WinXP repair

greggustin

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Joined
7 Jan 2006
Messages
166
I need to repair some corrputed files
but
OEM install of XP (gateway)
only allows a rebuild (arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh)
(ie no dedicated XP CD)
I do have the CD KEY
and I do have another XP Pro disc
question
can I use the XP Pro CD tro repair my bad system
thanks

ps
if not, any other suggestions?
 
Is the I386 directory on your hard drive?
 
I386 is essentially the Windows XP Files from the CD.

This XP Pro CD you have, is it an OEM copy and does your system have Pro installed?

If you have Home, you can use a copy of the XP Home OEM cd from a friend and just use your cdkey.
 
Set the following registry key...

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
Installation Sources = <PATH OF I386>

If the I386 folder is located at C:\I386 then set the key for "Installation Sources" equal to C:\I386

After updating the registry key run CMD and type "sfc /scannow"

This will run the System File Checker and replace any corrupt files.

Be advised, this source (I386) does not get updated when you install updates or service packs.

This may not solve your issue.
 
to clarify
I have a retail CD of XP pro for MY system
(still have box and CD key)

the 'flaky' machine (son's on same Home LAN)
is Gateway
with pre-installed XP home
and no CD
(but I do have CD key - came with system)
I DO have a "restore CD" from Gateway
and according to them
it wipes the C: drive
and reloads all new windows and drivers
NO WAY I will do that

so , , ,

do I still follow your advice above?
and what does this mean
" Be advised, this source (I386) does not get updated when you install updates or service packs."

I have done many updates in the year I have had this system
will they get lost?
do I need to do windows update again?

thanks
 
Firstly, the product key for the OEM version of Windows XP should be on a sticker (COA) located some where on the outside of your PC. Gateway normally puts this sticker on the side of the PC.

Secondly, the restore CD Gateway included should give you an option to run a repair of Windows XP (when you enter Windows XP setup).

Lastly, when you install updates or service packs there is a great potential that certain system files will be replaced with the update. Your copy of the I386 directory will not be updated with these files.
 
the cd key is on a sticker in the back
but I used one of the programs that fetched it for me out of the system (somehow)
anway
guess I should try the "restore CD"
but I imagine this too will be lacking the upgrades
and forgive - although I am not a rookie in PC's
there is still much I do not know
as in, don't the upgrades have some sort of database
inside your system that monitors which upgrades onehas peformed?
will it get ' confused' if I do some sort of repair?

hmmm. and although the system is 'flaky'
it does work
maybe I should let well enough alone?

your thoughts?

again - thanks
 
What issues are you having with the computer? There might be other ways of resolving those issues.
 
it started with a locked system in a game
(bf2)
had to do a hardware reset
system came back only into safe mode
would not run any other way
then from safe mode
tried to reboot into normal
would always hang up during the thermometer loading part
(could see a quick BSD in the background right after)

next morning - seemed to boot ok
went back a week to a restore
(no software had been loaded in over a month)

now system had bad audio perfromance
so reloaded all audio drvers
(sound Blaster Audigy 2Z)

but am not getting the audio icon in systray
(not the speaker - that's there - but not getting the one from Creative Labs)
also - loaded new Graphics drivers
(as I lost the systay icon from ATI as well)

(yes - I unloaded all the old drivers first)

other info
system started 'squealing'
(through speakers - not case)
and locked up again
so now, supsected heat
I have removed the side panel
and placed a 9" fan blowing right nto it
no lock up since
so 'squeals' since
still no systry icons
and no ATI multimedia palyer
(as there was before)

thanks
 
if the machine blue screens during boot try the following.

Put the windows cd in (if you have 1) and press R for recovery console when it prompts you to do so. You will then try the following command
chkdsk /r
This may take an hour or 2 to run. However i have had this command fix some computers where the PC will BSOD during normal windows boot.
 
it did not BSOD
but it did flash for .5 secs
some blue screen
or maybe, sometimes it would flash a balck screen with white text
since I reloaded the drivers
(audio and video)
has not done that
but I am convinced there are some corrupted files from all the hard resets
 
Some blue screens only show for a few seconds before the system restarts.
 
greggustin said:
it did not BSOD
but it did flash for .5 secs
some blue screen
or maybe, sometimes it would flash a balck screen with white text
since I reloaded the drivers
(audio and video)
has not done that
but I am convinced there are some corrupted files from all the hard resets

Sounds like a BSOD to me. Try what i said. I have seen numerous computers with that problem, all to be fixed with what i advised you to do.
 
It is definitely a blue screen, as Celticfan said. What you can do, however, to fix the .5 second issue, is change the automatic restart feature that is set by default. If you clear this option, when XP Blue Screens, the message will hang there until you force a reboot. This will give you a chance to review the error, perhaps write down the error code.

Right click My Computer, go to Properties. Under the Advanced tab, Startup and Recovery, click the settings button. Uncheck the Automatic restart and click OK.

This will stop XP from rebooting when there is a BSOD...
 

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u guys are great
will try the options/suggestions in the am
ps
last 3 times I booted
no bsod
bit still am suspect of faulty files
will try chkdsk also
thanks again
 
wwwdjrcs said:
It is definitely a blue screen, as Celticfan said. What you can do, however, to fix the .5 second issue, is change the automatic restart feature that is set by default. If you clear this option, when XP Blue Screens, the message will hang there until you force a reboot. This will give you a chance to review the error, perhaps write down the error code.

Right click My Computer, go to Properties. Under the Advanced tab, Startup and Recovery, click the settings button. Uncheck the Automatic restart and click OK.

This will stop XP from rebooting when there is a BSOD...

Give that a try, but take note it doesnt always work.
 
celticfan11 said:
Give that a try, but take note it doesnt always work.
What doesn't always work?

All that will do is stop XP from auto-rebooting if a BSOD occurs.

I have never seen it not work?
 
wwwdjrcs said:
What doesn't always work?

All that will do is stop XP from auto-rebooting if a BSOD occurs.

I have never seen it not work?

The featue of making the XP machine stop from auto-rebooting if a BSOD occurs...

I have enabled this feature for exactly this problem, and it did not work. The pc would BSOD and rebooted instatally.
 
Last edited:
I unchecked the auto-restart
cannot tell if it works
as I have had no crashes in last 10 starts
also, from CMD box
ran chkdsk
it found some errors
so ran again with "/f"
so far - system appears stable
still some utilities not running as before
eg audio and video setups
but = as long as all seems well
not going to mess with it
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