XP upgrade Wows!

Upgrading windows xp sp2 is'nt a hard task unless the installation process fails halfway through. I now have an incomplete installation of XP that does not display the task bar or control panel. I just want to extract my files from the hard drive and start all over from scratch. The ability to run the windows backup utitlty is disabled in the msconfig platform under services along with a few other key componets that need to be installed. The enable all button is greyed out. When I try to rerun the upgrade with the xp cd it says the upgrade is already running. any suggestions? Help needing to backup and extract files from hard drive to start over.

 

Where's the wow in this?

 

I think it was sarcasm

 

Or maybe woes?

 

mistake on title but is this all you got... I need your smart brain to figure out more than just a misspelled word. anyone can make a type O

 

Yea your right woes, my mistake on title but is this all you got... I need your smart brain to figure out more than just a misspelled word. anyone can make a type O rolleyes

 

I would get a live 'nix cd and boot to it to get your files. If by files you just mean your data (pics, music, docs, etc, etc.) After that, well you know, reinstall... or if you like it, stick with a flavor of linux.

I use puppy linux for this but haven't had to in a while.

http://www.puppylinux.org/

Edit, this is a little dated but here is a small walk through. The last version I used was different but this should still get you where you need to be.

Recovering with a live cd

 

one other thing you may want to consider...i also had a problem installing SP3 and it was my bootscreen. seems MS doesn't like any but the original. once i restored the original bootscreen (also restored the original logon, just in case) i had no problems installing SP3. luckily, i'm using software to tweak my system so the originals are saved for reinstallation any time i want.

reinstalled my preferred bootscreen & logon & haven't had any more problems installing hotfixes, etc.

if you don't have your originals saved, here's a link with mega info & how-to:

Code:

http://bfarber.com/Restoring-your-original-Bootscreen-t6935.html

bottom line on that link, if all else fails, is to reinstall your originals from your installation CD or do a complete, clean reinstall of Windows.

hope this helps.

 

I would like to give many thanks and kudos to Senior Member Buck_Nekid for his very direct and straight forward strategy to my file retrieval problem. I knew their was a way to get my files extracted from my crippled Windows XP sp2. But I could not imagine how easy this approach was. I took the great advice from the Buck_Nekid and was able to get all of my files off the hard drive using Linux Puppy. Now it really is a Windows Wows! The end result has rescued me with flying colors! Thank you Sir… I commend you
Peacen09