I had a system lock up and had to HARD REBOOT
It has been slow and unresponsive since
Norton GOBACK had not defined a system safe point (due to unusual Disc Drive activity) so I could not roll it back
System Restore will not roll it back

I have tried to remove software that may have caused it, but WINDOWS INSTALLER will not remove prgrammes, saying WINDOWS is either in SAFE MODE, or their is no work for it
I have checked MSCONFIG, and the installer is STOPPED
I have used ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS to RE-START
IT does and then stops again making the statement about WINDOWS in SAFE MODE or there is no work for it

Any ideas how to get it working again

Is the machine a Laptop or a Desktop?

Do you have an XP CD, or does the machine have a hidden partition containing the XP setup files?


In either case you can;

Stop the Norton program. Go to (Start, Run) services.msc and stop any Norton programs/services. Then,,,,,,


Run a file check on the O/S.

If you have an XP CD:
Click START, RUN, type in:

sfc /purgecache

(This ensures that system files are copied from your Windows installation media, and files which may be infected/damaged with malware, or are corrupted, are not copied from your drive. Some of the files which are restored/replaced may need MS Updates applied. If sfc replaces any such files, you will have to reinstall updates for those files. (If you have Automatic Updates active, this will happen automatically.))

Then type in:

sfc /scannow

Have your XP CD handy.


If you do not have an XP CD:
Click START, RUN, type in:

sfc /scannow


Post back with your answers to the questions posed and your results.

Hi Dan,

Many thanks for your help

Answers
1. The machine is a Desk Top
2. It came pre-loaded with Windows, and with a Recovery CD

Should I run
sfc/purgecache
or sfc/ scannow?

Roadrocket

Hi

Dan definitely said

You do the sfc/purgecache first

Then the sfc/ scannow note space between / and scannow. purgecache
and as he say you will need your XP disc for this
An explanation of how to use SFC(System FIle Checker) here scannow sfc - LEARN how to use SFC.EXE (system file checker)
This will restore any damaged system files and will take some time to complete.
There will be no message when this process is completed.
If after this is complete please post back if you are sill having problems

Jim

Hi Jim

Would you classify a Recovery Disc as an XP disc?

Roadrocket

Originally Posted by Roadrocket

Hi Jim

Would you classify a Recovery Disc as an XP disc?

Roadrocket

Hi Roadrocket

No I'm afraid it must be an XP installation disc.
If you can borrow one from friend that will suffice.
For your SFC needs.

Jim

Hi Guys

I Stopped the Norton program Internet Security and the services.

I had started the process before I heard back from Jim23 on the Recovery Disc

I had loaded said recovery disc, and checked what was on it

It opened with

Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP
What do you want to do
1. Install Windows XP?
2. Install Optional Wndows Components
3. Perform additional Tasks
4. Check System Compatibility

So I assumed it was a Windows XP CD, and ran as advised

1. Click START, RUN, typed in:

sfc /purgecache

A box like “MSDOS prompt” appeared with a cursor inside.
As the Computer started massive disc activity, I did not type anything into the box

The activity stopped and the box disappeared

2. I then Clicked START, RUN, and typed in:

sfc /scannow

The Windows Protection screen came up, completed in about 15 mins, and then disappeared

Nothing else happened

At no time was I requested for the XP disc

I checked the Windows Add/ Remove programs, and it would still not remove the programs I wished to remove, I re-booted, and re-checked, and still no joy

"You do the sfc/purgecache first"

Actually my instructions state;

"If you have an XP CD:"

AND:

"If you do not have an XP CD:"


This implies/means a bootable XP CD. Some/many of these "on the hard drive" Windows media will wipe the C: drive then reinstall Windows from scratch. This is why I needed this point clarified.

"I had loaded said recovery disc, and checked what was on it"

Does this mean a physical, removable CD media?

Or is it on the hard drive? D:?

Hi Dan

1. I carried out the sfc/ purgecache first as requested by your goodself
It opened a MS DOS prompt box with a cursor
As my previous post, I entered nothing in this box
When the box disappeared, I then then Clicked START, RUN, and entered
sfc /scannow
The Windows File Protection box appeared , and completed its verification
It then disappeared
No request was made for the XP CD

2. The Recovery disc is titled MESH COMPUTERS RECOVERY CD-ROM
and opens when placed in the D:/ drive with the menu as mentioned in my last post
The folders on the CD are
a. DOCS
b. I386
c SUPPORT
d. VALUEADD
The Files on the same level are
a. AUTORUN
b. README
c. SETUP
d. WIN51
e. WIN51IC

Is your XP CD bootable? If so, it appears to be very similar to my retail XP Home SP2 CD. The only thing I have extra on mine is "Learn more about the setup process".

Given the evidence so far, I would try booting with the CD and performing a Repair Install. BACK UP anything important to you somewhere SAFE FIRST.

See this link; How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install (Just below the first bold red bar on the page. Please read the entire page first though.)

BEFORE running this, go to C:\WINDOWS\system32 and copy the; wpa.bak wpa.dbl files to a safe location. After the repair install, if asked to VALIDATE WINDOWS, try copying these two files BACK INTO the C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder and do a restart. (You may not have to revalidate Windows.)

I've also included a Product Key Finder (or two) in case you have misplaced yours. Make sure you have this key BEFORE any changes are made to the machine.

My XP CD contents;