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Question

Issues with msconfig.exe and services in Windows XP MCE 2005

Jun 25, 2012 6:08AM PDT

I just did a fresh install of MCE 2005 XP on an older HP Desktop. Windows runs great, but every time I boot or restart absolutely NO services are running, it goes back to classic windows style and acts almost as though it is in Safe Mode. I am able to to into Control Panel>Performance & Maintenance>Administrative Tools> Services, and Manually start all the services I require, then my Royale theme comes back and I am able to use the computer again, but I have to do this EVERY TIME I restart my machine. I tried System Configuration, but it is non existent, when I try to run msconfig it tells me that it does not exist and upon going to to C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries, msconfig.exe does not exist. Is there a way I can reinstall the System Configuration Utility and get my computer to go through a normal start-up without reinstalling Windows? Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
XP on an older system
Jun 25, 2012 6:14AM PDT

Are you saying that the older HP Desktop didn't have this XP on it before?

If so, then I suspect you are missing drivers, like motherboard/chipset drivers.

How did you do the install?

Mark

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Drivers are there
Jun 25, 2012 9:00AM PDT

Actually it is a Foxxconn Motherboard from a Tagar PC that I put into the HP. The Computer originally had XP Home, and I upgraded it to XP MCE 2005 as well as a faster processor and maxed the RAM to 2GB DDR400. It was a basic Full HDD wipe and re-install. All the drivers are installed and working correctly from the Foxxconn website. Just trying to build a secondary computer to run a TV-Tuner as I am taking my main computer to school so wanted Media Center. I think there may be a problem with my install disk, and I may just revert to either XP Home or Pro as I have installation disks for both and they were working fine on this PC previously

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Windows Install
Jun 25, 2012 9:05AM PDT

I do this often and I have rebuilt and installed Windows on many systems for myself and other people. This is the first time I have had this problem. I was just wondering if there was anyway to fix my MCE installation without using the MCE disks as I believe there is a problem with my discs. To fully clarify YES both the tower (HP Pavilion a620n) and the donor computer (Mid 2000's Tagar) were orginally XP Computers. The motherboard I am using I have upgraded to an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.20Ghz Processor (Socket 754) and Upgraded the RAM as I previously mentioned. I also put a new Hard Drive in it (Maxtor 250GB PATA EIDE HDD) to make an older, but still well usable, system.

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Answer
Re: fresh install
Jun 25, 2012 6:27AM PDT

Seems like something went wrong with the "fresh install". I'd try again .Why do you object to the idea?

By the way, my MSCONFIG in Windows 7 is C:\Windows\System32\msconfig.exe
Are you sure you're looking in the right location for XP?

Kees

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This was my though exactly
Jun 25, 2012 9:10AM PDT

During the Installation it asked me to insert the "Windows XP Professional SP2 Disc" to install additional software. Using either Disk 1 or 2 of my MCE CD's this would not work, I hit cancel and the installation continued. I believe I have a problem with my install disks. Up until last week I was using XP Home SP3 on this computer and it worked absolutely perfectly. I may just revert back to XP Home or XP Pro and download an aftermarket program to record TV on this PC as I am installing a TV-Tuner (Hence the reason to install XP MCE 2005). This is a Frankenstein computer with an HP Tower, a Foxxconn Motherboard (Socket 754) from a Tagar and then lots of upgrades on top of that. I know that MSCONFIG is there in Win 7, but on my other XP PC's it is under pchealth. Because most of my PC's are windows 7, the first place I looked was under System32 and there was no sign of msconfig there either. Unless I can find something simple and quick I think I'll just revert to XP Home or Pro and go with it. Thanks a ton!