Probably a little late to post but ehh, got a question.
According to the guide, it keeps saying a "Windows XP" CD, not a "Windows XP Pro". So, if my current version of Windows XP is a home edition, am I allowed to use a Windows XP Pro disc to fix it? Or will I need the disk that is the same version as my current computer?
...am I allowed to use a Windows XP Pro disc to fix it? Or will I need the disk that is the same version as my current computer?
Makes no difference destructive. You're just using the disk to get in to the computer. Once you're in, all the action takes place using files that are already on your hard drive.
Makes no difference destructive. You're just using the disk to get in to the computer. Once you're in, all the action takes place using files that are already on your hard drive.
Ok, thank you.
I just tried it out and it led me to a Windows setup screen. Is that suppose to happen? Because I don't want to install Windows XP Pro onto my Windows XP home edition.
destructive it doesn't matter if it says XP Home or XP Pro. You're not going to install anything. If you follow those instructions, absolutely nothing from the install disk will end up on your hard drive. Follow the instructions in step 1. All you're doing is going to a repair console. That pretty much means your using the CD as an operating system instead of booting into the op sys on your hard drive. But then the op sys on your CD is fixing the file system and boot record that are already on your hard drive. Pro, Home....makes no difference. If he had written the article differently, he could have guided you through this with a Linux boot CD.
destructive it doesn't matter if it says XP Home or XP Pro. You're not going to install anything. If you follow those instructions, absolutely nothing from the install disk will end up on your hard drive. Follow the instructions in step 1. All you're doing is going to a repair console. That pretty much means your using the CD as an operating system instead of booting into the op sys on your hard drive. But then the op sys on your CD is fixing the file system and boot record that are already on your hard drive. Pro, Home....makes no difference. If he had written the article differently, he could have guided you through this with a Linux boot CD.
No no! That isn't what I meant. Maybe I worded it wrong...
What I meant was after all of the steps. According to the article, under "Results and Wrap-up",
With any luck, your PC will boot successfully into Windows XP as if your various DLL, Hive, EXE and NTLDR errors never existed.
So apparently, I don't have any luck because it didn't. Rather, it lead me to the Pro upgrade/setup screen:
[see attachments since I can't post links yet apparently >_>]
Notice how both screenshots, it says "Windows XP Professional". My question was that if I was suppose to be lead here or not. Also, I'm not trying to upgrade to Pro so that is why I'm questioning.
Two weeks ago, XP froze up, one of my USB ports stopped working (still has power but no "signal") and it told me that my system32/config/system file was corrupt/missing.
This guide did not fix that problem, but it was about time I Fresh installed anyway, so I did just that. However, and I'm not sure why yet, my computer did it again today. The solution failed again, but this time I kept searching and found this:
Which reveals that it is the registry that was corrupted and that I can restore it manually from a system restore point, or from the windows/repair folder. If you get this problem, I highly recommend you use the restore point if available, and restore all 5 registry files in one go. Maybe then, your windows won't want you to activate again, like mine does (though this is probably due to my endless tinkering trying to get it fixed).
So, if you have the system32\config\system (or similar) error, try that!
once again, support[.]microsoft[.]com/default.aspx/kb/307545
A lot of the time Windows doesn't make backups. I've said it before but I want to reemphasize it: This symptom, that specific error people are reporting here, has several causes. None of the causes have ever been linked to a trigger, but it is important to know that you can have the same error message as the guy next door, but you could both have radically different problems.
Just as often as this guide works, it doesn't. When it <em>doesn't</em> work, the registry is often completely gutted -- no backups, no primaries. The only solution is a reformat.
And in the above post..when you say that the registry is completely erased, is it still possible to recover files (like by plugging it into a computer with a boot drive and accessing the erased-registry drive to pull the files)?
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You saved my life. My pc came back to life. Many thanks!
But, still 1 problem. My 2 mpeg files earlier saved on the desktop, now shows 0 byte instead of over 1 GB when created. And when I tried to play them, "invalid format" error message showed. I have tried some ways to recover them but not succeeded at all. (system restore seemed not to be working anymore). Does anyone know how to fix this, please? These 2 files are very important to me!
0
LeonardoWake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, AlaskaIcrontian
edited January 2008
Nguyen, please open a new thread on the topic of your file errors. It's a different topic than what's contained in this thread.
Lot's of us, including me, have been spared a lot of troubles by the 8 Step Windows Fix. Glad it helped you as well.
Hi,
I am impressed with the Eight Commands Fix. Well done.
I have the same Problem which was answered in Post #28 but I need some more info.
Post #28
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by del why after doing the 8 commands its asking me to choose which xp home edition
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Because your pre-existing Windows XP Home installation was not damage in the manner the guide describes. You, therefore, fixed what did not need fixing (In the way my guide suggests) and added a second entry of the same operating system.
To correct the issue:
Boot from the NEW Windows XP Home entry.
Right click on My Computer
Hit properties
Go to the advanced tab
Hit "Settings" under "Startup and Recovery"
Hit "Edit"
Remove the entry for the old Windows XP Home. Leave the entry that you added as a result of my guide. Then uncheck "Time to display list of operating systems."
Done.
Here are my questions:
Ok, so I fixed what did not need fixing.
I now have two entries on Startup.
Microsoft XP Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
In order to correct this, Thrax says do the above in Post #28.
Supposedly, I have added a second entry of the same operating system.
Now, is this just the operating system? Or does it include the whole of my files etc.?
What if I delete the new entry that I added as a result of using the guide instead of the old one?
Will I lose anything?
Would that cause problems?
I am not a newbie but I am a bit confused.
Supposedly, I have rebuilt the Operating System?
So, the new entry has to stand?
If I delete the new entry, then will the old XP not operate?
Does the entry just name the operating system and has nothing to do with the files and folders?
Will I lose anything if I delete the Old Entry?
When I delete the old Entry, does it remove the old Operating System?
Lots of questions, sorry.
If I keep the new entry and delete the old one, can I then rename the new entry?
Thanks for any help.
I feel a bit embarassed that I used the Eight Command Fix without the symptoms that it fixes.
Regards,
diowrite
:type: :banghead:
It's a line of text that points to the location of your Windows installation on the hard drive. Both lines of text refer to the same installation of Windows, but there's no way to prevent the second (redundant) entry from being created when following the steps in my guide.
As you inquired, the entry simply gives the operating system a name. So, you can delete the old entry and keep the new one, or vice versa. It doesn't really matter, as long as there's an entry.
Read Thrax's Guide to Repairing Windows XP in Eight Commands, just published on Icrontic's front page.
Please leave your feedback and thanks for visiting us. Icrontic's content is created by both its staff and members. If you're interested in contributing to the site, please read how you can get published.
Oh help! Just followed the 8 steps to repairing windows xp and it all went swimmingly - till I rebooted. Now Windows is asking me to log on and it gives me what I think is my user name, but when I put in what I think is the password, it is telling me that the system cannot log me on. I have tried changing the password in User Setup but to no avail. And I thought I had the "windows could not start problem" licked!
Anyone have any idea how to help me?
Fantastic morning here in England - managed to solve the problem without needing the tool! I thought a bit more about the password problem and realised that, if it was not my normal password it needed, maybe there was no password at all. The screen came up asking me for the p/w and I just hit return ... and it let me in. So I now have my laptop back, though there is hardly any disc space left and I am going to buy a new one.
Thanks for all your help - fantastic!
Oh dear, oh dear! thought I was there but now I am getting further problems! I tried to open a programme that runs on 16 bit and I got the error message:
"C:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose Close to terminate the application."
It will run some programmes, like Picassa and Word, though I have not experimented with the more advanced functions. But what to do?!
Will
Great article. I have the same problem on my laptop saying that /windows/system32/config/system file was either
missing or corrupted. I tried the 8-step solution and found at the BOOTCFG /REBUILD step I received an error message "Failed to successfully scan disks for windows installations. This error may be caused by a corrupt file system, which would prevent Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to detect an disk errors."
So I ran chkdsk /r. However when I re-ran BOOTCFG /REBUILD, it came back with the same error message! Please help!
Help!!
Can you help me? I have had the same problem for years with two motherboards, one an Abit board with a P4 CPU and now a new board with an Asus M2A-VM board with a AMD Athlon 64 X2. I keep my hard drives on fan cooled enclosures. I am using a grub menu with includes Ubuntu and Windows and most of the time it works. I am also using SP3 but have had the same problem with SP2.
The problem is that particularly after I install Windows XP incompletely so that I have to reinstall it without removing the first install. Sometimes I get this boot menu Windows XP Home Edition that is doubled-the same words Windows XP Home Edition on top of each other-see below:
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Home Edition
Most of the time neither boots Windows even in Safe Mode and I get this type of error message: Windows could not start because the below file is missing or corrupt: C:\\Windows\\System32\\HAL.dll <O:p></O:p> But I can boot up Windows and Ubuntu with Super Grub 0.9598. But I cannot delete and reinstall the faulty MBR even using Super Grub, Ranish Partition Manager or FixMBR or FixBoot in Recovery Console. Actually nothing changes. This “MBR†(two headed monster menu) is not even recognized in Ranish. This two headed menu keeps coming up.<O:p></O:p>
What has helped: Going thru the process in http://icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xpworked one time. Also changing the boot.ini file worked one time. What is going on? How can I get rid of that double menu that goes nowhere?<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
Jim<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
Microsoft says of HAL from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/237556:
In Windows ... there are several ways to troubleshoot issues related to the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that may occur as a result of misdetection,
There is definitely misdetection. But I don't understand it.
Is there a way to correct this or am I on the wrong track?
This "two headed" menu keeps coming up if I include the same hard drive or even remove it. But I found that if I put in another hard drive and access that hard drive the "two headed" menu does not come up.
Comments
According to the guide, it keeps saying a "Windows XP" CD, not a "Windows XP Pro". So, if my current version of Windows XP is a home edition, am I allowed to use a Windows XP Pro disc to fix it? Or will I need the disk that is the same version as my current computer?
Makes no difference destructive. You're just using the disk to get in to the computer. Once you're in, all the action takes place using files that are already on your hard drive.
Ok, thank you.
I just tried it out and it led me to a Windows setup screen. Is that suppose to happen? Because I don't want to install Windows XP Pro onto my Windows XP home edition.
No no! That isn't what I meant. Maybe I worded it wrong...
What I meant was after all of the steps. According to the article, under "Results and Wrap-up",
So apparently, I don't have any luck because it didn't. Rather, it lead me to the Pro upgrade/setup screen:
[see attachments since I can't post links yet apparently >_>]
Notice how both screenshots, it says "Windows XP Professional". My question was that if I was suppose to be lead here or not. Also, I'm not trying to upgrade to Pro so that is why I'm questioning.
I did. Hence the reason why the screenshot is asking for the disk. With or without disk, it will lead to there.
This guide did not fix that problem, but it was about time I Fresh installed anyway, so I did just that. However, and I'm not sure why yet, my computer did it again today. The solution failed again, but this time I kept searching and found this:
support[dot]microsoft[dot]com/default.aspx/kb/307545
Which reveals that it is the registry that was corrupted and that I can restore it manually from a system restore point, or from the windows/repair folder. If you get this problem, I highly recommend you use the restore point if available, and restore all 5 registry files in one go. Maybe then, your windows won't want you to activate again, like mine does (though this is probably due to my endless tinkering trying to get it fixed).
So, if you have the system32\config\system (or similar) error, try that!
once again, support[.]microsoft[.]com/default.aspx/kb/307545
sorry, it told me i couldnt post links
Just as often as this guide works, it doesn't. When it <em>doesn't</em> work, the registry is often completely gutted -- no backups, no primaries. The only solution is a reformat.
The guide was great Thrax, good work.
Unfortunately it didn't solve the problem I was having, so I had to reinstall anyway :o
But, still 1 problem. My 2 mpeg files earlier saved on the desktop, now shows 0 byte instead of over 1 GB when created. And when I tried to play them, "invalid format" error message showed. I have tried some ways to recover them but not succeeded at all. (system restore seemed not to be working anymore). Does anyone know how to fix this, please? These 2 files are very important to me!
Lot's of us, including me, have been spared a lot of troubles by the 8 Step Windows Fix. Glad it helped you as well.
I'll try,
I hope this works
Nice thread
I am impressed with the Eight Commands Fix. Well done.
I have the same Problem which was answered in Post #28 but I need some more info.
Post #28
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by del
why after doing the 8 commands its asking me to choose which xp home edition
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Because your pre-existing Windows XP Home installation was not damage in the manner the guide describes. You, therefore, fixed what did not need fixing (In the way my guide suggests) and added a second entry of the same operating system.
To correct the issue:
Boot from the NEW Windows XP Home entry.
Right click on My Computer
Hit properties
Go to the advanced tab
Hit "Settings" under "Startup and Recovery"
Hit "Edit"
Remove the entry for the old Windows XP Home. Leave the entry that you added as a result of my guide. Then uncheck "Time to display list of operating systems."
Done.
Here are my questions:
Ok, so I fixed what did not need fixing.
I now have two entries on Startup.
Microsoft XP Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
In order to correct this, Thrax says do the above in Post #28.
Supposedly, I have added a second entry of the same operating system.
Now, is this just the operating system? Or does it include the whole of my files etc.?
What if I delete the new entry that I added as a result of using the guide instead of the old one?
Will I lose anything?
Would that cause problems?
I am not a newbie but I am a bit confused.
Supposedly, I have rebuilt the Operating System?
So, the new entry has to stand?
If I delete the new entry, then will the old XP not operate?
Does the entry just name the operating system and has nothing to do with the files and folders?
Will I lose anything if I delete the Old Entry?
When I delete the old Entry, does it remove the old Operating System?
Lots of questions, sorry.
If I keep the new entry and delete the old one, can I then rename the new entry?
Thanks for any help.
I feel a bit embarassed that I used the Eight Command Fix without the symptoms that it fixes.
Regards,
diowrite
:type:
As you inquired, the entry simply gives the operating system a name. So, you can delete the old entry and keep the new one, or vice versa. It doesn't really matter, as long as there's an entry.
Anyone have any idea how to help me?
Thanks for all your help - fantastic!
"C:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose Close to terminate the application."
It will run some programmes, like Picassa and Word, though I have not experimented with the more advanced functions. But what to do?!
Will
Great article. I have the same problem on my laptop saying that /windows/system32/config/system file was either
missing or corrupted. I tried the 8-step solution and found at the BOOTCFG /REBUILD step I received an error message "Failed to successfully scan disks for windows installations. This error may be caused by a corrupt file system, which would prevent Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to detect an disk errors."
So I ran chkdsk /r. However when I re-ran BOOTCFG /REBUILD, it came back with the same error message! Please help!
Much thanks in advance.
W
Can you help me? I have had the same problem for years with two motherboards, one an Abit board with a P4 CPU and now a new board with an Asus M2A-VM board with a AMD Athlon 64 X2. I keep my hard drives on fan cooled enclosures. I am using a grub menu with includes Ubuntu and Windows and most of the time it works. I am also using SP3 but have had the same problem with SP2.
The problem is that particularly after I install Windows XP incompletely so that I have to reinstall it without removing the first install. Sometimes I get this boot menu Windows XP Home Edition that is doubled-the same words Windows XP Home Edition on top of each other-see below:
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Home Edition
Most of the time neither boots Windows even in Safe Mode and I get this type of error message:
Windows could not start because the below file is missing or corrupt:
C:\\Windows\\System32\\HAL.dll <O:p></O:p>
But I can boot up Windows and Ubuntu with Super Grub 0.9598. But I cannot delete and reinstall the faulty MBR even using Super Grub, Ranish Partition Manager or FixMBR or FixBoot in Recovery Console. Actually nothing changes. This “MBR†(two headed monster menu) is not even recognized in Ranish. This two headed menu keeps coming up.<O:p></O:p>
What has helped: Going thru the process in http://icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp worked one time. Also changing the boot.ini file worked one time. What is going on? How can I get rid of that double menu that goes nowhere?<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
Jim<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
In Windows ... there are several ways to troubleshoot issues related to the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) that may occur as a result of misdetection,
There is definitely misdetection. But I don't understand it.
Is there a way to correct this or am I on the wrong track?
This "two headed" menu keeps coming up if I include the same hard drive or even remove it. But I found that if I put in another hard drive and access that hard drive the "two headed" menu does not come up.
jhmac77
Sometimes when I am installing Windows I make a mistake(something happens) and I have to start over.