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52958
OEM-installed operating system
Hi all,
My dad's computer will not boot up and the error message he receives is %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui-exe. I have tried Safe Mode and it didn't work. Anyway, I saw these directions for repairing a corrupt registry file which is what this particular error message means:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us.
But they specifically say not to use these instructions if you have an OEM-installed operating system. How do you know if your computer is OEM? I have heard that it means Windows comes preinstalled, but isn't that all computers? PLEASE help me so I know if I can use these instructions. Also, has anyone used these instructions and had success? I am not quite sure if it says that it was save your documents or will you lose everything, like when you reformat?
Any answers will be greatly appreciated, you have no idea.
Thank you!
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
1
December 5th, 2009 10:00
Hi again GinaBallerina
You did the right thing, if you missed something or unsure then always ask before proceeding
If you look at my previous post:
Item 2, HDD is Hard Disk Drive
XP Repair Install is explained in one of the links contained in the thread I mentioned on second last line (i.e. you would need to drill down through links) otherwise click here read carefully & ask again if still unclear?
You never did mentioned if there was any blue screen of death (BSOD) STOP error code(s) message?
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
0
December 4th, 2009 19:00
Hi GinaBallerina
You don’t mention if it’s a BSOD error & if any STOP type error code(s) – may help?
Anyhow, my assumptions are:
1. Computer is a Dell & OS is Windows XP & personal data is on same partition as XP OS?
2. Problem is not, a hardware issue (e.g. damaged hard disk drive HDD) or is Malware related?
If correct then:
Original OS will be OEM preinstalled XP as displayed on computer COA sticker (normally located on the side panel of a Desktop PC or base of a Laptop)
Meaning present OS is an OEM installed XP OS, unless someone has reformatted (wiped) the HDD using (for whatever reason) a Full Retail (boxed) XP licensed version CD to reinstall the OS
And I assume that hasn’t happened?
So you are correct to be cautious about using the Recovery method as described in MS KB 307545
If it’s a genuine system registry hive error & not Malware related you should do an XP Repair Install
I.e. Do NOT use the Recovery Console at this stage
Repair Install wipes XP OS files from HDD then copies XP OS files from XP CD to the HDD
Meaning personal data/settings & other software should remain intact
Normally takes about 40 minutes to complete, but you then need to download & install ALL MS updates which is the time consuming part
Also, like most things there is never 100% guarantees & if you make any mistakes in Windows Setup screen selections you could end up wiping all HDD data
If recovery of personal data is important you may want to first buy an external USB connected HDD enclosure, like one of these click here
Remove suspect HDD, place it in USB HDD enclosure & connect to a working computer for data recovery
Also helps to avoid loss of data if HDD is heading south :emotion-60:
After that you can try any repair method you want without being concerned about data loss
If required you could then even do an XP Clean Install or use the Dell PC Restore (DSR) utility, if preinstalled & it still works – no need to use any CDs & takes about 25 minutes – but both these methods will definitely wipe the HDD OS partition & also require reinstalling ALL MS updates
You may want to read this thread, click here
Reply if you require further help/clarification
GinaBallerina
9 Posts
0
December 5th, 2009 07:00
Thanks so much for your reply, Bellboy. I really appreciate it. Thanks for touching on everything I asked, also.
I have a couple more questions, though. What is HDD? Sorry for my computer illiteracy.
Based on what you've written, I would like to perform the repair install, as opposed to the recovery console. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but I can't seem to find directions for how to do this on here or the Microsoft website. Do you have clear instructions on how to perform this?
Thanks again!
Gina
GinaBallerina
9 Posts
0
December 5th, 2009 11:00
Hi again, Bellboy.
Sorry for overlooking things you had already explained...I am just really paranoid about this whole thing.
I did receive a blue screen of death message. It said something like "the hive (file) is damaged." and gave this message as well:
%systemroot&\system32\restore\rstrui-exe
which is one of the messages mentioned in the Recovery Console article, which led me to believe I should do that. I will trust you though if you say a Repair Install is the way to go. I will reread the links you provided and hopefully that will be all the info I will need.
Thank you so much and have a good one!
GinaBallerina
9 Posts
0
December 5th, 2009 19:00
Hi!
I just tried to perform the Repair Install after reading Bellboy's posts and speaking with someone from Dell (before I performed it, long story) and it seemed to be working but I just got this message:
Setup cannot set the required Windows XP configuration information. This indicates an internal Setup error. Contact your system administrator.
Sigh. Any idea of what to do now?? Any help is greatly appreciated, as always.
GinaBallerina
9 Posts
0
December 5th, 2009 19:00
Edited to add...I'm not sure I performed Diagnostics correctly the first time, so I tried it again with this CD in the CD rom drive:
Drivers and Utilites Already Installed on Your Computer
For Reinstalling V.9X (Capable)/56K Data/Fax Modem Software for Microsoft Windows.
This is the error message I received during the Express Test diagnostics:
OFOO: 136C
Msg IDE device failed. Blank media or no media is present in optical drive. Test requires media with digital date (Resource CD, Installation CD)
So does this mean I just had the wrong CD in, or does it mean something not quite so literal?
THANK YOU FOR ANY RESPONSES!
TheRealFireblad
4.6K Posts
0
December 6th, 2009 08:00
It does Gina.
To perform a 'Repair' install, you need to boot from the OS disc specifically - which in this case is the Windows XP disc.
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
0
December 6th, 2009 15:00
GinaBallerina
Can you please answer the following numbered questions
When carrying out either hardware diagnostics (if you did?) or doing an XP Repair Install
During computer startup process you need to select the CD-ROM as the first boot device
Hardware diagnostics first requires that the Dell OEM Resource CD to be inserted in CD-ROM device
XP Repair Install first requires that the Dell OEM XP CD to be inserted in CD-ROM device
1. Can you confirm that you did boot from CD-ROM device at the “press any key..” screen prompt?
2. If you did, can you confirm the correct Dell OEM CDs were used (as supplied with computer)?
3. Looking at the Dell OEM XP CD, what version is it, e.g. SP1, SP2??
Quote “Setup cannot set the required Windows XP configuration information. This indicates an internal Setup error. Contact your system administrator.”
That error normally means some installed hardware is incompatible with Windows XP?
4. Can you confirm that ALL peripheral devices (excluding monitor, mouse/keyboard) were first disconnected?
Includes any printers, i-pods, modem &/or network cable connections etc…
5. Has any new or upgraded hardware been added since original computer purchase?
GinaBallerina
9 Posts
0
December 18th, 2009 10:00
Hey hey! Just wanted to let everyone know that after about 3 tries, I got the Repair Install to work! PHEW! I am sooo relieved. In case anyone is wondering for the future, all of our saved documents, files, setting, etc remained in tact after performing the Repair Install, so I definitely recommend it. I know nobody wants to lose data!
Everyone, thanks for all the help, especially you, Bellboy!
Have a good one!
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
44.3K Posts
0
December 18th, 2009 13:00
Hang on a nano-second!
You're not done yet!!
Make sure your firewall is running and Immediately go to the Microsoft update site to download/install every available update that's needed for your system, possibly including a Service Pack or two!
If you don't. the system will have wide open holes for malware to get into your system. :emotion-5:
Ron
BELL BOY
1.1K Posts
0
December 18th, 2009 17:00
Gina
Good news then & thanks for the feedback :emotion-21::emotion-2:
Not trying to scare you but if original cause of problem was just some software glitch, that’s one thing, but %systemroot%\system32 type errors can indicate the HDD may be suspect (hope not)
So if not already done, make sure personal data is backed up on a regular basis, using either CD/DVD, USB flash drive or an external USB connected HDD device