Windows Xp Pro Repair installation 1

[Superbaker]

I am trying to do a repair installation of win xp pro. I boot to a windows xp cd. Press Enter at the welcome screen, I except the Eula. Then it goes straight to the partitioning portion of setup. Everywhere I've read there should be a screen asking if I want to do a repair install or install a fresh copy of windows with the options to hit r or esc. I never get this srcreen. I've tried to different windows xp cd's with no results.

Thanks

James

 

[Freestone]

Sounds as if you are at step 5 of the following:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/tips/dougknox/doug92.asp

 

[Superbaker]

I would be at step 5 but that screen never comes up.

 

[wolluf]

Then setup can't find your XP installation. Is the hard drive ok? Why are you doing a repair reinstall? You could try to get into recovery console (just to see if this process can see the installation). If you can, try running chkdsk.

 

[Superbaker]

I have ran chkdsk from the recovery console. The computer will get almost all the way booted up and goto a blue screen. The blue screen flashes to quick to read and then the computer reboots. I believe there is something wrong with the hard drive. It wont boot into safemode or last known good.

 

[wolluf]

Bit odd that XP install can load recovery console - but not find the same installation to repair. Have you tried drive manufacturer's utility to check the drive? (they nearly all have one on their website). Also - if you suspect hard drive issue, if there's data you need to recover, can you mount drive as slave in another machine and access it from there.

 

[Superbaker]

I took a ghost image so I have access to the data, I would like to avoid reinstalling if at all possible but if it comes down to that, I will format and reinstall. When running ghost, it did detect problems with the drive so I believe that is the source of the problem. The hard drive is 80gb and is only 2 months old.

 

[bcastner]

Maybe, maybe Test Disk will work:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/

In any case you should head to the hard drive manufacturer's web site and download their diagnostic disk for the drive. If it is a Maxtor drive the option #3 to non-destructively re-certify the drive may be able to clean up the issue.

In any case, you should write down any error messages and return the drive ASAP under warranty.