Repeated Boot Config Corruption in XP Pro

From: Darnko (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 04/18/04 

Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2004 10:23:48 -0700

>-----Original Message-----
>I have now re-installed (clean) WinXP pro 5 times in
past
>45 days (only got round to activiting 2x).
>
>The problem is that the PC will corrupt and then either
>the restore program works (partially) or the system will
>not boot either in Safe Mode or any other mode (at which
>time I re-install).
>
>Config as follows: Asus Asrock P4S61, Intel Celeron 2.4
>(retail version), 512DDR PC2700 Kingston, Sony 5x DVD
and
>WD 10g HD, ATI Radeon 9200SE 128ddr WinXP Pro.
>
>The application is my son's PC which because he uses the
>PC for gaming is using our S Video TV as the primary
>monitor. WinXP desktop settings altered to improve
>visibility.
>
>I believe that the heart of the problem is MS's digital
>fingerprinting in XP Pro. The system is installed
>normally, all Win updates and sec patches applied before
>installing any software.
>
>Because the item is hooked to a TV and that TV may be
>switched to another video input, the TV is occassionally
>not "on" as far as XP is concerned when it boots. It is
>clear that when XP trys to boot and does not detect any
>monitor that the corruption in the boot sector happens.
>Today's corruption was the main
>windows/system32/config/system file (3+mb). WinXP tells
>me that I could use the "repair" feature, but although I
>am a pretty advanced PC person, I can't figure out how
to
>do it unless I use either the FIXMB or FIXBOOT, but am
>unsure which to use.
>
>What I need to know is how to "turn off" XP's monitor
>detect at boot so it won't corrupt if my son
accidentally
>turns on the computer with the Video Mode on the wrong
AV
>input. I know that MS is aware of this problem since
some
>of the promo material on their new "Media Center"
version
>of XP (for TVs) discuss dealing with these kinds of
common
>AV problems (including power on and desktop management).
>
>If because of the digital fingerprinting, I can't turn
off
>the monitor detect (the effect of this would be that XP
>would boot completely without detecting a monitor at
all -
>which is the default mode for 98SE, Me and 2K) without
>corrupting the boot file and config, then some
suggestions
>on how to do a fast "repair" so that I don't need to
>reinstall everything, everytime.
>
>Right now, I could go back to stable Win98SE for his
>system since it works fine, but then some of the newer
>games won't play. This whole process has been very
>frustrating, and if I ask MS, I am sure they will tell
me
>it's either someone else's fault or I should consider
>upgrading to their new "Media Center" version (which of
>course does not support Smart Display because it is a
>variant of Home not Pro).
>
>Any assistance / advice (besides downgrading to 98SE and
>simply using "System Restore") would be greatly
>appreciated. Unfortunately using System Restore is not
an
>option, because only roughly half the time does the boot
>file corruption involve a lessor file that allows the
unit
>to get to a "safe mode" level of boot - the rest of the
>time you are dead in the water with only "repair" (which
I
>don't know enough about) or re-installations as options.
>
>My son is getting frustrated with having to re-install
XP
>every week, and he already knows far too much than a 6
and-
>a-half year old should have to know about PCs.
>
>Thx - Dave Lonico
>
>(frustrated after paying for XP Pro on the assumption it
>was a great improvement on stability).
>
>>
>This is a repair not a reinstall, but that really is the
lesser of your post. I'll keep looking and maybe
someonewho knows will come along.
>.http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
>

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