How do I stop the windows xp reinstall

Hi all.

I have a PC back in my office again that has this issue. The person who owns the PC did not have the original (or any) win xp or recovery disks.

Come to find out, the HP pc had the recovery software stored on the original hard drive in a FAT/FAT32 partition. I do not get the option to use the recovery software by selecting F10 (there is no splash screen and no F10 option) as it mentions on HPs website. I chatted with an HP representative and they do not offer replacement disks for an HP PC that is older than 4 years of the current date.

So, I try finding a copy of WinXP home and doing a reinstall. Well, the product key on the PC case does not work with the couple of versions I have tried. The data is still on the hard drive in the recovery and windows partitions.

What I need to do is this: stop the current install, and attempt to get windows to boot up and try the Microsoft activation. However, I can't find a way to stop the install...in safe mode the install will not continue and it only lets the PC reboot. When I boot the PC normally, it goes into the install and I the product key isn't working.

Anyone know how to stop this install from coming up everytime and keep the data on the hard drive?

Thanks

 

I expect you will need to reset the BIOS to defaults (or "Clear the CMOS ") to get the splash screen back. Maybe you can just start tapping the F10 key rapidly at around the time it is expected to be used (after the first few screens). You should be able to get the manual/user guide from the HP website. If there is any "non-HP" hardware installed, like PCI cards, remove them until you are back in Windows

I think you will need to work with the HP install system as it will be proprietary and will not use a retail install disk. You will need to watch in case it says "all data will be lost ", if so you would need to take the HDD out and backup the data in another computer (or external case).

Matt

 

I have tried F10 many different times/ways and no luck. I tried resetting the BIOS like you mentioned and that didn't get me anything.

I have downloaded the manual but it assumes that you are able to use F10 or the recovery CDs. It mentions that if you have replaced the HD, then you need to contact HP support for help. I am in between these issues and HP support already said they don't give/sell CDs for computers older than 4 years from the current date.

I think the mbr, is not running something (possibly in the recovery partition) that tells it to give it the F10 option or displaying the HP splash screen.

I found online that there should be a Minint directory in the recovery partition with mbrinst.exe and mbr.ini. I found the mbr.ini and an mbr.dll in the recovery partition in d:\minint\system32 and d:\i386\system32. However there is no mbrinst.exe.

I am using an uneraser program to scan the hard drive (installed as a secondary HD in another XP machine) for the mbrinst.exe file. So far no luck.

If I am lucky, I should be able to get the mbr back to looking at the recovery partition or find a way to run the recovery software manually. I have no idea what program to execute to get it to run manually however.

If anyone has that mbrinst.exe file or any more information that would help, it sure would be appreciated. I can't seem to find an mbrinst.exe online and I am always suspicious of any files downloaded online but especially system files like that.

My thinking is that since the CD needs to be an OEM for the license key to work, my chances are slim finding a CD that will work. However, if I can get the recovery partition to work as it should, I can reset her other partition back the way it was from the factory, then make the recovery CD(s) or image CD(s) of her recovery partition and/or XP install partition.

 

I can find no trace of mbrinst.exe deleted or not on the recovery partition.

I found on a website that you can try ctrl-backspace to get the recovery menu up. Also, there was a command using the mbr.dll to try to get the recovery software to work.

If the recovery partition is not useable to recover, then I suppose the last option is that she will need a purchased copy of XP and I could install that along with any drivers she would need.

Then, I could at least make a bootable image disk to take it back the way I first set it up.

Anyone use any software like Norton GoBack? I know this software seemed pretty good but that was a few years ago. Is there something similar to use nowadays?

 

Somehow, I don't think you will be able to bypass the HP installation procedure.

What stands out to me is that the HP splash screen is not showing during startup. I would be wondering if there was a problem with the BIOS/CMOS. As a preliminary precaution I would replace the CMOS battery. The initial startup should not be related to missing files on the HDD (although it may be possible, HP's do strange things when they are not working correctly).

Find and run the HDD diagnostics utilities. They should be at the HP website otherwise look them up at the manufacturer of the HDD's website. There could possibly be a SMART error that is not showing.

Depending on how they are done, the person may have tried a BIOS upgrade and for some reason it did not work correctly. It is widely recommended to avoid doing a BIOS upgrade through Windows, use a boot floppy or CD.

Not getting the HP splash screen would signify a problem at the BIOS level to me. The HP BIOS will work on a "quick boot" system, not a full POST. It will not do a full system check (POST), it will just use what has been held in the BIOS settings since the last startup.

Like I suggested, you should find a way to back up the data to another computer (or media) now, before you make any changes. You are talking about the MBR, if that gets corrupted, all data can be lost.

Finding out why the s/s and F10 option aren't working would be my priority, trying to bypass or overcome that problem may be fruitless.

Check the information at HP. I think you will find the recovery system is your only option.

Matt

 

This may be real simple, and I may be overlooking the entire point, but we are building (rebuilding actually) some 400 new HP laps at work. Some have XP, most have Vista. In all our cases, the recovery option is F11, and the parameters for that command can be altered in the BIOS routine.

Just a thought!!