Ah.....but you don`t have the Dell XP CD.........do you?
This repair cannot be done without an installation CD to access the Recovery Console.
You referred to another computer. If it has the same version of XP installed (i.e.Home/Pro ) you could use the installation CD for it to follow the instructions. Or borrow from a friend.
I do have the c:\i386 directory on the Dell. How can I make a winxp install disk from this directory? I can't boot to windows because of the program uninstall gone bad and, after 3 days of trying to fix the problem, have decided I have to reinstall xp.
(I should add here that I've replaced hal.dll and now it's missing ntoskrnl.exe. I've replaced that and get another error for a missing file. I replace THAT and now get the dreaded blue STOP screen)
Example, I boot the PC (with a CD repair console installed) and navigate to the c:\i386 directory and try to run winnt.exe and get a "command not supported" type thing, or access denied when copying files, or any of a dozen "no, you can't do that" responses. I've pulled the hard drive out and loaded it as D on another computer and copied the entire c:\i386 to a CD so I know the files are OK.
I've searched google for 3 days an have found no clear instructions on how to create an install CD from c:\i386 (or if it can be done).
Help! Before I have to go out and give MS $90 for aNOTHER copy of XP!
Thanks,
Well, here's my last thought. Use a friend's XP install disk with MY CD key (it's on the side of the box). Will this work? Will I have any activation problems?
Day 4:
Ok, here's where I'm at: The hard drive has the "I386" directory (yay!). If I can just boot to a floppy and get to that directory I can run winnt.exe and kick off the install. Trouble is, when I use a regular FAT floppy, it can't read the NTFS c: drive. When I boot using the 6 xp floppys I just get the repair console, no dos prompt.
How can I boot to a dos prompt that will let me read the NTFS c: drive and run winnt.exe?
NOTE: I've found that the following does not work, as I don't have a good install of xp: (it boots and stops at "missing hal.dll" even though it's there.
====================================================
To create an NTFS boot floppy:
1) DISKCOPY the first setup disk
2) Delete all files on this boot floppy
3) Copy NTDETECT.COM from your root to the floppy
4) Copy NTLDR from root to floppy, rename it SETUPLDR.BIN
5) Copy NTBOOTDD.SYS from root to floppy
6) Create a BOOT.INI as follows *SPACING IS IMPORTANT except first space*
[boot loader]
timeout=30
Default= multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
osprey4
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shesagordie
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dunedin
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July 8th, 2005 09:00
benway
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July 9th, 2005 16:00
(I should add here that I've replaced hal.dll and now it's missing ntoskrnl.exe. I've replaced that and get another error for a missing file. I replace THAT and now get the dreaded blue STOP screen)
Example, I boot the PC (with a CD repair console installed) and navigate to the c:\i386 directory and try to run winnt.exe and get a "command not supported" type thing, or access denied when copying files, or any of a dozen "no, you can't do that" responses. I've pulled the hard drive out and loaded it as D on another computer and copied the entire c:\i386 to a CD so I know the files are OK.
I've searched google for 3 days an have found no clear instructions on how to create an install CD from c:\i386 (or if it can be done).
Help! Before I have to go out and give MS $90 for aNOTHER copy of XP!
cm
Message Edited by benway on 07-09-2005 12:58 PM
Message Edited by benway on 07-09-2005 01:34 PM
dunedin
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July 9th, 2005 20:00
benway
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July 9th, 2005 22:00
Well, here's my last thought. Use a friend's XP install disk with MY CD key (it's on the side of the box). Will this work? Will I have any activation problems?
Thanks!
cm
Message Edited by benway on 07-10-2005 04:42 AM
benway
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July 10th, 2005 13:00
Ok, here's where I'm at: The hard drive has the "I386" directory (yay!). If I can just boot to a floppy and get to that directory I can run winnt.exe and kick off the install. Trouble is, when I use a regular FAT floppy, it can't read the NTFS c: drive. When I boot using the 6 xp floppys I just get the repair console, no dos prompt.
How can I boot to a dos prompt that will let me read the NTFS c: drive and run winnt.exe?
NOTE: I've found that the following does not work, as I don't have a good install of xp: (it boots and stops at "missing hal.dll" even though it's there.
====================================================
To create an NTFS boot floppy:
1) DISKCOPY the first setup disk
2) Delete all files on this boot floppy
3) Copy NTDETECT.COM from your root to the floppy
4) Copy NTLDR from root to floppy, rename it SETUPLDR.BIN
5) Copy NTBOOTDD.SYS from root to floppy
6) Create a BOOT.INI as follows *SPACING IS IMPORTANT except first space*
[boot loader]
timeout=30
Default= multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="Windows XP"
====================================================
TIA,
cm
Message Edited by benway on 07-10-2005 09:12 AM
Message Edited by benway on 07-10-2005 09:15 AM