XP Pro SP3 - Repair install failure

[Dances with Servers]

Hello!

In a bit of a bind; hoping someone can help me!

I have a laptop here that was not logging in correctly - it would log in
and immediately log out. Drive showed minor failure, so I did a surface
scan and remapped the failing sector. Ran SFC which replaced one file -
still wasn't working.

So I tried a repair install. Normally, this fixes just about any darn
thing.

Not this time. On the initial boot afterwards (the black screen with
logo), it just hangs. Power down and reboot, it allows log in, then says
"windows must be activated before you can log in". Upon saying yes
(because no isn't really an option), the activation windows disappears
and.. nothing: I'm left staring at the green hills that are becoming
increasingly less calming.

If anybody has any ideas that will spare me the pain of having to do a
clean rebuild of this system, I'd be most appreciative!

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Your described issues notwithstanding, had IE8 or IE7 been installed before
you did this are any other Repair Install?

 

[Dances with Servers]

Your described issues notwithstanding, had IE8 or IE7 been installed
before you did this are any other Repair Install?

Yes, and I suspect yes. IE8 had been installed, and there is a chance he
did a repair install himself about 12 onths ago. Thankyou for asking!

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

See...

. How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if a later version
of Internet Explorer is installed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964

If IE8 was not uninstalled prior to doing the Repair Install, the only
recourse now is to format the HDD & then do a clean install.

 

[Dances with Servers]

See...

. How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if a later
version of Internet Explorer is installed
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917964

If IE8 was not uninstalled prior to doing the Repair Install, the only
recourse now is to format the HDD & then do a clean install.

Cheers for the advice - you've given me one last straw to clutch at
before a rebuild!

I might be able to fool it into workin by removing the IE files from the
drive, in the hopes that a repair install might then be able to work
properly. I'm assuming the windows activation process is failing because
it cannot run IE?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Cheers for the advice - you've given me one last straw to clutch at
before a rebuild!

That's no last straw but yet another reason to do a clean install.

I might be able to fool it into workin by removing the IE files from the
drive, in the hopes that a repair install might then be able to work
properly.

That will not work.

I'm assuming the windows activation process is failing because
it cannot run IE?

That and the fact that the computer's probably still infested with
hijackware (which neither System Restore nor a Repair Install will resolve).

 

[Dances with Servers]

Dances with Servers wrote:

That will not work.

Worked a treat - at least as far as this issue is concerned

That and the fact that the computer's probably still infested with
hijackware (which neither System Restore nor a Repair Install will
resolve).

There was -still- something buried that I gave up on finding; completing
the rebuild now. But for anyone else who is facing the other issue -
windows hanging on the 'please wait' screen, then after choosing the
activate - deleting all the file in the internet explorer folder and
re-doing the repair install should get you past it.