Need help with system recovery

  • Thread starter Thread starter frogliver
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frogliver

XP Home OEM on an HP desktop

After installing some MS updates my XP will only normal-boot as far as the
WINXP screen with moving blue bars for a few seconds then black screen. Safe
Mode boots to a screen list of drivers then freezes. Last known config boots
the same as normal-boot.

From what I have read I may have to "recover" the OS using the set of XP
Recovery Disks I got from HP back when they had a HDD recall. The F:\
partition on my HDD contains a Recovery Console but I can't boot to get to
it.

Before I go there and risk losing the whole ball of wax (My Documents,
pictures, programs, etc.) I want to be clear on some things I read.

First, should those Recovery Disks offer a non-destructive OS recovery
option as the internal recovery console does? I understand that even this is
risky to keeping files, but even so I would choose that over the alternative
option, that reformats and does a clean install, if non-destruct is offered
on the disks.

Then, I have several types of "Ultimate Boot" type of disks: I can't get the
ones on floppies to reboot, but so far have gotten the EASUS Partition
Manager CD to boot and analyze the partitions. One has an "X" meaning there
is a boot sector problem (the thing is it is an FAT partition that I don't
recognize, as I know C;\ is NTSF. I think F:\ is supposed to be an FAT ). I
ran Fixboot and it could not fix the boot sector of that partition but
recommends I use Data Recovery Wizard to recover the files, but could I run
them if recovered? If I can recover the F;\ drive would I be able to boot it
and use the Recovery Console files it contains? Will the EASUS Partition
Recovery do any good at all?

Third, the actual Ultimate Boot Disk for Windows offers boot recovery if you
have an XP install CD -- is that the same as my XP installation disks (there
are 7)? Could they function the same way as the actual "install CD" and work
with the UBD?

This appears to be a pretty common effect of some of MS's updates and it
seems like MS should be responsible to have a fix for something as
devastating as this. If so I have yet to find it anywhere.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,
frog
 
frogliver said:
XP Home OEM on an HP desktop

After installing some MS updates my XP will only normal-boot as far as the
WINXP screen with moving blue bars for a few seconds then black screen.
Safe Mode boots to a screen list of drivers then freezes. Last known
config boots the same as normal-boot.
Click to expand...

If you haven't already, you could try:
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/
From what I have read I may have to "recover" the OS using the set of XP
Recovery Disks I got from HP back when they had a HDD recall. The F:\
partition on my HDD contains a Recovery Console but I can't boot to get to
it.
Click to expand...

Are you trying to access it via an F key during boot? Most are accessed by
pressing F10 or F11 during boot.
Before I go there and risk losing the whole ball of wax (My Documents,
pictures, programs, etc.) I want to be clear on some things I read.
Click to expand...

If you have another PC available that you can connect the hard drive into as a
slave drive you can copy the files you want off of it before attempting any
recovery/restore of the system.
First, should those Recovery Disks offer a non-destructive OS recovery
option as the internal recovery console does? I understand that even this
is risky to keeping files, but even so I would choose that over the
alternative option, that reformats and does a clean install, if
non-destruct is offered on the disks.
Click to expand...

The above depends on how it was setup by HP. Please provide the PCs
Manufacturer/Make/Model to help us better help you.

Manufacturer - Dell, Emachine, HP, Gateway, etc.
Make - Dimension, Pavilion, etc.
Model/Series - 9200C, 7125, etc.

Example: Dell Demension 9100C, HP Pavilion 7125
Then, I have several types of "Ultimate Boot" type of disks: I can't get
the ones on floppies to reboot, but so far have gotten the EASUS Partition
Manager CD to boot and analyze the partitions. One has an "X" meaning
there is a boot sector problem (the thing is it is an FAT partition that
I don't recognize, as I know C;\ is NTSF. I think F:\ is supposed to be
an FAT ). I ran Fixboot and it could not fix the boot sector of that
partition but recommends I use Data Recovery Wizard to recover the files,
but could I run them if recovered? If I can recover the F;\ drive would I
be able to boot it and use the Recovery Console files it contains? Will
the EASUS Partition Recovery do any good at all?
Click to expand...

Although most manufacturers place the System Recovery/Restore files on a hidden
partition/drive, usually D:, it appears yours may be on F:. The files contained
on F: may/may not require the Recovery/Restore disks supplied with the PC, don't
mess with attempting to fix or repair F: unless you want to chance corruption to
the partition/files rendering it useless.
Third, the actual Ultimate Boot Disk for Windows offers boot recovery if
you have an XP install CD -- is that the same as my XP installation disks
(there are 7)? Could they function the same way as the actual "install
CD" and work with the UBD?
Click to expand...

If you have a second drive that you can connect to the PC as a slave drive you
should be able to copy the files you want over to it using UBCD 4 Windows.
 
frogliver said:
XP Home OEM on an HP desktop

After installing some MS updates my XP will only normal-boot as far as
the WINXP screen with moving blue bars for a few seconds then black
screen. Safe Mode boots to a screen list of drivers then freezes. Last
known config boots the same as normal-boot.

From what I have read I may have to "recover" the OS using the set of
XP Recovery Disks I got from HP back when they had a HDD recall. The
F:\ partition on my HDD contains a Recovery Console but I can't boot
to get to it.

Before I go there and risk losing the whole ball of wax (My Documents,
pictures, programs, etc.) I want to be clear on some things I read.

First, should those Recovery Disks offer a non-destructive OS recovery
option as the internal recovery console does? I understand that even
this is risky to keeping files, but even so I would choose that over
the alternative option, that reformats and does a clean install, if
non-destruct is offered on the disks.

Then, I have several types of "Ultimate Boot" type of disks: I can't
get the ones on floppies to reboot, but so far have gotten the EASUS
Partition Manager CD to boot and analyze the partitions. One has an
"X" meaning there is a boot sector problem (the thing is it is an FAT
partition that I don't recognize, as I know C;\ is NTSF. I think F:\
is supposed to be an FAT ). I ran Fixboot and it could not fix the
boot sector of that partition but recommends I use Data Recovery
Wizard to recover the files, but could I run them if recovered? If I
can recover the F;\ drive would I be able to boot it and use the
Recovery Console files it contains? Will the EASUS Partition Recovery
do any good at all?

Third, the actual Ultimate Boot Disk for Windows offers boot recovery
if you have an XP install CD -- is that the same as my XP installation
disks (there are 7)? Could they function the same way as the actual
"install CD" and work with the UBD?

This appears to be a pretty common effect of some of MS's updates and
it seems like MS should be responsible to have a fix for something as
devastating as this. If so I have yet to find it anywhere.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,
frog
Click to expand...

When you try to boot to normal mode and get the black screen, if you
press Ctrl+Alt+Del, does it bring up the Task Manager?

The issue is not the result of a patch but usually from a trojan horse
or rootkit infection on the system. Read here for info:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent..._avoid_the_windows_black_screen_of_death.html

The links to the "fix" on that page do not work, but they are here:
http://www.prevx.com/blog/140/Black-Screen-woes-could-affect-millions-on-Windows--Vista-and-XP.html

Although Prevx was wrong about the cause of the issue, their "fix" is
worth a shot if you can run it following the instructions on the web
page. Otherwise, a recovery process is required that you may or may not
have the skills to perform.

Your questions about UBCD: no, if it needs an XP disc to run a
"recovery", you can't use the 7 discs you have...they are not an XP
disc.

"Recovery Console" is a feature of Windows that is run from the Windows
folder if it was installed on the hard drive and appears as an option
when you start the computer, OR from booting with an XP CD. You can do
certain repair operations and limited file copy operations from the
Recovery Console.

What you appear to be describing is not Recovery Console. You're
talking about another partition with recovery options, and that sounds
like a System Recovery option from a hidden partition, put there by the
OEM that produced your computer. If you start messing with those
partitions using a partition manager, you may succeed in making the
computer not only unbootable, but also unrecoverable using the disks you
have. I do not recommend playing with the partitions and boot record if
you don't know what you are dealing with, and how to recover from any
mistakes you make there.
 
No Safe mode with or without command. If F10 or F11 worked I wouldn't be
posting here with these questions. The PC is an HP Pavilion 7935.

I don't have another PC to connect to, and if I did how could it access the
OS when it doesn't boot?
 
frogliver said:
No Safe mode with or without command. If F10 or F11 worked I wouldn't be
posting here with these questions. The PC is an HP Pavilion 7935.
Click to expand...

According to HP support for your PC:
<quote>
Just after the first screen appears (the logo screen), press the F10 key
repeatedly until a recovery menu appears.
</quote>

It also appears that you "may" have the choice to conduct a non-destructive
system recovery using the Recovery disks. Read the section "Recovering from
Recovery Disks" on how to access and use them.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...lc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=62755#bph07145_cp
I don't have another PC to connect to, and if I did how could it access
the OS when it doesn't boot?
Click to expand...

With the drive installed/connected as the Slave drive in anther PC, the PC it's
installed connected in would boot to the system from the Master drive
installed/connected in that PC. Once that system is booted to the OS you would
be able to see/access the folders/files on your drive that's installed/connected
as the Slave.
 
glee said:
When you try to boot to normal mode and get the black screen, if you press
Ctrl+Alt+Del, does it bring up the Task Manager?

The issue is not the result of a patch but usually from a trojan horse or
rootkit infection on the system. Read here for info:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent..._avoid_the_windows_black_screen_of_death.html

The links to the "fix" on that page do not work, but they are here:
http://www.prevx.com/blog/140/Black-Screen-woes-could-affect-millions-on-Windows--Vista-and-XP.html

Although Prevx was wrong about the cause of the issue, their "fix" is
worth a shot if you can run it following the instructions on the web page.
Otherwise, a recovery process is required that you may or may not have the
skills to perform.

Your questions about UBCD: no, if it needs an XP disc to run a
"recovery", you can't use the 7 discs you have...they are not an XP disc.

"Recovery Console" is a feature of Windows that is run from the Windows
folder if it was installed on the hard drive and appears as an option when
you start the computer, OR from booting with an XP CD. You can do certain
repair operations and limited file copy operations from the Recovery
Console.

What you appear to be describing is not Recovery Console. You're talking
about another partition with recovery options, and that sounds like a
System Recovery option from a hidden partition, put there by the OEM that
produced your computer. If you start messing with those partitions using
a partition manager, you may succeed in making the computer not only
unbootable, but also unrecoverable using the disks you have. I do not
recommend playing with the partitions and boot record if you don't know
what you are dealing with, and how to recover from any mistakes you make
there.
Click to expand...


I can't get task manager from the black screen. But after using the EASUS
Partition Manager that checked out the sectors or whatever, now when I boot
it boots into "Recovery Console" which it now lists along with Windows XP in
the choices into which to boot. (only now it says XP Professional--I have
XPHome).

Unless I do F8, it boots into Recovery by default now instead of BSD. The
only problem is it asks if I want it to boot directly into System Restore. I
click yes it doesn't work -- instead it comes back asking if I want
recovery. I click yes it says it cannot make a separate user's partition so
it won't work.

And, if I do F8 "Open last known good config" it presents me with this on
the black screen

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
Windows root\system32\hal.dll"

If that is what I need, how to I get one and put it where it is supposed to
be? If I start the reinstall with my seven disks can I do a repair install
so it can get the .dll from there?

Thanks

frog
 
Thanks for the links Brian. I tried a DOS boot.ini repair using the
instructions on one of those troubleshooting pages but when I got to one of
the steps the command they gave to continue didn't work. So I got HP on chat
and after about 1 1/2 hours I gave up -- they had no idea of how to correct
the command , all we did was go around in circles. They wanted to check the
hdd --I told them it was fine and all I needed was the corrected command.
They wanted to check the BIOS--I told them the BIOS was fine and all I
needed was the correct command to edit the boot.ini file. That was pretty
much where that conversation went.

By the way, re: your gone fish'n@afaraway lake -- I live on a lake in
Northern MN - best Walleye and smallmouth fishing there is.
 
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