Killed my PC!

[KillerHERTZ]

Help!

Ive just downloaded from the offical MS site, XP Service Pack 3.

After it installed I was asked to reboot, I did and it continued to install itself in DOS, then it reboot itself again until the WINDOWS logo and blue scroll bar screen appeared.

After 10secs or so, it reboots itself until the WINDOWS screen appears. Its now stuck on a permenant loop!!!

I cant do anything! I do have the orignal XP CD aswell as an SP2 update CD. When I try and boot from the orignal CD, it wants to re-install windows... Will I lose the contents of my HD?

Thanks!

 

[stevesey]

This might help

If all else fails you should be able to do a repair install over the top without loosing anything.

 

[andy_k]

can you start in safe mode?

if so just roll back to the restore point you created before you installed the service pack or go to the control panel and remove the update

As it's still (strictly speaking) a beta/release candidate version the MS tech pages should be able to help if you type in any error codes you get

Or you could start the PC using the original windows XP disk and use the recovery console.

HTH

Andy

 

[television]

I am not that good with computers,, but in the same situation as you,,, I bought another hard drive and installed the XP on that. then installed the old HD as a slave and accessed everything from there.

You cant re load XP as you will lose every thing on the drive

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Thanks, I will give it a go!

 

[grober]

Do NOT repeat DO NOT use system restore to go back to a restore point before you loaded SP3 People who did this with SP2 were often left with an broken XP system requiring a full XP reinstall. I don't know if this applies to SP3 but probably does.

 

[stevesey]

You cant re load XP as you will lose every thing on the drive

O yes you can - I've done it many a time. Found a linky (tab down a couple of times)

Also you can do system restore manually from "DOS" if you are feeling brave and can't get into safe mode (but I'd agree with grober, it might be a bit risky on a SP2 - SP3 upgrade).

 

[television]

O yes you can - I've done it many a time. Found a linky (tab down a couple of times)

Also you can do system restore manually from "DOS" if you are feeling brave and can't get into safe mode.

OK I will leave it to those that know

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Thanks for your replies, I had no luck with the above so I have attempted a new install (not a format)

Got to the last screen and its asking for product key (which I lost long ago) so I used a few others from the net to no avail.

Im guessing it wants the one that the PC already is using?

arrrgh, I dont want to lose all the data, I guess the only option is to boot from another HD and copy across all the data, then format the existing one?

 

[Venomous]

This is what I did -

1. Boot from a Windows CD
2. At Welcome to Setup screen, press “R” to start repair option and open up a Recovery Console’s command prompt window.
3. Select the Windows installation to use, normally is C:\Windows and just one option. If so, press “1″ and hit Enter.
4. If prompted for administrator password, enter the password (normally blank) and hit Enter.
5. Make a backup of existing GDI32.dll in system folder with following command: REN C:\Windows\System32\GDI32.dll C:\Windows\System32\GDI32.dll.orig
   Replace “C” of the drive letter of your Windows installation drive if necessary.
6. Then copy backup GDI32.dll from c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\gdi32.dll to the system folder with the following commands: copy C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\GDI32.dll C:\Windows\System32\GDI32.dll
   Replace “C” with your own system drive letter if applicable.
7. Restart computer.

The computer will complain about the old DLL when it restarts, but it will come back.

From there, I just went back to a 2 day old restore point.

The system is now perfectly stable...

 

[fredfloggle]

System restore is very flaky in it's efficiency - I know I've harped on before about ghosting a drive, but it is a failsafe method of backing up an OS/data.

A "repair" type installation of windows on top of an existing installation generally won't solve many problems.

 

[Venomous]

I would suggest that everyone wait until a good SP3 build comes out.

In the event that you do decide to proceed, do a bit of googling first to see if others have had problems, and note the outcomes.

If there is a straight forward resolution, as shown in my example - make sure you have these commands and your Windows CD to hand.

If you're in anyway unsure, DO NOTHING! Your PC is fine, it needs no further changes that could introduce risk (and stress!)...

 

[stevesey]

A "repair" type installation of windows on top of an existing installation generally won't solve many problems.

True (won't solve spyware, corrupt applications etc) - but in this case there's a pretty good chance.

Carl - I can't remember if having got that far you will of trashed you current windows install to the point where your can't read the current key. There are plenty of utills out there that will allow you to read the windows keys off an existing system. If you can have a go with of these you can get the key and have another go. Try here.

 

[Dragon]

I am not that good with computers,, but in the same situation as you,,, I bought another hard drive and installed the XP on that. then installed the old HD as a slave and accessed everything from there.

You cant re load XP as you will lose every thing on the drive

I am a computer engineer for 30 years and I rate your tip the best.

Another I just found out yesterday is to use Knoppix a freeware.

 

[cookci]

Give me a PM if you want an XP license. I have one thats not being used.

Cant remember if its pro or home. Ill check if u want it

 

[Dragon]

I thought your XP licence is underneath your laptop or pasted it beside your desktop or borrow it from a trial copy until you sort out your original licence. Failing all that use Linux.

 

[HughJarse]

I thought your XP licence is underneath your laptop or pasted it beside your desktop or borrow it from a trial copy until you sort out your original licence. Failing all that use Linux.

Never heard of a trial copy licence for windows? Where do you get that from?

There are numerous different licences with XP, just because Microsoft name the version ( ie home,professional, media ) doesn't mean they dont have different licences - I know of at least 4 different xp pro licences that wont work unless you use that particular build.

Even if you remove drive and slave it youre still going to have trouble getting into "my documents". Don't install linux on, theres a massive chance you'll never get your work back. If you've got as far as the licence key I would suggest persevering.

 

[ANP320]

Just been installing new computers on our network and one XP fell over and would not re-boot. If you take the hard drive out and plug it into a laptop or other computer using a USB to ide cable (easily available). You new computer will just treat it as a spare drive and at least you'll be able to access your My documents and copy them over.

May be helpful but the File and settings Transfer facility in XP is excellent and well worth doing before any major updates. Then you can save the lot to a spare drive and just wack it back when your new computer is up and running.

Hope this helps. PM me if you need some help.

 

[television]

Just been installing new computers on our network and one XP fell over and would not re-boot. If you take the hard drive out and plug it into a laptop or other computer using a USB to ide cable (easily available). You new computer will just treat it as a spare drive and at least you'll be able to access your My documents and copy them over.

May be helpful but the File and settings Transfer facility in XP is excellent and well worth doing before any major updates. Then you can save the lot to a spare drive and just wack it back when your new computer is up and running.

Hope this helps. PM me if you need some help.

Yes I have done this too, and easy to copy to CD or USB stick and re install. thanks for reminding me

 

[fredfloggle]

Just been installing new computers on our network and one XP fell over and would not re-boot. If you take the hard drive out and plug it into a laptop or other computer using a USB to ide cable (easily available). You new computer will just treat it as a spare drive and at least you'll be able to access your My documents and copy them over.

May be helpful but the File and settings Transfer facility in XP is excellent and well worth doing before any major updates. Then you can save the lot to a spare drive and just wack it back when your new computer is up and running.

Hope this helps. PM me if you need some help.

Be carefull with this - whilst you may well be able to do what you need , XP doesn't like to see two installs. It can corrupt NTDETECT.