Windows system error, no XP CD

Noviceman

Hi,

I have XP on my machine and I'm getting a windows system corrupt file and I need to repair using the XP installation CD. I don't have this, was never given it when I bought PC, guy I bought PC off is no longer in business and no trace of him.

Anyway, is there anything I can do to repair my PC without this installation CD?

Thanks

esskay

Have you tried using the "Last known good configuration" option from the Safe Mode menu?

Power on your PC, after your bios loads (possibly a pic of you manufacturers logo) mash the F8 key (before Windows loading screen appears). This should bring you to the Safe Mode options screen (may take a few tries). Select "Last known........" and see if it boots. If not, try again but this time select "Safe Mode" from the list. If it boots in safe mode your problem is most likely software related and fixable, if it doesn't you could have a faulty HDD.

Also, check in you bios to see if there is a HDD self test feature, doing an extended test should reveal any bad sectors on the HDD, then at least you'll know what the problem is.

Best of luck.

Esskay

unnameduser

can you get into safe mode? do you know anyone who could lend you a copy of xp. you could run sfc /scannow (system file checker)

Noviceman

esskay, thks for the advice, tried this... last known good configuration did not work, also did not boot in safe mode, also when booting it comes up with the message...
Primary Master <SATA Device Not Found>
Secondary Master <SATA Device Not Found>
which of course indicates a problem with the hard disk.

I checked through the BIOS for a HDD test as you said, but couldn't see one anywhere, where would it be? It's a home made PC and uses something called WinFast as Bios, so it might not have one.

My next question is should I even bother try to get a Windows XP CD to repair or should I just replace hard drive. I can get an XP Pro Cd, but of course it's Home on this PC, which I presume will be no good.

Thanks

unnameduser

AFAIK the pro CD will work.

But in this case I reckon the H/D is fooked. Have you double checked the H/D connections, perhaps try another cable.

Biro

unnameduser wrote: »

AFAIK the pro CD will work.

But in this case I reckon the H/D is fooked. Have you double checked the H/D connections, perhaps try another cable.

Pro CD won't work, tried it before. Have you any friends with XP home with their CD?

Noviceman

yeah, that's what I understood also...

so, anyway went rooting in the attic and low and behold found a spare hard drive and an xp pro cd. I tried recovery first just to see what would happen, i hit r to recover a previous windows and it just brought me to c:\windows in dos and i couldn't do anything from here, what normally happens when you try to recover?

I was thinking of just installing the xp pro onto machine and seeing if hard drive is ok, then if that doesn't work use spare hard drive.

existing data is not really important

thenightrider

Noviceman wrote: »

I tried recovery first just to see what would happen, i hit r to recover a previous windows and it just brought me to c:\windows in dos and i couldn't do anything from here, what normally happens when you try to recover?

This is what happens when you go to recover you must now put in what command you need

if you dont no what command you need type in


recovery console commands
and press enter

Noviceman

ah ok, so i do something like the following

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

was expecting something automated

thenightrider

Yep thats it but if as you say existing data is not really important id just reinstall windows it's very easy if you run in to any troble doing it just send me a pm and i can help you out

Noviceman

yeah, sounds like a better plan have installed windows b4, so should be ok...

thks

Adder1

REPAIR should work from xp pro cd. chose to install windows for the first screen then on the next screen choose repair BE SURE NOT TO CHOOSE INSTALL WINDOWS AT THIS POINT as you will not have the proper coa key

duvelhedz

Try hiren's boot cd, there is a comprehensive set of diagnostic and recovery tools on it that will accuratly identify the problem. Just set the boot from cd option. Failing that qwhip the drive out and put it in another computer as a slave and run a seatools test on it.

On the offchance your drive happens to be a Seagate Barracuda 7022.11 series, I will inform you that there is a serious firmware bug with the drives themselves affecting 320, 500, 640 and 1000gb drives. You will be able to update the FW via an ISO available at the Seagate site

Noviceman

thanks to everyone on this, i got it fixed, i actually found a recovery cd that I had, it's a winternals one, booted into, said i had a corrupt windows\sytem file and it is now fixed, re-booted as normal and hey presto, problem gone... what a brill recovery cd, forgot i had it, won't forget again