Removing a failed install of W2k Prof

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shirley
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Shirley

I've been dealing with major computer problems for nearly
two months so I desperately need help! I posted part of my
problem on the General Newsgroup on Jan 29 at 8.02am, and
the Hardware Newsgroup on Jan 30 at 8.06am and haven't had
any replies.

The problems first arose while I was trying to install,
uninstall and reinstall Norton Internet Security 2004 and
Norton SystemWorks 2003. I have now got NIS installed
properly and have given up on NSW.

I have two obvious problems. First is an error in my
Primary IDE Controller - it has a resources conflict. The
other is a Windows startup problem. When I start up, W2k
gives me a choice of either opening W2k or entering into
Windows Setup. When I open W2k it appears to work but is
exceptionally slow. When I enter Windows Setup, I usually
get the message that Setup could not find the Windows
installation I want to upgrade. I have also had the
message that W2K could not start because ntoskrnl.exe is
missing or corrupt. I have read many of the postings on
several newsgroups but none deals with the situation where
there is a real almost-working version of Windows present.
The missing ntoskrnl.exe is needed for the second Windows
installation which seems to be frozen in its incomplete
state.

This is what I think has happened. In the middle of all my
problems with NIS and NSW, I tried using my W2k CD to
repair my existing installation as a safety precaution.
The error in the Primary IDE Controller started during my
troubles with Norton. What seems to have happened is that
W2k attempted to install itself again on the C drive but
failed.

I have a recent subdirectory in the C drive ($WIN_NT$.~BT)
which I suspect contains the failed Windows installation.
It contains 114 files which are not found in C:\WINNT.
These files include atapi.sy_, biosinfo.inf, BOOTSECT.DAT,
buslogic.sy_, dmboot.sy_, fastfat.sy_, hal.dll,
migrate.inf, ntdetect.com, pci.sy_, pciide.sy_,
scsiport.sy_, winnt.sif. Also in this subdirectory is a
further subdirectory SYSTEM32 which contains only
ntdll.dll and smss.exe. These two files are present in
C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32.

Rob Miles at http://www.miles-pc.com/modules.php?
name=News&file=article&sid=18
has provided advice in a similar situation. If I followed
his advice, I would have to format my C drive and of
course I would prefer not to do that.

Can I simply move the files in C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT to C:\WINNT
and then delete the subdirectory C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT ??

Please help. I have about two weeks of work on the
computer to finish off my Masters in Landscape
Architecture and I don't feel at all confident about using
the computer for anything that important. But I can't keep
my life on hold for much longer!

Thanking you in advance

Shirley from Oz
 
The $WIN_NT$ directory is a temporary install directory. Delete it.

Delete the option from boot.ini located in the root of the system partition
or post the contents of the file for direction. Explorer|Tools|Folder
Options|View, then radio button for "Show hidden files and folders", then
uncheck the box for "Hide protected operating system files" to locate the
files in the system partition.

About 70% of the time when I do a clean install and then install NIS it
causes a blue screen stop. The only way I've found to recover is to blow it
all away and hope it doesn't happen the next go around.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.


:
| I've been dealing with major computer problems for nearly
| two months so I desperately need help! I posted part of my
| problem on the General Newsgroup on Jan 29 at 8.02am, and
| the Hardware Newsgroup on Jan 30 at 8.06am and haven't had
| any replies.
|
| The problems first arose while I was trying to install,
| uninstall and reinstall Norton Internet Security 2004 and
| Norton SystemWorks 2003. I have now got NIS installed
| properly and have given up on NSW.
|
| I have two obvious problems. First is an error in my
| Primary IDE Controller - it has a resources conflict. The
| other is a Windows startup problem. When I start up, W2k
| gives me a choice of either opening W2k or entering into
| Windows Setup. When I open W2k it appears to work but is
| exceptionally slow. When I enter Windows Setup, I usually
| get the message that Setup could not find the Windows
| installation I want to upgrade. I have also had the
| message that W2K could not start because ntoskrnl.exe is
| missing or corrupt. I have read many of the postings on
| several newsgroups but none deals with the situation where
| there is a real almost-working version of Windows present.
| The missing ntoskrnl.exe is needed for the second Windows
| installation which seems to be frozen in its incomplete
| state.
|
| This is what I think has happened. In the middle of all my
| problems with NIS and NSW, I tried using my W2k CD to
| repair my existing installation as a safety precaution.
| The error in the Primary IDE Controller started during my
| troubles with Norton. What seems to have happened is that
| W2k attempted to install itself again on the C drive but
| failed.
|
| I have a recent subdirectory in the C drive ($WIN_NT$.~BT)
| which I suspect contains the failed Windows installation.
| It contains 114 files which are not found in C:\WINNT.
| These files include atapi.sy_, biosinfo.inf, BOOTSECT.DAT,
| buslogic.sy_, dmboot.sy_, fastfat.sy_, hal.dll,
| migrate.inf, ntdetect.com, pci.sy_, pciide.sy_,
| scsiport.sy_, winnt.sif. Also in this subdirectory is a
| further subdirectory SYSTEM32 which contains only
| ntdll.dll and smss.exe. These two files are present in
| C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32.
|
| Rob Miles at http://www.miles-pc.com/modules.php?
| name=News&file=article&sid=18
| has provided advice in a similar situation. If I followed
| his advice, I would have to format my C drive and of
| course I would prefer not to do that.
|
| Can I simply move the files in C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT to C:\WINNT
| and then delete the subdirectory C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT ??
|
| Please help. I have about two weeks of work on the
| computer to finish off my Masters in Landscape
| Architecture and I don't feel at all confident about using
| the computer for anything that important. But I can't keep
| my life on hold for much longer!
|
| Thanking you in advance
|
| Shirley from Oz
|
 
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