win xp crashed, can't do a repair install

[QueBert]

system had been running fine for a few weeks, 2 nights ago it locked up, I had to manually reboot. When I did I got the F8 screen, no matter what I select, I'll get the XP loading screen and then the system reboots.

I poped in my XP cd (with SP2 Slipstreamed) to try and do a repair install, it's not showing XP as even being installed on any of the partitions. And it's showing my c partition as "unknown" for file type. I was thinking that means it's corputed, so I did a fixboot, says it successfully wrote NTFS to boot sector. I reboot, same deal it gives me the F8 menu, but no matter what I press it reboots right after the XP loading screen first comes up.

So I popped the XP cd in again to see if XP was being detected for a repair install, it's not showing anything. And it still shows C: as [unknown] for partition with 100% free space.

Any ideas what else I can do to try and fix this before I do a total reinstall?

specs

Athlon 1700+
ECS MB (not sure the model)
Corsair XMS 512
200 gig Seagate IDE

temps are fine (in the bios any ways) I'm out of idea what to do, but don't want to clean install unless I have no other options.

thanks

 

[Jaywire]

I've used this many times.

Let's say you try to boot up windows and windows just blue screens, or gives an error about a corrupt system file or something where you just can't get in (even in safe mode). This is something that may fix it without a complete reinstall or repair install.

You need to boot into dos and have access to your HD. Some linux boot cd's allow it, maybe the winxp repair console allows it. Basicly you just need access to your hard drive.

Go to your root and make a directory called "tmp"

Next go to c:\windows\system32\config

Copy: Default, Sam, Software, Security, and System (they don't have extensions) to c:\tmp

Next go to c:\windows\repair and copy Default, Sam, Software, Security, and System into c:\windows\system32\config (overwritng all).

Now reboot. You'll get into windows but it'll sort of look like the first time you loaded up windows. Most drivers won't work, most settings won't be there. If you go to your device manager, right click on all the "?" items and do "Update Driver" windows will usually find em automaticly.

The cool thing is most games still work.

Anyways, I'd never heard of this before my last job and since I've learned it, I've used it on more occasions than I'd like to remember.

Hopefully this'll save some of you some time and hopefully keep you from having to format your c: partition loosing everything on it.

Hope it helps!

 

[ShellGuy]

In theory if you install over your old XP then you will lose nothing... JUST DON"T FORMAT THE DRIVE...


Will G.

 

[Dahak]

the first thing I usually do is boot up of the xp cd and go to the recovery console and run chkdsk /p /v (think those are the commands /? will tell you)

 

[dev0lution]

chkdsk /r has worked for me in similar situations.

 

[Nocturnal]

Sounds like the hard drive is going bad. Download the software from your manufacture's website and run the tests. I bet it's a failing hard drive.

 

[JW310]

Originally posted by: Jaywire
I've used this many times.

Let's say you try to boot up windows and windows just blue screens, or gives an error about a corrupt system file or something where you just can't get in (even in safe mode). This is something that may fix it without a complete reinstall or repair install.

You need to boot into dos and have access to your HD. Some linux boot cd's allow it, maybe the winxp repair console allows it. Basicly you just need access to your hard drive.

Go to your root and make a directory called "tmp"

Next go to c:\windows\system32\config

Copy: Default, Sam, Software, Security, and System (they don't have extensions) to c:\tmp

Next go to c:\windows\repair and copy Default, Sam, Software, Security, and System into c:\windows\system32\config (overwritng all).

Now reboot. You'll get into windows but it'll sort of look like the first time you loaded up windows. Most drivers won't work, most settings won't be there. If you go to your device manager, right click on all the "?" items and do "Update Driver" windows will usually find em automaticly.

The cool thing is most games still work.

Anyways, I'd never heard of this before my last job and since I've learned it, I've used it on more occasions than I'd like to remember.

Hopefully this'll save some of you some time and hopefully keep you from having to format your c: partition loosing everything on it.

Hope it helps!

Once you get to that point, it's possible to copy the backup copies of the registry from the old System Restore folders, if you had System Restore enabled before the system started locking up. The full set of steps on how to do this can be found here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q307545

I've done this on several occasions with systems that were stuck in reboot loops like described in the OP, and where the windows setup program wouldn't detect a valid installation to run a repair installation on. After following those steps, the system was back up and running just like it hadn't had any problems. No need to reinstall drivers or programs or whatnot.

JW

 

[dew042]

First -- to save yourself a lot of time -- look inside on the MB for distended capacitors, then download the Ultimate Boot CD -- run memtest and then Drive Fitness Test (advanced TEST). I bet you'll find a hardware malfunction.

Good Luck.

dew.

 

[ShaneDOTM]

I agree that it sounds like a failing hard drive. Usually this is checkable by using a boot disk with a dos prompt and running chkdsk. Most linux live discs will also give you access to the hard drive and allow you to backup anything that you may need onto a spare drive.

good luck.