Recovery Console to Recover from Startup Problems.


On another point, you said, "My computer crashed as I was doing some work in
dreamweaver..." "Crashed" is an amorphous term that might mean anything
from "caught on fire" to "the screen went black" to "the computer rebooted"
or any of several other possiblities. What actually happened in your case?
Especially, did the computer itself malfunction, or did the program abort
back to the WinXP desktop? Did the mouse and keyboard still work? Could
you start Task Manager?

RC
 
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