Arrg - computer help needed

[JonnyBoy]

Not sure if any one else is familiar with Microsofts new security thingy ma jiggy that they recently introduced..

anyway, as I understand it, this new system can get invoked by MS if any changes occur to your system. I recently plugged in my ipod to charge without installing the drivers and I think this invoked the ms 'register your windows' wpa event.

By clicking on 'register now' my computer rightly tells me my windows is already registered! - As it should be.

I read around the subject to see what the deal is and from my reading most of the discussion related to MS support informing people to reinstall windows!

So, i followed suggestion for a wpa event fix, which apparently didnt work so my computer decided it wouldnt let me into windows. I tried a second 'crack' which probably unsuprisingly bent m eover and had its wicked way with me!

I now go through the XP boot flash screen to an XP box saying windows is loading.. but, after that, black screen. If I press anything.. reboots!

B*gger!

So, if I repair my XP install from the disck that came with my computer, can I get back into windows and rescue my files? or will they get formatted (assuming they haveny already gone)

Feeling a bit stressed right now with it, but any advice gratefully recieved.

failing the chances of at least getting back into windows to off load these files.. I'm guessing a new hdd and fresh install is best.. then trying to recover the files from the current os install hdd.?

help pls

J

[adhawkins]

To get your old files off, you could try a linux live CD (something like Knoppix) to dump them to USB storage if you have any?

Andy

[JonnyBoy]

i just have internal hdd's..

the priority is to get the thing up and running again i think.. but don't want to run the risk of loosing all my guest contact info an demail correspondance.

Most important files were backed up.. but not all though.

Has anyone done a repair install that has worked before?

[adhawkins]

If you're at all concerned about losing data, I'd concentrate on getting that hard disk backed up. Either remove it and put it as a slave hard disk (you'll need to change jumper settings probably) in another machine, or buy a USB hard disk and boot a linux rescue disk to copy stuff off.

Andy

[JonnyBoy]

gotcha..

i'll look for a decent high cap pata hdd and go from that. Now I have to figure out which one to get

Ta

J

[adhawkins]

They're all much of a muchness to be honest (someone will be along to shoot me down after that statement )

I went down to PC World, and picked up a 250 Gig drive for something like 70 quid. I think it was a Samsung.

Add that to a 25 quid USB caddy (if you want to go the USB route), and you're ready to go.

Andy

[BuGsBuNnY]

Have you tried booting up in safe mode? If not, try it and get the system back a week or so to a stable state.

I have to say that it could be a virus, especially if you downloaded a "crack" you know nothing about. Then again, it could possibly be a zillion other things.

If you repair windows you will not lose your files. You may need to reinstall programs but your files will still be there. That's assuming you dont format the hard drive on re-installation, if you decide to go for a new clean install. If you decide to repair, there should be no issues. However, do create a backup!

Also, when you get a "windows needs registering" type event, assuming you have a legal copy of the software, phone microsoft on the number that comes up on the screen, speak to the indian guy on the phone, and tell him you uninstalled/reinstalled windows and that the software is only loaded on one system and no more. He will then give you a registration code to update your system.

Hope this helps.

[scruffythefirst]

Sounds like a good reason to run your OS on a seperate partition to all your data.

[BuGsBuNnY]

If I had a desktop I would definitely do so. Use a small scsi super quick drive for the OS and a 2 huge mirrored ATA drives for data.

[7SE]

I did a repair on XP recently - I didn't lose any data or any applications, I just had to reinstally my wi-fi card drivers.

Top tip: even if you only have one HDD you can format it as 2 partitions.  If the worst happens you can install an OS [XP or Linux] on the spare partition and copy files off the primary one.

[ChrisG]

That only works if you have been supplied original XP media, unfortunately a lot of machines these days come with recovery CDs that just burn the standard install including all drivers etc back onto the hard drive as a complete image, so wiping out any partitions you may have created with Partition Magic etc. Some recovery apps do allow you just to recreate the C: partition though, but something to bear in mind.

[scruffythefirst]

That only works if you have been supplied original XP media, unfortunately a lot of machines these days come with recovery CDs that just burn the standard install including all drivers etc back onto the hard drive as a complete image, so wiping out any partitions you may have created with Partition Magic etc. Some recovery apps do allow you just to recreate the C: partition though, but something to bear in mind.

I find if its got to the point i need a recovery cd a full re-install is required anyway.

[JonnyBoy]

Just reviving this post as I'm in a position to get things sorted now.

I did a repair and managed to get back into the system files etc all there

Now.. i'm thinking of getting a ned hdd and running XP in c and installing programes etc into the first partition, data etc into the 3rd and so on.

Thing is, if I run programs in a seperate partition to the OS, what happens if I reinstall the OS.. how can I then run the programs again as there would be no registry entry for them?

**must establish a bomb proof system me thinks**

[adhawkins]

Thing is, if I run programs in a seperate partition to the OS, what happens if I reinstall the OS.. how can I then run the programs again as there would be no registry entry for them?

You'll probably need to re-install the programs.

Andy

[Mike H]

Wouldn't bother with separate o/s and program drives, you'll find a lot of software packages will dump umpteen DLLs in your windows\system folder or a shared 'program files' folder anyway.

Mike