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randy76

6 Posts

3778

August 3rd, 2005 07:00

Any method to recover, backup, and restore when 2nd re-install already completed?

Dimension 3000, XP Operating system SP-1A
 
Question: Does anyone know if it's possible and if so, the best way to recover program files when XP re-install selected and completed without backing up first?
 
Here's my situation:   My wife lost XP somehow, (possibly a virus), and we could not boot up by F8 (safe mode). We keep receiving the following message irregardless as to how we attempt to boot up.
"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
 
  \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
 
 
Our only option appeared to be to use the original Home editions XP install disk to bootup. I followed the directions as detailed in in " How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting"  ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us ). However, I could not get past the following in Part 1. As soon as I entered the 2nd line ending in "system.bak", I received a message that system32 could not be copied.
 
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
 
I had selected the 2nd option at the recovery module of "r" to recover instead of the first one which was to install XP. After I failed many times in attempting to recover, my wife selected the first option to
re-install. It appears now that everything is gone except the XP operating system disk items that have been reinstalled.
 
I know these facts were also present prior to my wife selecting the option to reinstall:
 
1. Volume did not have a label.
2. PC did contain some viruses.
3. In recovery module, I was unable to see names of services disabled.
4. Original service pack with backup XP operating disk was SP-1A.
5. Since, I only could boot up with the Windows XP original install disk, I did not re-install any other CDs containing drivers, diagnostic routines, etc.
 
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
Randy Sonnemaker 
 

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

August 3rd, 2005 10:00

Boot from your XP CD and chose the option to repair an installation which is actually into the second set of options, not the first one which you may think it is.

redwolfe_98

2 Intern

 • 

1.3K Posts

August 3rd, 2005 13:00

in addition to jmwillis's suggestion, here is a MS article about how to try to correct the problem..
 
 
another option is to do a clean reinstall of win xp et al.. if you do a clean reinstall of win xp, you need to have a firewall running before reconnecting to the internet..
 
usually there are "reinstall guides" for each model dell computer in "dell support"..
 

Dave Slomer

78 Posts

August 3rd, 2005 16:00


Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
I followed the directions as detailed in "How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting"  ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us ). However, I received a message that system32 could not be copied.
Dude! Been there, done that, same results on my daughter's PC last year. But couldn't get into Windows no matter what to salvage her [never-backed-up!!!] data, so had to remove drive and put it in my old Dell and copy via network to my new Dell. Got it all. :smileywink:
 
We were sort of lucky to have NOT been able to get into Windows or reinstall. The data just might have gotten itself :smileysurprised: erased.
 
It sounds like you DID reinstall Windows and it works but you can't find the old documents. There is software [www.winrecovery.com for example] that can unerase erased stuff; some will work if it wasn't installed before the erasing. But not sure if it'll work after reinstalling, which usually means deleting partition and reformatting drive. Back in the early '90's, a colleague formatted her hard drive. By using some unformat utility [no clue what, today], she was back up with everything intact in an hour. False hope? Just the facts. But she had done NOTHING in the meantime. Still...
 
Dave S

randy76

6 Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

Thanks RedWolfe 98 for your suggestion also.

That link is exactly what I used in my repeatedly unsuccessful attempts to recover and backup files. My wife did proceed with a clean install and now I think my excel, word, and personal tax files are gone for good. (I know I can't see them still anywhere and didn't find with an all files/folders search. Is there any possible recovery software tool that would still be able to recover files lost on a clean reinstall? My guess is not likely. Am I right?

Randy76

 

randy76

6 Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

This looks like it might be the best solution of all. I wanted to try this before but I think it required you to be able to boot in safe mode, which I could not.

Thanks very much Mr.Fromme.

Randy

P.S. The computer is relatively new, only about 11 months old. I thought our service agreement with Dell, (which is still in effect), would allow me to get tech help from Dell. I thought wrong. This Community forum and the people who participate in helping others like yourself, is a godsend.
 
 

timfromme

15 Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

This is what I found:

Run the Dell PC Restore Utility

  1. Power the computer on.

  2. When the Dell screen appears press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard, press the F11 key, then release them both at the same time.
    The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears.

NOTE NOTE:Only press the keys one time, if you press them more than once you will receive a keyboard error and will have to start the process over.

  1. Click the Restore button.
    A caution message appears advising that all data will be lost.

  2. Click the Confirm button.
    The progress window appears.
    When the restore is complete the message The system recovery process was successful. appears.

  3. Click the Finish button.
    The computer will restart.

Your software is now back to the way it was when you first received your computer

I found this when I was working on the same problem. I do not know how old your computer is and if this feature is available on it. When all else fails, try it and see.
 
Timfromme

Message Edited by timfromme on 08-03-2005 11:25 PM

randy76

6 Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

Thanks, Mr. JMWillis -

I did proceed as you stated selecting the 2nd choice "r" for the recovery console. (See my 2nd paragraph). However, as I was unable to successfully recover using the Microsoft article I noted, my wife got impatient and selected the first option - a reinstall. I believe that overwrote a large number of excel, word, and tax software files I would like to still recover. I'm afraid that will now be impossible.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Randy

 

randy76

6 Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

Thanks Dave, I appreciate the reference. 

I will look at winrecovery and see if that tool might do the trick.

Randy76

 

 

timfromme

15 Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

It is there when all else fails to recover anything lost. To do a clean sweep and start anew.
I hope it works.
Your welcome:smileyhappy:

jmwills

2 Intern

 • 

12K Posts

August 4th, 2005 02:00

A repair install just rewrites system files and not any program and/or data files.

randy76

6 Posts

August 4th, 2005 03:00

Thanks, apparently I need to do another search.

 

Randy

Dave Slomer

78 Posts

August 4th, 2005 03:00

Randy:

Proceed with caution! As I understand things:

(1) The Dell Restore partition [control-F11 at boot] has only been shipping on pcs ordered after 7/15/04. When selected, it puts the pc back in as-shipped, out-of-box state; you lose everything you added since then.

(2) Windows Repair may, but may NOT, leave your data intact, depending on ... stuff; like, if you NEED the data to be there, it'll be GONE after repair, but if you have a backup of the data, it'll be there after repair [one of Murphy's Corollaries].
 
If I'm wrong [and I hope I am for Randy's sake], please cite URL.
 
Dave Slomer

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