Re: An Excellent XP Recovery Guide

From: Paul Moat (pmoat_at_optonline.com)
Date: 02/15/04 

Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 16:11:05 -0500

I HATE spammers and I'm pissed that you accuse me of it.
"Hemlock tree" <Hemlock@trees.org> wrote in message
news:ecmv205cojptsh623p6cs3suhlsep42igu@4ax.com...
> You asked
>
> I told you SPAM. Its still spam.
>
>
> If you don't want to know don't ask.
>
>
>
> On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 14:55:29 -0500, "Paul Moat" <pmoat@optonline.com>
> wrote:
>
> >spam??...what the heck are you talking about? Here's the text from the
site
> >spamboy. I hope people who need help disregard your uninformed opinions.
> >
> >PC users, you all know what it is: That dreaded Blue Screen of Death.
That's
> >right, the BSOD. You've installed a seemingly innocent application,
> >restarted your computer, and suddenly you see this horror in front of
your
> >eyes: A big blue screen with some cryptic message on it. Try restarting
> >again, same thing. You're dead. What will you do? What WILL you do??
Well,
> >don't let it ruin your day. Remain calm. If you're using Windows XP, I
can
> >help you fix it. Come with me, down into the bowels of Windows XP, where
> >only the high priests go. It'll be fun!
> >
> >I'm going to show you how to bring your computer back to life, and
restore
> >it to the point where things went south. You might want to print this
> >article and squirrel it away for that fateful day when this happens to
you.
> >Or if you don't want to print it (and who prints anything these days,
> >anyway?), and you get a big ugly blue screen, just get on another
computer
> >somewhere and come back to this Web page for comfort and advice. I can
get
> >you out of this mess. I know, because I was in the same mess and I got
> >myself out of it.
> >
> >Here's what to do: First, get the Windows XP CD you used to install your
> >operating system. By the way, this routine only works with Windows XP,
> >either Professional or XP Home Edition. If you don't have a bootable XP
CD,
> >get one and have it with you at all times, because you never know when
the
> >dreaded BSOD might strike.
> >
> >But before you do anything with that CD, try restarting your computer
again.
> >Sometimes, for some odd reason, this works. Usually not, though. If
you've
> >tried that and everything else you can think of, and you can't even boot
> >into Safe Mode, this is the mission for you.
> >
> >Put the XP CD in the drive, and restart. When it says "press any key to
boot
> >from CD," go ahead, press any key and you're on your way to recovery. The
> >Recovery Console, that is. If it doesn't give you a choice to boot from
your
> >CD drive, go into your computer's BIOS and make the adjustment for it to
> >boot from CD. PCs brands and motherboards are too diverse for me to give
you
> >specifics on this, so follow the prompts and you can make that CD boot
> >happen without too much trouble. Look at your screen when it boots up,
and
> >it always says "hit DEL for BIOS settings" or something similar. If you
> >can't get it to boot from CD, just give up and call for support or take
your
> >computer to the nearest computer store for professional help.
> >
> >OK, troops, are you still with me? Good. It'll look like you're
> >re-installing Windows XP, but don't worry, you're not. This is just a
screen
> >showing you that your computer is loading enough files from the CD to
> >actually do something, anything but that awful blue screen. Now when you
see
> >the screen that asks you if you want to install Windows, don't! Just hit
R
> >for recover, and you'll see the ominous Recovery Console. Don't let that
> >intimidate you; the Recovery Console is your ugly, black-suited friend.
It
> >will have a dark, bleak screen, with the following stuff:
> >
> >
> >Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console
> >
> >The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
> >Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
> >
> >1: C:\WINDOWS
> >
> >Which Windows Installation would you like to log onto
> >(To cancel, press ENTER)?
> >
> >
> >Go ahead and hit the number 1 on your keyboard, or whichever number
> >corresponds to the operating system you were using when havoc struck.
Enter
> >your administrator password, and then hit enter. You're in! Now it's time
to
> >run with the big dogs! Do not be afraid, dear reader, I am here to help
you.
> >
> >If you type the following commands into your computer, it will work
magic,
> >akin to going back in time. There are three parts to this process, but
> >believe me, they take much less time than reinstalling Windows XP and all
> >your applications. So follow along with me, and keep in mind that each
> >command must be typed exactly as you see it here. Please note that this
> >procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:\Windows folder.
> >Make sure to change C:\Windows to the appropriate windows folder if it's
at
> >a different location. The copy commands will answer you with a little
"file
> >copied" message. The delete commands just move on to the next line.
Because
> >of the way your Web browser displays individual lines, a command might
look
> >to you like it's two lines, so I've separated each command by an empty
line.
> >But anyway, type the whole command in one line, and when you've finished
> >typing that command, hit the Enter key. Be sure to include the spaces
I've
> >included between each word here:
> >md tmp
> >
> >copy C:\windows\system32\config\system C:\windows\tmp\system.bak
> >
> >copy C:\windows\system32\config\software C:\windows\tmp\software.bak
> >
> >copy C:\windows\system32\config\sam C:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
> >
> >copy C:\windows\system32\config\security C:\windows\tmp\security.bak
> >
> >copy C:\windows\system32\config\default C:\windows\tmp\default.bak
> >
> >delete C:\windows\system32\config\system
> >
> >delete C:\windows\system32\config\software
> >
> >delete C:\windows\system32\config\Sam
> >
> >delete C:\windows\system32\config\security
> >
> >delete C:\windows\system32\config\default
> >
> >copy C:\windows\repair\system C:\windows\system32\config\system
> >
> >copy C:\windows\repair\software C:\windows\system32\config\software
> >
> >copy C:\windows\repair\sam C:\windows\system32\config\sam
> >
> >copy C:\windows\repair\security C:\windows\system32\config\security
> >
> >copy C:\windows\repair\default C:\windows\system32\config\default
> >Now you can relax for a minute. You've made it through the first part!
Way
> >to go! Now what did you just do? I'll tell you. You first made a
temporary
> >directory called "tmp" (md tmp), and then into it, you copied all the
files
> >that boot up Windows. Then you deleted all those startup files, one of
which
> >is the stinker that got you into this mess in the first place. After
that,
> >you copied into that same place fresh startup files from a special repair
> >directory. When you reboot, Windows will look for those files where it
> >always does, and there won't be a stinker in the bunch. The only thing
is,
> >there won't be all your settings for all those applications you run every
> >day, either. But not to worry. Right now, you're sitting in something
like a
> >lifeboat -- it's not the original ship, but it'll get you back to where
you
> >need to go. We'll get everything back to that comfortable place, but only
> >after we go through steps 2 and 3.
> >Now type Exit and watch your computer restart into Windows XP again. Be
sure
> >not to tell it to boot from the CD this time. But wait. That's not the
way
> >you had XP set up before this disaster struck! That's OK. We're in a
> >lifeboat right now -- this isn't your comfy cruise ship, not just yet.
Hang
> >in there. I'm going to show you how to restore your system to the way it
was
> >the moment before you told it to install that errant application, or
> >whatever it was you did, so follow along and we'll go to part 2.
> >
> >Part 2
> >Here's where you'll copy the saved registry files from their backed up
> >location by using System Restore. This folder is not available in
Recovery
> >Console and is normally not visible -- Microsoft is protecting you from
> >yourself by hiding it from you and locking it away from you. But we have
the
> >keys. Before you start this procedure, you'll need to change several
> >settings to make that folder visible:
> >
> >1. Start Windows Explorer.
> >
> >2. On the Tools menu, click Folder options.
> >
> >3. Click the View tab.
> >
> >4. Under Hidden files and folders, click to select Show hidden files and
> >folders, and then click to clear the "Hide protected operating system
files
> >(Recommended)" check box.
> >
> >5. Click Yes when the dialog box is displayed that confirms that you want
to
> >display these files.
> >
> >6. Double-click the drive where you installed Windows XP to get a list of
> >the folders. It's important to click the correct drive.
> >
> >7. Open the System Volume Information folder. This folder appears dimmed
> >because it is set as a super-hidden folder. If you're using the FAT32
file
> >system, this will be easy. If you're using NTFS, it won't let you open
the
> >folder, but here's how to get around that: Right-click on that system
volume
> >information folder and select Sharing and Security. Then click the
Security
> >tab. (No security tab? Skip two paragraphs.) Click Add, and then in the
box
> >that's labeled "Enter the object names to select," type the name of the
user
> >that's at the top of the Start menu -- that's probably you. [Damn it, why
do
> >they say object names when it's people's names? I guess that's Microsoft
for
> >you.]
> >
> >Anyway, make sure you type the name the way it's listed there on the
Start
> >Menu. I made the mistake of typing my first name only and it wouldn't let
me
> >in. Type first and last name if that's how it's written on the top of the
> >Start menu. After you've typed that in, click OK a couple of times and
> >finally that monster will let you in.
> >
> >But what if you don't see a Security tab? Try this: Click to select the
> >checkboxes in the "Network sharing and security" area -- one is labeled
> >"Share this folder on the network" and the other is labeled "Allow
network
> >users to change my files." Change the share name to something short, like
> >sysinfo. Then it'll let you in. After you're done with this entire rescue
> >operation, you might want to go back and change these back to the way
they
> >were before, for maximum security.
> >
> >OK. Now here you are, in the inner sanctum where only the high priests
go.
> >Be not afraid, all ye who enter here. As Microsoft so eloquently puts it:
> >
> >NOTE : This folder contains one or more _restore {GUID} folders such as
> >"_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}".
> >
> >8. Open a folder that was not created at the current time. You may have
to
> >click Details on the View menu to see when these folders were created.
There
> >may be one or more folders starting with "RP x under this folder. These
are
> >restore points.
> >
> >9. Open one of these folders to locate a Snapshot subfolder; the
following
> >path is an example of a folder path to the Snapshot folder:
> >
> >C:\System Volume
> >Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}RP1Snapshot
> >
> >From the Snapshot folder, copy the following files to the C:\Windows\Tmp
> >folder (you can use your mouse, you're in Windows now, remember?):
> >_registry_user_.default
> >_registry_machine_security
> >_registry_machine_software
> >_registry_machine_system
> >_registry_machine_sam
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >This is how Microsoft explains this: "These files are the backed up
registry
> >files from System Restore. Because you used the registry file created by
> >Setup, this registry does not know that these restore points exist and
are
> >available. A new folder is created with a new GUID under System Volume
> >Information and a restore point is created that includes a copy of the
> >registry files that were copied during part one. This is why it is
important
> >not to use the most current folder, especially if the time stamp on the
> >folder is the same as the current time."
> >
> >Anyway, you're still not done. Don't worry, the magic is about to begin.
> >Believe me, if you do this in front of your friends, they'll start
thinking
> >you're some kind of god. So, heavenly father, get ready to dazzle 'em.
> >
> >Now it's time to place those files you just made visible to the Recovery
> >Console where they belong. And to do that, we need to get back into the
> >Recovery Console. So, make sure your CD is in the drive, and restart
> >Windows, this time hitting any key when it tells you to do that if you
want
> >to boot from CD. Yes, you want to boot from CD, so you can launch your
old
> >cryptic pal, the Recovery Console. Type R after it goes through that
> >file-reading routine that looks like an install but isn't. Then you're
back
> >into our dark-suited friend with its ominous command line. It's kinda
like
> >going into the basement to fix some broken pipe or something. But we're
not
> >scared. The command line is our flashlight and friend. Here we go:
> >
> >Part 3
> >In part three, you delete the existing registry files, and then copy the
> >System Restore Registry files to the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder:
> >
> >From within Recovery Console, type the following commands:
> >Del c:\windows\system32\config\sam
> >
> >Del c:\windows\system32\config\security
> >
> >Del c:\windows\system32\config\software
> >
> >Del c:\windows\system32\config\default
> >
> >Del c:\windows\system32\config\system
> >
> >copy c:\windows\tmp\_registry_machine_software
> >c:\windows\system32\config\software
> >
> >copy c:\windows\tmp\_registry_machine_system
> >c:\windows\system32\config\system
> >
> >copy c:\windows\tmp\_registry_machine_sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
> >
> >copy c:\windows\tmp\_registry_machine_security
> >c:\windows\system32\config\security
> >
> >copy c:\windows\tmp\_registry_user_.default
> >c:\windows\system32\config\default
> >
> >
> >
> >Now. You're done! Type exit and your computer will reboot into whichever
> >restore file you chose. But wait. If it's not the right one, that's OK,
you
> >can now go into your System Restore area and pick a different restore
point
> >if you want. There's a whole calendar full of them in there. I bet you
> >didn't know that Windows XP is watching just about every move you make,
> >taking notes all the while. It can restore about any state you had on
that
> >machine. And the best part is, even when it's doing all that, it's still
10%
> >faster than Windows 2000 according to our extensive tests here at the
> >Midwest Test Facility. Here's how to get into that restore area if you're
> >not happy with the current restore point:
> >
> >1. Click Start, then click All Programs.
> >
> >2. Click Accessories, and then click System Tools.
> >
> >3. Click System Restore, and then click Restore to a previous Restore
Point.
> >
> >"Hemlock tree" <Hemlock@trees.org> wrote in message
> >news:hr0v20hr8ckqntqdqiafb4hhne7a00nqt1@4ax.com...
> >> SPAM
> >>
> >> Its an ad
> >>
> >> No real help.
> >>
> >>
> >> Hemlock
> >> On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 11:26:32 -0500, "Paul Moat" <pmoat@optonline.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >My XP had crashed a few times. Most crashes were similar to those
being
> >> >asked about in this newsgroup. I found this site and followed the
> >procedure
> >> >and was ALWAYS able to recover my installation with no loss of data.
> >There
> >> >are four pages of instructions and it requires a lot of typing but
seems
> >to
> >> >clear up just about any problem that is caused by a software glitch.
> >> >
> >> >http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm
> >> >
> >> >Let me know what you think...
> >> >
> >>
> >
>

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