XP Pro won't enter recovery console

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G

Guest

Hi

I think I may have a pretty challenging and serious problem. As quick background, I downloaded SP1 which installed the agp440.sys driver, which now makes my computer stall forever each time I boot it up (even in safe mode). I know how to fix it if I can get into the Recovery Console. So, my computer will boot the XP Pro CD, load all the drivers etc., and then present the setup screen where my options are 1) enter setup, or 2) enter recovery console. However, when I press the suggested keys, nothing happens. It just hangs forever at this screen

We have tried using a Windows 98 CD to boot it up to access DOS and disable the driver, however, we can't read the NTFS drive (I think because 98 is based on FAT 32). The computer also stalls when we try to install Windows NT or 2000 Pro. We think that something on the NTFS drive may be blocked when SP1 tried to make these updates?

I think my only option is to buy a laptop drive adapter, transfer all my files to a desktop system, reformat the laptop hardrive, and copy everything back. However, I'd like this to be a last resort in the case that someone else has a cleaner solution ... We've also thought about using a NTFS boot-up disk ... which we are going to try tonight. However, I'm pretty pessimistic given how everything has been going so far ..

Thanks
s_
 
If you can, try installing the Recovery Console on your hard drive and run
it from there. See the following Knowledge Base Article for instructions:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q307654&ID=KB;EN-US;q307654

If you are unable to do that, you have another alternative. You can do a
repair install as follows. This will take the system back to its pre-SP1
condition:


Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.
 
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