Repair Install

Repair Install

            If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot, you can do repair install that might work as well as keep the current setting

Make sure you have your valid windows XP key. The whole process takes about half on hour depending on your computer. If you are being prompted for the administrator’s password you need to choose the 2^nd repair option, not the first.

1. Insert and boot from your windows XP CD.
2. At the second R=Repair option, press the R key.
3. This will start the repair.
4. Press F8 for I agree at the licensing agreement.
5. Press R when the directory where windows XP are installed is shown. Typically this is c:\windwos.
6. It will then check the c:\ drive and start copying files.
7. It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive.
8. You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (collecting information, dynamic update, preparing installation, installing windows, finalizing installation).
9. When prompted, click on the next button.
10. When prompted, enter your XP key.
11. Normally you will want to keep the same workgroup or domain name.
12. The computer will reboot.
13. Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP install.
14. Activate if you want (usually a good idea).
15. Register if you want (but not necessary).
16. Finish.
17. At this point you should be able to log in with any existing account.

NTOSKRNL MISSING OR CORRUPT

            If you get an error that NTOSKRNL not found.

1. Insert and boot form your windows XP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key.
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1.
4. Change the drive that has the CD-ROM
5. CD i386
6. Expand ntkrnlmp.exe_c:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.
7. If windows XP is installed in a different location, just make the necessary change to c:\windows
8. Take out the CD-ROM and type exit.

HAL.DLL Missing or Corrupt

            If you get an error regarding a missing or corrupt hal.dll file, it might simply be the Boot.ini file on the root of the c:\ drive that is misconfigured.

1. Insert and boot from your windows XP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key.
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for installation of windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1.
4. Type BOOTCFG/LIST to show the current entries in the Boot.ini file.
5. Type BOOTCFG/REBULD to repair it.
6. Tale out the CD-ROM and type exit.

Corrupted or Missing\Windows\System\Config

            If you get the error, windows could not start because

the following files are missing

or corrupt\windows\system32\config\system

or \windows\system32\config\software.

1. Insert and boot form your windows XP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key.
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for installation of windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1.
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested.
5. Cd\windows\system32\config.
6. Depending on which section was corrupted, REN software software.bad
7. Depending on which section was corrupted copy\windows\

Repair\system, copy windows\repair\software.

8. Take out the CD-ROM and type exit.

NTLDR OR NTDETECT.COM NOT FOUND

            If you get an error that NTLDR is not found during BOOTUP, if you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS. Just boot with a win98 floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory to the root of the c:\drive

For NTFS:

1. Insert and boot from your windows XP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key.
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of windows you want to repair. Typically this will be #1.
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested
5. Enter in the following commands ( X: is replaced by the actual drive that is assigned to the CD-ROM drive. Copy x:\i386\NTLDR c:\>copy X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM c:\
6. Take out the CD ROM and type exit.

OPENING PORTS OR ADDING ALLOWED PROGRMS WITH SP2’S FIREWALL

1. Click on start/run
2. Enter in firewall.cpl
3. Click on the exceptions tab.

Adding a port for internet access:

1. Click on the add port button.
2. Name it whatever you want.
3. Enter in the ports you want to open.

Adding a program for internet access

1.      Click on add program button.

2.      A list of all installed programs will be displayed.

3.      Highlight the one you want to include for internet access.

4.      Click on the ok button.

AUTOEXE.COM OR CONFIG.SYS ERRORS

            If you are getting errors similar to:

The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft windows applications. Choose ‘close’ to terminate the application. Try copying the file from\windows\repair\directory to the one that is in the \windows\system32 directory.

WINDOWS EXPLORER OPENS SEARCH COMPANION RATHER THAN THE FOLDER

            If the windows explorer opens up the search companion rather than opening up the actual folder, the default setting for opening a folder is changed.

To correct this:

1. Start regedit.
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DIRECTORY\SHELL.
3. Edit the default value to be explorer or none.

COMMON CONTROL PANNEL APPLETS

            The following are some common control panel applets that are located in the \windows\system32 directory. If you find yourself using any of these frequently, then you can simply make shortcut to then on your desktop.

Appwiz.cpl	Add/remove programs
Desk.cpl	Display properties
Firewall.cpl	Firewall setting
Inetcpl.cpl	Internet options
Mmsys.cpl	Sound and audio
Ncpa.cpl	Network connections
Musrmgr.cpl	User accounts
Powercfg.cpl	Power options
Sysdm.cpl	System properties
Wscui.cpl	Security center
Wuaucpl.cpl	Automatic updates configuration

GUEST ONLY NETWORK ACCESS

            If you try and connect to an XP computer and are shown a logins screen with only the computer name/guest, you may need to change one of the local security policies:

1. Go to control panel- administrative tools
2. Go to local policies- security options
3. Check the network access: sharing and security model for local accounts
4. Set it to classic- local users authenticate as themselves

POWEROFF AT SHUTDOWN

            If your computer does not turn off the power when dong a shutdown, you may need to edit the registry. I have all the correct BIOS and power settings and still needed to do this.

1. Start Regedit.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\control panel\desktop.
3. Edit the key Poweroff active and give it a value of 1.
4. You can do the same in HKEY_USER\default\control panel\desktop.

REINSTALLING WINDOWS XP

            If you need to reinstall windows XP and want to keep all your current installed application and settings:

1. Start Windows XP.
2. Go to the location of your source files.
3. Run WINNT32/unattend.

I have often need to do this to repair something that had gotten corrupted and didn’t want ot do clean install.

Allowing Network Access With Blank Passowrds

            Although you can log in locally without a password, by default, windows XP pro does not allow network users to access the computer without a password. Typically you will receive an unknown error 31 if this is the case.

To change this setting:

1. Run gpedit.msc
2. Go to computer configuration\windows setting\security setting\local policies\security options
3. Double click on account-limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only
4. Disable this option.

RUNNING SFC WITHOUT A CD ROM

            If you run SFC/SCANNOW and get prompted to insert a CD, there are a couple of changes you might need to make. Slipstream you copy of window XP with the latest service pack you have applied. For detailed UNSTRUCTIONS on how to do this see:

            Once these files are on your hard drive, you can simply make a few registry changes to point to those locations

Start Regedit.

Go to the following locations and change the path to wherever you copied the source file.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\windows\current version\setup\service pack source path.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\windows\current version setup\source path the last one might not be necessary.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\Microsoft\windows NT\current version\source path.

REPARING DAMAGED WINSOCK2

            The symptoms when winsock2 is damaged show when you try to release a renew the IP address using IPCONFIG. And you get the following error message.

An error occurred while renewing interface ‘internet’. An operation was attempted on something that is not a socket. Also internet explorer may give the following error message.

The page cannot be display additionally. You may have no IP address or not automatic private IP addressing (APIPA) address, and you may be receiving IP packets but not sending them. From the XP source files, go to the support/tools directory.

Winsock test method 1

1. Run ntdiag/test:winsock
2. The end should say winsock test passed

Winsock test method 2

1. Run msinfo32.
2. Click on the + by components.
3. Click on the by network.
4. Click on protocol.
5. There should be 10 sections if the winsock2 key is ok.

MSAFD Tcpip [TCP/IP]

MSAFD Tcpip [UDP/IP]

RSVP UDP Service provider

RSVP TCP Service provider

MSAFD NetBios [\device\netbt Tcpip..

MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip...
MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip

If the names are anything different from those in this list likely winsock2 is corrupted and needs to be repaired. If you have any 3^rd party software installed, the name MSAFD may be changed. There should be no fewer than 10 sections.

To repair winsock2

1. Run Regedit.
2. Delete the following two registry keys.

HKEY_LOCAK_MACHINE\system\current control set\services\Winsock.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\current control set\service\Winsock

ADD SAFE MODE TO WINDOWS BOOT MENU

            When in trouble on windows (not a rarity) you need to boot into the ‘safe mode’, when you have to boot the machine, then pounce on the F8 key to get to the hidden menu etc. Here how to simply add the safe mode to the windows boot menu so you can easily select it while starting your machine.

Some simple steps:-

1. Right click my computer and choose properties ( or press windows key and break together).
2. On the advanced tab, click the settings button, which brings up the startup and recovery windows.
3. Click the edit button, which will open the boot.ini file in notepad.
4. Look under the [operating system] for your default OS. Copy the entire line, and paste it on the line below.
5. Change the description in the quotations to say ‘safe mode’ or what ever description you want. Then add the following to the end of the line you just copied: /safeboot: minimal/ SOS/ bootlog.
6. If you want networking support, then change ‘minimal’ to ‘network’ without the quotes.

That’s it when you boot you’ll see the safe mode listed under your boot menu. Just FYI, here is what my boot.ini file looks like.

[boot loader] Timeout=5 Default=multi(0) disk (0) rdisk (0) partition (2) \windows [operating systems] Multi (0) disk (0) rdisk (0) partition (2) \windows=  “Microsoft windows XP professional” /fastdetect Multi (0) disk (0) rdisk (0) partition (2) \windows=”safe mode” /safeboot: minimal /sos/ bootlog

Note that the stuff after the “=” sign is the above example is on the next line, boot.ini it should be on the same line. Be careful while editing your boot.ini.

 

 Thank you