System File corrupt

[rasETL]

I have major problems.

I cannot get my PC to boot up - SYSTEM file is corrupt and CHKDSK says there is an unrecoverable error.

I tried issuing the commands in recovery per Microsoft's tech docs.

I cannot delete the SYSTEM file when in recovery mode. I cannot rename the file either. DOS says cannot do. Other files (SAM,SECURITY, etc.) appear OK.

I have a D: drive where i would like to install XP so I can get at the rest of the data on C:, but I only have an XP Upgrade CD. When I try to install using it, it allows me to initially select D:, but when it checks D: it finds no operating system, so it switches to C:, where it finds an unrecoverable error.

Anyone have any ideas? I really want to get at the data on C:.

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

Your C drive is toast.
Download from the website of the drive manufacturer the diangostic/setup utility they all have.

See if a non-destructive repair operation is possible.

Your instincts to create a new XP install, and treat the origninal C drive as a slaved driver is good. Unfortunately, you have only an Upgrade CD.

You should be able to do an essential parallel install of XP, but you must have some previous version of Windows to insert when prompted as qualifying media.

I do not know how bad your original hard disk is, but if the point is to copy files see:

http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[rasETL]

bcastner

Thanks for the info.

I do have Win98 SE on CD. That is what I originally had on the PC and used the XP upgrade CD to go XP Pro.

I can boot up the machine with a CD, so I take it I should copy a Win98 SE bootup disk from the ultimatebootcd site, then load Win98 SE on my D Drive?

I won't be able to try this until Friday (8/13) since I will be out of town this week, so any suggestions that come up during this week will be appreciated.

 

[linney]

Do a clean install to D of just XP (don't install 98 first).
Only use your 98 CD as a "qualifying product" for the clean install when it is requested by XP during the clean install of XP.

Follow this article and don't worry about the fact your XP is an upgrade, because with a "qualifying product" in your hand it is as good as (and equal to) a full version CD.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

See if you can get hold of SP2, if you can, this will update your system to "current" in one operation.

You might need these too when you come to copy your old XP files.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/21.asp

293118 - HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH#2

Have a look at the options, I have used it to transfer files (and settings) from from one operating system to another on a dual boot on the same machine.

Watch out for your boot files which will be on C Drive (not D) and may give you problems later on depending on what you intend to do.

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP (Q289022)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q289/0/22.asp

 

[rasETL]

Thanks for the information.

The information in the HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348) Knowledge Base article seems to indicate an OS is put on the first physical hard drive.

So, do I have to do anything "hardware" wise? If so maybe I would be better off if I copy C: to D:, then load XP on C:. I'm not what you would call a hardware person - I have added memory and swapped out audio/video cards, but thats all.

As I stated above, I tried to load on D:, but the setup process switched to C: - is this because C: is the first physical drive?

Thanks again.

 

[bcastner]

This may be more information than you need, but the rules for drive device enumeration under XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q825668

There should not be under install an issue with using a different disk than C, although it will need for the boot loader files access to the first physicly enumerated disk as discussed above.

 

[linney]

Format D drive, create your partition on the formatted D drive, and aim XP to load on the newly formatted, newly created partition. These are all done with the XP CD by booting from it.

Watch for the option to "press any key" to start the setup process from boot. Only take the "press any key" option once during the whole of the setup routine, watch out for that because at each reboot during setup it will re offer you that option and if you were to take it setup would go back to the beginning and start again.

 

[rasETL]

Any comments on this...

I have been "advised" to copy C: to D:, then swap out C: with a new Hard Drive.

Reason: C; is obviouly failing, and you cannot guarantee that on the next boot-up, all heck will break loose with the drive and you will be dead in the water.

Also, as BCASTNER states, XP need access to the boot loader files, and if that is corrupt, your toast.

But, using a Boot floppy, you are extremely limited in access - no CDROM access, and doesn't recognize the D: since XP formatted the D: drive on one attempt to load. In recovery mode, very limited in commands. For example, the Copy comand is there, but no wildcarding or directory copy available. XCOPY nowhere to be seen. Some suggested trying to find XCOPY on the C: drive and use it from there.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far.

 

[linney]

I can't understand why you can't install XP straight on to your D Drive and then use that to copy your data across from C. You will have to re-install your programs and use SP2 as a means to fully update your system.

You can copy the boot loading files to D, amend the Boot.ini to point just to your installation on D, then remove C completely.



Other aids.

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

Place a blank floppy in Drive. Right click on Floppy Drive Icon and select Format. Copy ntldr, ntdetect.com and boot.ini to floppy to boot your XP installation. These are hidden and System files (make sure options are set to see them).



If you boot a 98 or ME Startup floppy and choose the appropriate option for CD-Rom support, then you will have DOS access to the Cd-Rom. If your drives are formatted in NTFS you will have no access to them via DOS (unless you have third party software that can handle that situation also loaded on the Startup Disk).

 

[rasETL]

All

Downloaded the Western Digital diagnostic disk.

Ran Quick test - said too many problems - reboot.

There is a more complete test, but it recommends backing up your data before running. Unfortunatly I cannot do that.

What is the risk if I run it anyway? I really need to copy the files to D:. I'm not concerned about the C: drive - just want to recover the files I have there.

And, any other suggestions?

 

[linney]

You can dual boot XP with XP, once you have XP installed on your D drive you can use that to copy files from the C drive.

You can also use the BartPE version of XP which when created runs from CD and use that to copy your files.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

 

[rasETL]

XP will not install on D;

I tried formatting D: after telling XP to load on D:, however once XP starts trying to load on D:, it checks the C: drive and finds problems.

I'll check BartPE out.

 

[rasETL]

I checked BartPE out - too complicated for me, sorry. Besides, I do not have access to a Win XP Professional machine.

This is really frustrating - I can't get the machine booted up so i can copy the files over.

I want to try running XCOPY from the C: drive, but haven't been able to get the machine running under ANY environment that allows 1) access to C: and D:, or 2) "normal" DOS commands.

Maybe its me!

 

[bcastner]

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,7018905~root=winme~mode=flat

http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q119/4/67.asp&NoWebContent=1

 

[linney]

I am not sure as I have never tried it but maybe you can play around with this and see if you can stop it checking your drive C before installing on D.

"Try changing the active partition by booting to a floppy disk and then using disk utilities to manually change the active partition:
Boot to a command prompt by using a Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) boot floppy disk.
At the command prompt, type fdisk, and then press ENTER.
When you are prompted to enable large disk support, click Yes.
Click Set active partition, press the number of the partition that you want to make active, and then press ENTER.
Press ESC.
Remove the boot floppy disk, and then restart the computer.
Boot from the XP CD and see if it will now install on D.


Another thing in the same category of wild guesses and weird imagination is to see if you are able to incorporate this switch into the setup of XP. It would require being able to start the XP install from WINNT32.EXE maybe using BartPE as your operating system to start it (or possibly the switch might work with WINNT in DOS)

/syspart :drive_letter Copies temporary files to specified drive, make the drive active, and run from that drive.


Have another look at BartPE I don't think it is limited to Pro and should work on Home. Maybe a friend can help you with it. The instructions are pretty clear and the result with be an operating system contained and working from a CD which will copy your files from one partition to another. Of course you will need to save them from that partition prior to overwriting it. BartPE will allow the incorporation of Nero into it as a plugin.

 

[kiddpete]

Remove the current C. Put D in C's position if necessary, and install XP using the 98SE CD as the qualifying product. Put the old C in D's previous position after the new C is up and running. Copy your files if XP will mount the old drive.

 

[rasETL]

All

Well, I'm back up and running.

I turned off auto-detect in the CMOS settings, and the computer then desginated the D: drive as the primary drive and brought it up as the C: drive.

I was then able to install XP on the drive.

I was able to then copy a lot of files from the bad drive, so I am happy about that.

I am going to have to replace the bad drive - occasionally when I boot the machine up the bad drive keeps clicking for a while - probably wreaking havoc on the drive.

But, I was able to do what I needed to do.

Thanks for all the help.