Re: Used wrong System Disk for Recovery Console ...... What to do

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Thanks Patrick, That is the most concise reply I have recieved during my
quest for a solution. I previously knew some of that info. However, let
me give you more details.

I had started with the recovery console using the XP Upgrade disk thinking
it was my original XP system disk and it would not let me get past the
administrator password, although I have used my password as the admin. and
also used no password to no avail. I have seen this problem before and
never found the resolution but, that is a problem for another day. Moving
forward ......... I entered into the install area and selected repair.
Shortly after that, it rebooted and continuted to load from the disk for
another 20-30 mins. then asked me for the Product key. Which I find odd
because that sounds like an install however, I know I selected a repair.
My system has been in the state of waiting for upgrage product key since I
began with this problem and wish I could back out so I can insert my original
disk with the proper key however, I may already be comitted to completing the
repair cycle at this time. What would happen if I just aborted with a
reboot and started with my original disk? Any Ideas from here ?

Thanks again,

Dan




"Patrick Keenan" wrote:

"Dandy" <Dandy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8F27EA68-38BB-4F0D-B8E4-8BD1C36C0602@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In attempt to repair my registry which would not allow me to boot (even in
safe mode), I inserted what I thought was my XP System Disk but in fact
was
the XP Upgrade disk from my other PC. I only discovered that I inserted
the wrong disk when the OS would not accept my original product keys
previously installed. Oops .... I need some advice as to whether I
reboot
out of the screen since I can't go back or cancel and run the correct CD
version with the proper keys. or obtain an upgrade set of keys somewhere
to
complete the process then reinstall using my original product key. My
fear
is that I will lose my data files I wish to preserve on my PC if I reboot
now. Please advise and thanks in advance.

Dan

You shouldn't actually need the product keys to get into the Recovery
Console. In fact, I've used XP Pro disks on OEM XP Home installations for
this purpose, and those key types are not compatible. And for the common
registry repairs, you would use the Recovery Console.

You *do* need the keys and the correct install disk type to do a Repair
Install. A Repair Install will - or should! - not damage your data. If
you do a parallel install, though, you will probably wind up with a second
set of account folders and will have to migrate the data and settings after
taking ownership of the old account folders.

So, if you intended to use the Recovery Console, you pressed incorrect keys
and are in the wrong place. You will have to terminate Setup and restart
the system to get another chance at the console. Read the screens
carefully to determine the correct key sequence. Do not enter Setup.

As I recall, Setup asks for the keys before it does much of anything past
partitioning and formatting and copying base install files to a temporary
folder. If you didn't format, your data should be safe, though you should
always back it up before any maintenance like this.

Regarding backing up drives from unbootable systems, an easy way to do this
is to connect the drive to a working XP system that has disk imaging
software and sufficient space, via a USB2 connector. I use Acronis True
Image for this, and can image a drive and have it back in the original
system in usually under half an hour.

HTH
-pk





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