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6499
December 19th, 2004 06:00
Recovery Console & Repair Install Question -- Please Help!!!
I have a Dimension 4400. Norton Anti-Virus went crazy and corrupted some of my files including boot.ini. Now, when I try to boot, a message flashes saying "Invalid Boot.ini" and then I'm told the file -- Windows/System32/Hal.dll is missing or corrupted.
I tried to repair this using the recovery console but when it asks for my administrator password and I just press "enter" -- as I don't have one -- it gives me an invalid password message.
Not sure if there's a workaround for this so I was thinking of trying a repair install. Searching the internet, several sites said a repair install will fix my system files while keeping my data and settings. But the Dell tech support guy on the phone said a repair install would overwrite my data. So I'm confused. Perhaps there's a difference doing a repair install with an OEM disk versus a retail version of XP? Can I do a repair install with the Dell OEM XP cd and keep my data and settings or not??
Please help!
Thanks!
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simpswr
2 Intern
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3.2K Posts
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December 19th, 2004 14:00
A repair install shouldn't wipe out your data . . key word is shouldn't . .
This is a good guide to performing a repair install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
wrs
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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December 19th, 2004 15:00
You can bypass the administrator password requirement for Recovery Console by using the appropriate set of floppy diskettes available for download from here if the Repair Reinstall does not work.
Srgtroy
19 Posts
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December 21st, 2004 02:00
THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!
I decided to give the bootdisks a try first and they got around the password issue. Once in the recovery console the rest worked very smoothly. I am truly indebted to you for the time you have saved me.
Thanks!
Roy
dabacker
1 Message
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January 1st, 2005 08:00
What can I do if my laptop lacks a floppy drive? I have tried several ways
to repair my Windows XP Home. I managed to access the Recovery Console
initially and followed the steps outlined in MS Knowledge Base Article 307545, but
then it said the system file was missing. When I attempted to re-enter the Recovery
Console, the administrator password problem that many people seem to run into
cropped up. I'd rather not do a fresh installation of XP, because then I would have to
deal with recovering everything on the hard drive first. The reinstallation/repair option is
unavailable.
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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January 1st, 2005 15:00
If the steps in the MSKB article did not correct the problem and you can no longer access Recovery Console, you are out of options except for a clean reinstallation of XP.