XP Pro SP2 fails to boot

[Sir Benjamin Nunn]

I've had ongoing problems for for a while, and haven't found anything in the
knowledge base that worked.

Background: I use DriveImage 7 to create regular backups of my system -
normally this would be every couple of weeks, and I rotate my backup drives
etc. I'm pretty religious about it.

A few months ago, XP Pro failed to boot for the first time - system checked
for bootable CDs, then just hang. I was able to get into recovery console to
get some crucial recent files off the disk (e.g. those that wouldn't be in
my latest backup image). I then tried a repair installation of windows over
the top by booting from the installation CD. This failed, so I just restored
from my latest backup.

Couple of weeks later, this happened again... and basically it keeps
happening - Windows won't boot at all.

Sometimes there is an error message: that NTLDR is missing or corrupt, but
usually nothing.

Things I've already tried:

- Manually restoring NTLDR (and indeed all the key system files) to the
installation.
- Running scandisk on the drive before restoring the backup (in case of bad
sectors etc.)
- Running scandisk on the drive after restoring the backup
- Formatting the drive before restoring the backup

None of this makes any difference.

Every time I have to restore from a backup, and after a few reboots, it will
happen again, and I'll need to restore again.

Anyone have any ideas? Or should I just give up, and do a fresh install on a
new drive?

TIA,

BTN

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Dont worry just yet. You need to repair windows because there is a problem
with it. Insert your xp disk on boot and boot from XP, and choose the repair
option, you will need to reinstall your drivers but you should not lose
anything else.

Now if you have lost data you may be able to get it back using a program
called r-studio 2.0 (it saved my backside)

Anyway best of luck to you

Cheers

Quintin
MVP wannabe

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Quintin

A repair install will most likely leave drivers intact.. updates have to be
re-installed..

 

[Alias]

Can one use an OEM XP SP 1 to repair if SP 2 has been installed?

Alias

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Ben

Try a repair install again.. you have little to lose other than having to
re-install SP2 and other updates..
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If that does not work, a fresh install may well be your best option..

 

[Steve N.]

Can one use an OEM XP SP 1 to repair if SP 2 has been installed?

Alias

You will have to reinstall SP2. Use a CD with SP2 slipstreamed into it.

Steve

 

[Alias]

You will have to reinstall SP2. Use a CD with SP2 slipstreamed into it.

Steve

Or use the SP 2 CD after doing the repair, yes?

Alias

 

[Jeff]

HI,

It may not have anything to do with your windows installation. I had this
problem crop up a few months back and it was driving me crazy and i followed
the instructions in the knowledge base how to restore the NTLDR and it would
boot up again then fail again after a couple of boots. Well what i finally
found to be causing the problem was I had a stick of ram that went bad,
after removing the bad ram i have not had that issue since. So it might be
worth checking that just to see if that might also be causing your problems.

Jeff

 

[Steve N.]

Or use the SP 2 CD after doing the repair, yes?

Alias

Yes. That was meant to be implied. Perhaps I could have worded it better:

You will have to reinstall SP2 _or_ use a CD with SP2 slipstreamed into it.

Steve

 

[Alias]

Yes. That was meant to be implied. Perhaps I could have worded it better:

You will have to reinstall SP2 _or_ use a CD with SP2 slipstreamed into
it.

Steve
Thanks.

Alias