BleepingComputer.com: Trying XP repair....

Greetings,

I am trying to do an XP repair on a computer with little success.

I have an SP3 slipstreamed XP Pro CD. The current version installed is SP3. When I boot from the CD and hit enter to install, there is no option to repair. It wants me to overwrite the existing one or rename the new windows folder.

Any ideas how I can get it to repair?

I have also tried the sfc command with every option with no action.

First if I remember correctly, you have to uninstall IE8 and IE7 (this rolls it back to IE6) for the repair install to work.
Then you boot with the xp cd just as if you were installing fresh. (google repair install for full directions)

I believe SP3 includes IE 7...so roll back to IE7 if you go that route.

This slipstreamed CD...how was it made? Source of files?

XP Pro is installed on the system?

Louis

Some odd things are happening with my system. I have not done too much to it but obviously enough to cause me some grief.

When I go to uninstall IE8, it tells me that it was already uninstalled and should I remove it from the list. I also tried Microsoft's work around by doing it through the Recovery Console but none of the files seem to be where they said they were.

XP Pro is installed on this system, yes.

This post has been edited by Shandley: 14 October 2009 - 09:45 AM

Is it possible that you are using a "corporate" Windows XP disk to try your repair?

Most corporate versions in my experience don't allow this but I could be mistaken.

No. It's from an OEM system builder disc. It's the one from which the original system was installed. I've had too much trouble with different discs so I make sure each disc is matched with the system (the discs come free when I purchase a licence so I might as well keep them together)


Another update:

1. When I move an icon around on the desktop and restart, the icon has moved back to its original location.
2. Microsoft Update wants to install Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 Security Update (KB953297) and 2.0 Microsoft .NET Framework Service Pack 2 Secuity Update (KB974417). The install fails.
3. The computer asks me to install a driver for my PS/2 mouse when I log into Windows.
4. When I log into Windows under Administrator in Safe Mode, it asks me to install drivers for my hard drive (the only one in the tower) and the PS/2 Mouse.

I did a virus and malware scan and came up with absolutely nothing.

Under the events log, there are a few red X's, all of whiuch say Userenv. Attached is a photo of the error.

This post has been edited by Shandley: 14 October 2009 - 09:48 AM

That error could be pointing to a corrupted user profile.

Have you tested your hard drive? Hard drive test links can be found here.

Do you see any capacitors on the motherboard that look like this?

This post has been edited by techextreme: 14 October 2009 - 09:57 AM

Yet another update:

I looked under the Advanced Security Settings for the user under Documents and Settings and the ownership was all set to a weird number and letter sequence: S-1-5-21-20521211302-1383384898-630003330-1003. I am changing ownership back to the user and removing that user.

This post has been edited by Shandley: 14 October 2009 - 09:59 AM

techextreme, on Oct 14 2009, 07:56 AM, said:

The moterboard is old but the caps TEST fine. Please note for anyone else reading this who may have capacitor problems and not know it. They don't have to be popping out the top like that photo shows, although, that is a very good picture of what they look like when they do. Caps are suppose to be a little bit concaved. If they are bulging out, even a little, thats a good sign they are bad or headed that way. Thanks for the photo, Techextreme.

The hard drive is new and scans 100%.

This post has been edited by Shandley: 14 October 2009 - 10:01 AM

After changing the ownership, I still have the same symptoms.

If time wasn't a factor, I would be doing some trial and error.... then again, I suppose that's what this is. lol

Was this machine ever on a "domain" or part of a "Domain"?

Never

Sounds to me like it needs a clean install...that repair attempt doesn't seem to cut it.

Or there is a hardware problem.

Have you tried changing/replacing the CMOS battery...to rule that out?

Louis

All the hardware checks out now. The issue seems to be with the user profile. I cannot do a system restore to get it back but I have a backup from about a year ago. Should I try to copy the ntuser files?

After rebuilding the boot.ini and setting the ownership of the file sin the Documents and Settings folder, as well as a loss for what to do next, aside from a fresh install, I figured I would try another repair.

Everything so far has gone off without a hitch!

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions.