Windows XP Repair Install?
Omega65
Philadelphia, Pa
Windows XP Repair Install?
What to do/ How to do it? (complete XP noob here)
What to do/ How to do it? (complete XP noob here)
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2. Get past HAL/RAID driver selection
3. Let it preload files
4. Get to the install screen.
When you get to the install screen after it detects an existing XP install, don't give it to the go-ahead on the format/install, instead select the option that says "Repair this existing windows installation."
You CAN boot it from HD if it will boot and go into a recovery console and initiate a pretty good recovery if you need to keep most of what you have for some reason. Try tapping F8 at boot before the splash loading screen appears, and keep tapping about once a second until you get the Boot Options. If you know wassup or think you do, you can extract from the Cabs in an i386 subfolder with Extract, and tell Extract where to put things.
In the recovery console, both HELP and /? will give you output to figure out the console commands.
If you don't know at all wassup and have recovered your work from the recovery console you can do a reinstall as a Repair Install or a Full Install.
I've had extensive experience with it, and its limitations (Notice I don't say abilities).
In most cases for a regular user, it is really better to initiate a repair install and let it rebuild the operating system around existing settings.
A friend of mine tried to install a bootleg version of Roxio CD Creator and it hosed his system. It can boot into safe mode but flashes an error page and reboots if you try a normal boot.
It says DirectCD.exe is the problem but I can't find what's loading the file (after deleting it from the HD, and looking in the registry)
I hoping a repair can save his system settings at least.
Also, check the Downloads section under General Software and look for RegCleaner 4.3 (it's in the "TWEAKING, TUNING AND CUSTOMISING" section). I had never heard of this nifty little program until I found it here at S-M; it has rapidly become one of my "must have" utilities. It does the best job of any program I've used in finding all of the little bits of crap distributed throughout your registry when a program is installed.
Good Luck!
Prof
I thought they solved that with their new version?
Prof
Can you tell us the exact message??? If a virus scan and manually uninstalling Roxio does not work??
In safe mode, in the registry, Do a:
start|run|regedt32
And delete any keys (not just the values) that searching for the following yield:
Roxio
DirectCD
Adaptec
UDF
udf
Look for paths in key result values also.
MSCLID keys that have any of those values need to be pulled\deleted also, the whole keys. And you get to start each search from the top of the registry.
Do you have a SystemWorks 2003 CD?? Windoctor is XP capable for that version only and can pick up on registry relations like only a few other apps can very quickly. Also, if this is XP Pro there is a rollback feature in it. Works like this, but you need to see if there is a usable rollback point first before deciding to edit the registry quite thoroughly or to rollback.
I would try this:
Boot into safe mode.
then this:
Start|All Programs|Accessories|System Tools|System Restore
It should offer two options, and it is a Wizard:
Restore the system to a previous time
Create a restore point
Take the first, see what restore points it offers. Roll back to most recent, see if the thing boots. If there is only one such point it is likely to restore the system to an install virgin state, so you might get to let your friend do a lot of software program reloading. Once in a safe state, use the second option, and teach your friend how to do this also.
I got this wild and wonderful book published under the QUE series name, it is called "Using Microsft XP Professional: Bestseller Edition." Worth its weight in gold. Some interesting stuff on the CD with it also. I paid around $25.00 for it at Sam's Club. NOT including index, it is 1196 pages of info. Appendix A has recovery and troubleshooting info that explains the registry and many other things.
Hmm.... Let's see if Roxio has manual uninstall info also.... No, but:
http://www.plextor.com/english/support/faqs/SW00019.htm
shows you how to get a computer to boot by modding in safe mode the start parameters.
Also, here is aplace on Microsoft's KB searcher that might help some in identifying what is happening and knowing what service keys to trash:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=311806
Look at the parts for 4 adn 5 and then look in registry for most common\alike things to the specifics printed in the KB article and its cross-references. You can do this in Safe Mode if needed.
Also mention to your friend that only Roxio 5.1 Platinum and above are reasonably XP safe and that there are patches for XP for even that which are contained in upgrades, just for future reference, ok???
Good Luck.
I do not have a current Roxio to model on XP.
LOL
That would work...
Like something I read in another thread here at S-M. Somebody wanted to uninstall Outlook Express and just use Outlook. They finally found a MS guide on how to do it. After several paragraphs of blather the article then ended by solemnly declaring "You cannot uninstall OE".
Thanks, MS...
Prof
Only bad news for some is that it only works with retail XP cd's. Won't work with OEM or volume license, the function is actually disabled
Yeah, thanks again M$ :shakehead
That may be it. Nero was already on the system (The OEM version that came with the burner). I also know enough not to install DirectCD and similar programs. But I bet he just tried a default install :banghead:
Did a virus scan (up to date as of 2 weeks ago) , nothing detected.
System Restore doesn't show any restore points available before the current date, and in safe mode Windows won't uninstall what got written before everthing crashed.:confused2
I'll try the suggestions when I get home. Never considered searching from the TOP of the registry....
Thanks GUYS
OK Guys Thanks for all of the suggestions - But this is what did it....
1st I found the roxio.com support page Uninstall Easy CD Creator 5.0x using Windows XP Safe Mode
this didn't work by the way but this section gave a google search term
This Google page: JSI Tip 6179 - STOP 0x0000007B after you remove Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum edition from Windows 2000? provided the answer
After completion A normal boot worked!
Suffice to say I think EZ-CD Creator SUCKS!!
Now to collect my $35
But the volume license is the Corp edition and it works from there?
And shorty if you have not tried it you gotta check the winintenals cd !! Awesome. The disk recovery CD the ERD comander save your butt 95 percent oif the otherwise impossible fixs and they recover it it a fraction of the time.
Tex
Prof
Tex
That's right. But I know a few people who have used the Corp edition and discovered this to their horror. It will work with retail though. I figured out a way round it though. I read up on changing the pid file, so you can make OEM act like retail CD's.
Win2K repair install always works
I LOVE that CD
Winternals
Sounds like something to get! Thanks for the tip.
Prof
Yea, I think I've got a copy of that lying around somewhere, I imagine it was probably you which pointed me towards it in the first place. It is a very handy CD to have, no doubt about that.
Also, on the discussions surrounding the recovery console, even though it's not exactly top secret information
The cool thing about Wininternals and its ERS Commander is you build a true bootable XP CD and can have all your drivers for the HPT and everything included so you don't have to jack with hitting f6 and stuff with a floppy and it doesn't get you to a command line. Your actually in a GUI and you can add other packages and stuff into it. And I am just starting to see more and more uses for this evryday.
Now I want to see if I can build XP install cd's with SP2 and all the options you get with unattended install basicaly which allow the cd-key to be entered on the cd as well as every option that you get asked durring install. You can make a bootable cd that would boot, partiton (or not) format and install without ever asking you squat if you really wanted for example. You can have it default the answers and be interactive or just flat install and never ask you anything... Just having one with teh two differant versions of HPT drivers and two scsi raid controller versions I run so I didn't have to have a stinking floppy would be sweet.
Wininternals is so far and above a normal ERD recovery disk there is no comparison really. And its on the Superutils CD that also has the complete Forensics stuff.. NTFS for Dos.. Quick disk repair... Nortons System Wroks 2003, WinIso WinRar.. I mean the list goes on and on...
Tex
Shorty that niot true, I have runa thousand repairs in my XP Corp. Teh only ones it barfs in have the boot,ini hosed. That fuke muist exist to fund the ikd installs. it has to he must clean the clean the the idsk if its corruoted,
Its not avauilable on home and some OEm versions though,
Tex