Re: how to run an executable file when Windows won't start
next lets see what sp version
you have on the disk.
so at the command prompt
type and enter:
cd c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386
at the directory prompt above
run the command:
dir *.cab
the above will produce a concise
listing of cabinet files and you should
see a file beginning with sp
is it sp2 or sp3?
--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
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"courtney nhc" <courtneynhc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:43BE440D-D2F6-4FE1-BED7-051753FE36ED@microsoft.com...
> Ok, thanks for the help!
>
> I am able to get to the Recovery Console. What should I do next?
>
> "db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. ." wrote:
>
>> i (we) do empathize with you as
>> loosing data is not the ideal
>> situation, especially if there
>> aren't any backups.
>>
>> but there are ways to work
>> around such a fiasco, like
>> buying a new cheap harddrive
>> and install it as a slave and
>> a new o.s. on it.
>>
>> then the new drive can be used
>> to perform tasks on the corrupted
>> disk.
>>
>> but the above is only a thought
>> and alternative.
>>
>>
>> in regards to the instructions for
>> repair the o.s., they are accurate
>> and pretty straight forward
>> because the method is user
>> friendly and automated after
>> you make a few selections
>> to guide the process.
>>
>> but there is a caveat which is
>> if the pc has been upgraded
>> to sp3, then an sp2 installation
>> cd will no longer work, except for
>> the repair/recovery console.
>>
>> what would be a reasonable next step
>> is to re boot with that cd and access the
>> repair/recovery console option.
>>
>> refer to the kb instructions
>> below and exercise option 2:
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
>>
>> if you are successful at getting
>> to the disk prompt via the console,
>> then let us know so that we can get
>> you to run some commands and
>> ascertain more info for us.
>>
>> --
>>
>> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
>> DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
>> - Systems Analyst
>> - Database Developer
>> - Accountancy
>> - Veteran of the Armed Forces
>>
>> "courtney nhc" <courtneynhc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:2206C4D9-7471-4719-9424-7C0E23C2F1DB@microsoft.com...
>> > ok, well the KB article didn't work because some of the files can't be found
>> > in the repair steps.
>> >
>> > I tried the repair installation that you suggested, but I can't complete
>> > step 5 in the instructions you linked to, because that's not an option. I
>> > press R, and nothing happens. After step 4, it says to make sure the current
>> > installation of XP is selected in the box and then press R, but there is no
>> > such box. After I press F8 to accept the license agreement (step 4), it goes
>> > to a screen where I select where to install Windows and my only option is
>> > just to completely reinstall. I'd like to avoid that if possible.
>> >
>> > Are these instructions out of date?
>> >
>> > "db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. ." wrote:
>> >
>> >> you may simply try the
>> >> method of "repairing the o.s."
>> >> utilizing a windows setup cd.
>> >>
>> >> a "repair" will replace
>> >> any missing or corrupted
>> >> system files with genuine
>> >> ones from the cd:
>> >>
>> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
>> >> DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
>> >> - Systems Analyst
>> >> - Database Developer
>> >> - Accountancy
>> >> - Veteran of the Armed Forces
>> >>
>> >> "courtney nhc" <courtneynhc@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:13912CB4-711C-4737-87B2-1AD5A499942C@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Thanks for the info! The file that can't be copied is SAM, which is also the
>> >> > one that can't be loaded and is causing Windows to not start.
>> >> >
>> >> > I'll try again tomorrow and report the results. Thanks again!
>> >> >
>> >> > "Lem" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> courtney nhc wrote:
>> >> >> > Hello there. I have a corrupt registry and am trying to follow the
>> >> >> > instructions in this knowledgebase article:
>> >> >> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I would prefer to run the Guided Help (now partly because one of the files
>> >> >> > I'm supposed to repair in the manual instructions cannot be copied and I
>> >> >> > don't know what to do), but I don't know how to run a program when Windows
>> >> >> > won't start, and there are no instructions in the KB article. Which is
>> >> >> > strange, because it's right there in the title: "...prevents Windows from
>> >> >> > starting" so they should probably have instructions for how to run an exe
>> >> >> > file when you can't start Windows.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Anyway, if someone could help me, that would be great!
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Thanks!
>> >> >>
>
>> >> >> I've never run any of the "Guided Help" options in MS KB articles, but I
>> >> >> agree that it seems unlikely that Guided Help would be of any use in a
>> >> >> situation where Windows doesn't start. Or maybe this Guided Help just
>> >> >> helps you make the 2 batch files on a different (working) computer. I
>> >> >> don't know.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> In any case, the manual procedure isn't hard, just a bit tedious unless
>> >> >> you follow the suggestion to make batch files. If you do this by
>> >> >> cut-n-paste, which is the recommended procedure, you also avoid the
>> >> >> chance of mistyping a command. The step that the directions omit is
>> >> >> that you'll either have to copy regcopy1.txt from whatever external
>> >> >> drive you saved it on to the C:\ drive of the problem computer or change
>> >> >> the command to reference the drive on which the file exists (e.g., batch
>> >> >> E:\regcopy1.txt).
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Finally, note that this procedure depends (in Part 2) on System Restore
>> >> >> having been active before the problem occurred. If you had turned off
>> >> >> System Restore (it's on by default), you will only have the registry as
>> >> >> it existed when Windows was first installed (before all of the
>> >> >> application programs were installed). In this case, your best option
>> >> >> would be to save all of your data, then reinstall Windows, and then
>> >> >> reinstall your applications.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> PRINT OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS AND READ THEM CAREFULLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH
>> >> >> BEFORE YOU START. Note the "Warnings" and "Notes."
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Which file is giving you problems when you try to copy it? Note that
>> >> >> the first step, where you copy the files in c:\windows\system32\config\,
>> >> >> is merely creating a backup set of the *current* registry files so
>> >> >> that you can undo the whole thing if, for some reason, that's what you
>> >> >> want to do (see the second paragraph in the Guided Help section). Of
>> >> >> course, you're probably only going through this exercise because one or
>> >> >> more of the current registry files has become corrupt -- and in my
>> >> >> experience, such corruption often prevents you from copying the file.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thus, if you have a problem copying one of the current registry files,
>> >> >> don't worry. If, on the other hand, you can't copy one or more of the
>> >> >> files in c:\windows\repair\, you'll probably have to reinstall Windows.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Lem -- MS-MVP
>> >> >>
>> >
>> >> >> To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
>> >> >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
>> >> >> http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>