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

Thanks again,

I had researched that link before on the MS website for registry repair and
will revisit again. I am using Home edition XP. There is no way to
cancel or abort from the location I am at while in this process. I tried
esc, all the F-Keys, Cntl-C, Cntrl-Break, and Cntl-Alt-Del........... nothing
!!

However, a couple of screens prior to the Product Key screen (which I can go
back to but, can only go back 2 screens total) says the following, This
Wizard installs XP on to your computer. The wizard needs to gather some
information about you and your computer to set up windows XP properly. So,
I am wondering if the files being copied were only being copied to a temp
area and not to the kernel. If then aborting with a powerdown might work
but will be faced with cleanup and a possible continuence of the XP repair ?

Dan

"Patrick Keenan" wrote:

"Dandy" <Dandy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:132C5A59-8E27-4E12-8DCC-385066732F75@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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.

And that's quite different from the Recovery console. If the you don't
have the passwords, or if they are corrupt, you'll need to clear them.
There are a number of boot CD utilities for this. Note that clearing
account passwords in this way (from outside an account) can have disastrous
effects if the OS is XP Pro and encryption was invoked.


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.

Yes, a repair install. This recopies Windows files but does not recreate
accounts and should not affect user data. It may or may *not* fix the
registry problem you're experiencing.

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 ?

Try to cancel the install, which should delete the files it's copied and
undo changes to the boot files.

Otherwise, I think you should be able to bail and restart Setup with the
correct disk without damage to your data, or to simply stop, reboot to the
recovery console as intended, and then fix the registry as described in :
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/

I have to admit, though, I can't recall trying this.

However, nothing's guaranteed, so be prepared for Plan B, which would be
shifting that system's drive over to your other PC and backing your data up
to it.

HTH
-pk


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








.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cant boot XP Home PC
    ... It may be possible to repair the OS with a disk from another pc **BUT** the manufacturer's repair disk may contain modified programs that such a repair would overwrite. ... I don't have a Windows XP Home disk as Windows came pre-installed on my system. ... I do have a system restore disk, but I fear that using that would restore my PC to original install and would lose all data and installed programs. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Help for ntbackup
    ... You can then use it to create a slipstreamed CD and add SP2 to your install CD. ... I have done the chkdsk /r and no problem was detected. ... >>> Get a decent disk imaging program like Acronis TrueImage, ... > unfortunately would be to do a Repair Install of XP so that none of> your ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: NTLDR is missing on bootup
    ... My install has been rock-solid for about a year. ... This morning, on bootup, black screen before BIOS display: NTLDR is ... a repair floppy with ntldr, ... With the repair disk, it booted up fine. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)
  • WinXP repair problem
    ... I have recently developed a problem with WinXP Pro SP3+ --it has become incredibly slow, and it gives error messages that programs are not recognized as being 32-bit programs, memory error messages, statements about quotas--all kinds of issues. ... I decided to do a repair and to test my theory, I loaded an backup image of the disk from Nov 30 on to a clean disk, then did the repair. ... I chose Enter at the first screen when the disk loaded, agreed to the the rules and regs, then waited for the next screen, which would invite me to make a repair to the install or to do a new install. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Is the product key on the XP Home upgrade disk?
    ... I'd bite the bullet and spend the $30 on a legit version that you know will install on your system in the future. ... how to the provided recovery method. ... the hard disk and is access during the initial POST of the computer. ... >I have a Compaq SR1403WM with a valid XP sp2 windows product key. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)