Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Windows xp stuck after repair install

by Apr 12, 2013 12:52AM PDT

I booted the computer yesterday morning and received a windows-corrupt file dialogue box saying the file or directory C:\System Volume Information\_restore (lots of numbers here) corrupt and unreadable. Please run the Chkdsk utility.

I was unable to click ok close out or anything. So I booted into safe mode tried to reach command prompt to run Chkdsk and can't reach the command prompt because it gets stuck.

The last thing I have tried is to run a repair install from the windows installation cd. After two tries it gets all the way through the repair install it is stuck on the blue screen and says Windows is starting up.... with the hour glass for the mouse cursor.

I have run out of things to try. Need help. This is my business computer and can't really afford to do a complete new install of windows and lose a lot of information.

Discussion is locked

9 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Answer
You can boot directly to the command prompt
by Apr 12, 2013 1:16AM PDT

When powering on, hit F8 like you do to get into Safe Mode to get the Advanced Boot Menu. Instead of selecting Safe Mode there, select Command Prompt. From there you can run chkdsk, you can copy and paste your files to an external hard drive or flash drive, and you can run the command sfc /scannow. The SFC command checks for and attempts to correct for corrupt system files.

Good luck.

- Collapse -
No advanced boot menu
by Jenarae28 Apr 12, 2013 6:55AM PDT

When I hit f8 there is no advanced boot menu option

- Collapse -
That means a few things.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 12, 2013 6:59AM PDT

Either it's an older PC that doesn't work well with the new USB keyboard or the OS is "blown". You should fix this by what applies to this PC.

That is, if the machine needs a PS2 keyboard, you get that. If the OS is blown then you recover your files and then install XP over the top if not a fresh install like you did when you got the machine.
Bob

- Collapse -
Contradiction
by wpgwpg Apr 12, 2013 11:01AM PDT

You say you booted to Safe Mode. You can't do that without going through the Advanced Boot Menu. Look again.

- Collapse -
Safe mode
by Jenarae28 Apr 12, 2013 1:37PM PDT

What I mean is I tried to boot in safe mode. I hit f8 and chose start in safe mode also start in safe mode with command prompt. All options leaves me on a stuck screen. I get no further. If I could access the system at all or the command prompt I could do a chkdsk and other things to resolve this issue. It's looking like I'm headed for a complete reinstall of windows since I have no access.

- Collapse -
Answer
If You Can Boot To Safe Mode, Run Chkdsk Like This
by Forum moderator Apr 12, 2013 11:12AM PDT

Error Checking and Chkdsk are basically the same thing.. You can run "Error Checking" by opening "My Computer", then RIGHT click on the C: drive icon, choose 'Properties". Once that opens, click on the "Tools" tab, and click on the "Check Now" button in Error Checking section.. When the little box opens, place a check mark in BOTH boxes, then click on the "Start" button.. You'll be told you must restart the computer to run Error Checking.. Restart the computer and Chkdsk/Error Checking should run.

Hope this helps.

Grif

- Collapse -
Answer
Upgrade Install of XP?
by Apr 12, 2013 2:24PM PDT

Did you try doing an Upgrade Install of XP?

- Collapse -
Answer
If you are really really stuck...
by Apr 14, 2013 1:15AM PDT

It really depends on how old your latest backup is. If it's just a day or so, then maybe you wouldn't lose too much if you had to reload Windows. But if your backup is somewhat older than that, then before you reload Windows, you will probably want to try to retrieve your user data first. One way I've done this in the past (Oh, the joys of being the family IT guy!) is to use a Knoppix Live CD.

Knoppix is Linux, so if that worries you stop reading now. But really for retrieving data, it is quite effective. You'll obviously need access to a working PC to download the Knoppix ISO file and burn it to a CD. You'll also need a USB drive to hold the retrieved files. Boot up the Knoppix CD and you will be able to access your hard disk. It's then a simple operation to copy your user directories to the USB drive. All versions of Knoppix from version 3 at least will read NTFS files as well as FAT and FAT32 but some later versions may need the hard disk "mounted" in the Linux sense.

Probably a last resort, as one of the earlier posters said, I'd try an F8 start into Command Prompt first.

Good Luck!

- Collapse -
Answer
check memory space
by Apr 19, 2013 9:22PM PDT

hi,
I have seen some cases where Windows Setup would hang if more than 256MB memory was installed - but thats a bit far fetched.

>>What you could try is moving all the files in C:\Windows\INF to a temp folder such as C:\tempinf, then run setup again.

>>you don't need to format the drive, simply delete C:\Windows and C:\ProgramFiles so windows start fresh.

Back to Windows Legacy OS forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info