little bit of a problem

ok i was working on my dads comp and i ran a squared and all deleted the stuff it found and now it's saying files windows needs have been lost and to insert the cd there not sure of where the cd is right now is there anything i can do

will a system restore work

Wolf

 

I would restart in safe mode then try a restore...as long as the space that used to be reserved for the system files hasn't been overwritten you might be able to recover it.

Atleast, that is what I would try.

Someone more knowledgeable with that kind of thing can probably help you out more, though.

 

should i do system resotre in safe mode and if that wont work then do last known good config?

 

'Last known good configuration' won't recover deleted system files...atleast not from how I understand windows operates.

If the system restore doesn't work find any good old XP system and see if it can install the missing files itself when it calls for it.

A system restore attempt can't hurt. It will either work or not work.

 

ok i ran it in safe mode and i can only get to the login screne because the mosue isint moving


what can i do please my parents are gonna kill me

it asked for the disk and i out it in and it says this is the correct disk but it's the recovery disk they got wiith the comp

what can i do:'(

Wolf

 

Wait for someone that can help you better than I can...

Sorry, I'm not skilled at that type of problem in the least. System restore or rebooting XP is what I can think of. I think its possible to boot from CD and run XP's recovery console instead of new install, but I don't know the commands you'll need in this scenario.

You could try 'repair install' as a last resort, but I'm pretty sure that will delete the files on the HD. If it comes down to that you can hook up the hard drive in that computer as a slave on your computer. You should still be able to see that hard drive when its connected as a slave to yours. Just go onto it and retrieve the files your folks need to your computer. Proceed to use recovery CDs on parents computer after moving hard drive back and do a complete recovery.

That is the last resort...

 

but the mouse and keyboard dont work so i dont know what to do

 

That has happened to me before. You may need to re-set the BIOS. If that is the case, with no mouse or keyboard(likely because they are Operating System controlled and the OS is down) you will need to find the CMOS of your motherboard, jump it off, then placing it back to normal pin state. This should atleast get the keyboard/mouse working again.

Read the labels on the motherboard. What kind is it? If you can determine brand or specific model name you can find a manual of that exact model online. Then, locate the jumper pins and this could at least get the BIOS back to factory default, which under most cases has the mouse/keyboard controlled by the MB and no longer an OS.

If, of course, that is why your keyboard/mouse don't work. If you can't get those to work you can't fix the problem yourself.

 

ok well the mosue works only until they press something on the keyboard if they press a key the muse wont work anymore but up until that point that have the mouse is that of any help

 

Man, what did you do to that computer?:confused

Sorry, I know that doesn't help. Thats all I can come up with. Just wait for someone with experience to post on this and see if they can help. It looks like this beyond my level, which is more or less general.

 

i used asquared recomended by MG and i just got rid of the crap it showed up

do u think doing the last good configuration would work
?

Wolf

 

Go for it...is it just restarting over and over or something? Is it caught in a loop? If that is the case you need XP CD and use Recovery console to try to detect/install missing system files.

I use CCleaner to clean my computer...

 

no i can go in a the keyborad works when i press f8 so i can navigate to safew mode but it wont let us type at all

Wolf

 

Can you get the computer to boot from CD? If that is the case, try to load the XP CD on startup. This should load the files on the CD bringing you to the setup Windows XP screen. Recovery disc or original XP disc. Preferably the original...

Choose the 1st option, 'Set Up Windows XP Now', then after it detects the hard drive w/ XP on it press 'R' to begin 'Repair Selected Windows XP Installation'...

This will keep files on the hard drive in existence and correct the install. You must have the same product key in order for this to work. Look on the case or CD holder for the XP product key.

 

well it is a recovery disk there is no XP origional disk and it had the option to boot from cd but they closed it so how would i get back to that

Wolf

 

Restart the computer with the recovery disk in the CD tray(closed position rolleyes)

Then, press space bar when screen comes up 'Press any key to boot from CD...'

Let the program on the CD load. Before you can do this, you MUST have the XP key handy. Is it on the case of the computer itself somewhere?

 

yeah i know where it is p.s. thanks for staying with me and helping me try and get through this it means alot man from my heart

Wolf

 

Oh, its no problem. I don't want you to get in trouble with your parents.

 

hah thanks ok well he called a tech and the tech told him to just go to r so he does that and it goes a lil then says type in admin pass and he types in his pass and it wont accept it but on safe mode he just clicks the admin account and it goes on so what do i do

the tech dident say anyhing about the first option should we do that?

Wolf

 

That's just stupid right there. Why would XP ask for a password to repair a current XP install?

I've never heard of that. Maybe something to do with your system manufacturer? Maybe the receovery disc a password label onto it?

I'll try to find something about that. It could be a generic password.

 

he got past that and now it is giving him commands to do what do i do now in the command propte thing

Wolf

 

See Method 2:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Another possibility:

Repair Install

Added 2/9/03

If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot,
you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings.
Make sure you have your valid WindowsXP key.
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer
If you are being prompted for the administrator's password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first.

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD
2. At the second R=Repair option, press the R key
3. This will start the repair
4. Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement
5. Press R when the directory where WindowsXP is installed is shown. Typically this is C:\WINDOWS
6. It will then check the C: drive and start copying files
7. It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive.
8. You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation)
9. When prompted, click on the Next button
10. When prompted, enter your XP key
11. Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name
12. The computer will reboot
13. Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install
14. Activate if you want (usually a good idea)
15. Register if you want (but not necessary)
16. Finish
17. At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.

 

i cant get past the user license agrrement thing
i can scroll down and i can press esc but when i press f8 it dosent do anything

Wolf

 

OK. Try rebooting from CD and enter Recovery console instead of 'Setup Windows XP'(option 2 at 1st screen from CD). Type "chkdsk /p",without quotes, to see if that fixes the problem.

Best of all is to do the recovery of bad sectors at the same time in recovery console. So type all of this as 1 command in Recovery Console: chkdsk /p /r

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=188890&start=0

 

it was our fault i fixed that'
my bad
i ran chkdsk before and it said everythign seems fine

Wolf

 

Did you check for bad sectors too or just basic check disk?

In recovery console type chkdsk /p /r

If that doesn't work again try the 'Setup Windows XP' again and do the 'R' option again...lets see...

 

well right now it's installing and all from the first the start xp or whatever like u said to do so it's gonna take a while i think but yeah we might have also found out something

on our keyboard it had Flock
and that was always on and it was off now and thats why it wouldent work so maybe thats why the keyboard wouldent work who knows

either way were letting it install and i will give u an update of it's out come

thanks again it means alot
and what u said about ask someone with more experience was a lie ur doing great man

Wolf

 

Its not that hard. Once you learn how it works its really less challenging than you think. I'm not 100% positive on this b/c I don't really know what exaclty is going on, but a repair installation should fix it. I just hope it doesn't wipe your hard drive and do the fresh install. If so, you've lost your data.

Hey, at least the computer works. Right? http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7282/sobwv0.gif

ADDED: Don't worry Wolfie...I've done this b4.

 

actually everything was fixed it's all running fine now i'm so very greatful for all your help

your a life saver

thanks so much

Wolf

 

how can i get it out there to BE CAREFUL with asquared lol that really needs to be posted somewhere hah people like me dont need that pressure

 

Sweet.

I would go to Microsoft's update site right away to make sure you are fully patched before continuing.

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

 

i think this should be made a sticky for any other people trying to help there parents out and getting burned

Wolf

 

Heres the thing add|ct, if your not sure, dont post.
post #6, repair install doesn't delete anything but your system files which it restores during the process of repair.

Post #20 a password to repair a current xp install dumb? Id rather not have someone just use a repair install to get access to all my data thank you.

Post 24# how is check disc gonna help with a "deleted file" Checkdisk helps if a drive has bad sectors or damage to the file system. Not deleted files

Hate to be negitave and all but you gotta be 100%, make sure you info is right. Many of those things i corrected could have been confirmed with a simple google or what not.

Dont take it wrong, just trying to help you stick around here.

 

First I was trying to figure out what had gone wrong. I thought it was crazy that the password his dad setup on the computer, as the computer's admin, didn't work. That was what was dumb to me.

I suggested chkdsk more or less as a precaution.

I know a repair install will fix only system files. I had hoped he didn't selected the option that reformatted the hard drive is all. That is why I told him to use the repair. I wouldn't suggest him using the option that would wipe his HDD.



Hey, its fixed. Yay! Everyone wins.

 

since i can't pm you this. Read this thread
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/announcement.php?f=21

 

Funny, I actually do Quality Control work as a cable system designer.

I've learned a lot about computers on my own for my age I believe, though I'm not exactly an expert. I don't need a technician to help me through a problem though, I know that. I know how to put a system together and I've worked through some problems on other peoples PC's like what Wolfie here went through. I've also set up small home business networks running 2 and 3 ISP connecting through modems to routers to the desktop switch, etc.

My apologizes for being vague and more speculative than on point in a couple of my posts, but isn't the main thing it was resolved directly through the advice I gave?

 

This is my last comment to, because you took my comments the wrong way. This time you got lucky, maybe not next time. Speculation may help sometimes, but definite facts are always better.

 

You're right. I don't think I led him wrong though, I mean did I tell him to do something that would've worsened his situation?

OK, the check disk wasn't needed after all. No harm done. I didn't understand why it wouldn't let him do the repair on his 1st attempt(the password being rejected when they are the admins), so I suggested check disk.

I was up front with him that I'm not an expert, but working together got it resolved. I do know how the setup interface to Windows XP works anyways. The worry about losing information came when I wasn't sure if he chose the reformat or repair after it start doing the process.

It took some time initially o figure out he could use his mouse and keyboard.