XP reboot problem

My pc (XP SP3) won't reboot - it starts, then quickly restarts, again and again.

I put in my Bootzilla 5.3.0 disc, and ran a couple of options, they tell me "Invalid opcode @ 4E9C FFFF 0682 017C 2024 1166 0006 0000 2808 0000 0002 6553 76 (?)2 [? means the number/letter is off the left side of my screen).

I can F8 to the safe mode options screen, and F12 etc.

So, I just bumble around learning these pc lessons...

What can I do to fix this and SAVE MY FILES (I know, dumb not to have backup)

Oh yeah - will using the XP Recovery disc wipe out my files?

....maybe I can just fix the opcode??

BTW - I'm not sure I know how to correctly run the Bootzilla boot options (I used to use it post-boot for malware etc)

Thank you.

 

Ooops - I also can't get into Safe mode or restore off last good known settings

 

No XP disc - this was a package deal on PC with software installed. Is there a cheater disc I can use instead?

(Now to look at the link you provide)

Ooops, article says that option doesn't work well for me...

 

Thank you for responding, Tim.

Error is "Invalid opcode" (post #1)

I have already "image-burned" that recovery disc, but my question is - does using that disc put me back "where I was", or do I lose all my files?

 

Yeah - not sure about my comprehension in our exchange here.

The Recovery CD was just burned from that link (pulled from another thread here), on a separate computer (the one I'm accessing this forum from).

I didn't get far with the recovery disc tho, as after picking "R" I didn't know what to respond to "which C:Windows" did I want to work on....so I was looking around MG to find instructions on using the disc.

I'm (of course) really hoping to repair this without losing data / files.

Thank you.

 

OK, my rc.iso CD runs approx like this:

SETUP IS STARTING WINDOWS
(....brings up screen with 3 options - I pick R for repair (restore?))

WHICH WINDOWS INSTALLATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOG ONTO?

(my response: C: )

INVALID SELECTION. PLEASE SELECT A VALID INSTALLATION NUMBER.

(my response: 1 ENTER)

C:\WINDOWS> (lit box)

(my response: 1 ENTER)

TYPE HELP FOR LIST OF SUPPORTED COMMANDS

(my response: HELP)

...list of many commands comes up....WHICH ONE TO REPAIR BAD CODE?

Thank you (must be tough dealing with the terminally clueless)

Hopefully others may find this thread via search....

 

I'll run this tonight and then let you know that I can follow directions!

(I missed those commands previously...)

 

OK, I'm starting on the 3rd block of text (copy c:\windows\repair\system c...)
and get the message "The system cannot find the file specified"

What now, Coach?

If I stop the process at this point to look in the recovery console for that file, when I come back to the recovery process, can I start where I left off??

 

Well, I couldn't find any restore points via dir command, and I got lots of "The system cannot find the file specified" for the other actions.

....I think I'll double check my CD on another computer.

BTW, Checkdisk did repair a file

 

UPDATE

after trying the latest suggestion, I went back to post #12.

Re-burned/imaged the CD via Imgburn with rc.iso

I verified that ALL of those files in #12 were copied into my PC except:

"copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system"

I did a dir c:\windows\repair....

LO and behold - there is no "system" file in repair directory...no wonder the file can't be found.

...now what??

is there a different file name for "repair system" file?

BTW it didn't boot so system must be the missing piece...

 

Should I switch to the Hiren's CD? it appears much more complicated....and my goal is still to save my data.

I guess I'll go investigate the unburned rc-iso to see if repair system file is in it, while I wait for further assistance ...

 

Eh - based on comments in threads here at MG, I'm not looking at Hiren's (intell. property issues) but the Ultimate Recovery CD.

Another possible source of options - the computer that won't boot is XP Professional 2002, SP3.....as is the computer I'm using right now...files might be copied (how?) from one to the other??

 

OK, retracing my steps with the rc-iso boot disc, and because there is no repair\system file in it, I reinstalled "system":

"copy c:\windows\tmp\system.bakcopy c:\windows\system32\config\system"

NOW it wants my password, and I'm not remembering it (or faking it with "admin" or "password"). I also went to the BIOS screen (I think) and removed the password there, but no effect.

I think I saw Hiren's included a program to determine passwords...does the Ultimate Boot CD include that (albeit that I don't have a Windows disc to make the UBCD). Any other way around password?

On a separate front, I'm working on Linux Live CD Puppy to download my files...

 

Nope - same situation as the other one...

Added: on another thread here, I've inquired of dlb about obtaining a copy of the Ultimate Recovery CD .iso that he has made using a XP SP3 disc: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=234802