Having Serious Problems w/ Windows Install

[FearoftheNight]

It seems that I corrupted my windows install. Everytime I try to load in it gets past the Windows loading screen w/ the blue bars, I see a screen that says "setups is restarting" then my computer reboots. Is there any way to fix my install? I tried a os repair w/ my windows cd and it did nothing.

Also is there a way to access the files I had on my desktop if I install another os on a separate partition? I'm getting an "access denied" error.

Thanks .

 

[FearoftheNight]

anyone?

 

[MrChad]

Can you boot into Safe Mode?

 

[FearoftheNight]

No I can't. I got a little farther. Loaded the mup driver but as soon as I get into safe mode I reboot.

 

[mechBgon]

Easy one first: regarding the Access Denied problem, you have to take NTFS Ownership of the directory you want into.

1) you slave the drive into a Win2000 or WinXP system. If your working computer is Win2000, then skip step 2.

2) start WindowsXP in Safe Mode. This lets you get at the NTFS stuff (glossing over details here).

3) browse to the Documents and Settings\account name\ directory on the drive that you want to recover stuff from.

4) right-click that directory, and choose Properties > Security tab, then the Advanced button, and now the Ownership tab on the new panel that appears (illustration pic).

5) put a checkmark in the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and give ownership to the account that you're using on the working computer. Now you can get in
So now about the other part, the OS troubles... what version of Windows are you installing, and what hardware in particular? Are you doing a clean installation from scratch?

 

[FearoftheNight]

Once again the all knowing mech has spoken . I'm installing a copy of Win XP that I'm typing off right now. This was a clean install into an empty partition on another hd.
A64
DFI NF3 UT
x800xt

I sucessfully installed the second but I can still choose my old os install when I boot up and thats when I get the "setup is restarting" error.

 

[mechBgon]

All-knowing?! :Q You must not know about the time I forcibly plugged a whole ATX cable in backwards...

(ok, so it was a long time ago)


You can right-click My Computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery button like this and choose the default operating system so it doesn't pester you. In my pic, the option is greyed-out because I'm using a Limited-class account there.

Or you could edit C:\BOOT.INI to only include the correct line, by clicking the Edit button there. If the top one on your bootup list is the one that works, put REM in front of the bottom one in BOOT.INI.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Is there a way to import my bookmarks and whatnot from the other hd's firefox?

 

[mechBgon]

I believe you transplant the \Documents and Settings\account name\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\ directory into your new account's same location

 

[FearoftheNight]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=1708091