Only System Recovery Available

Hi:

Hoping I can get some input before I try to use the System Recovery feature that is on the XP HD (no XP CD).

I have a Compaq s5000nx Presario with XP Home Edition belonging to a young lady friend. Her complaints were:
1. Could not access web sites. She was told that she might have a virus, so she installed Norton 2004, but never did a virus check.
2. All features of Windows running extremely slow. Took 15 mins+ before you could use the desktop.

Since I have had the computer, I have not been able to get past a "We apologize for the inconvenience --- " screen. Any of the following menu selections eventually takes you back to the same screen.
Safe mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Last known good configuration
Start Window Normally

Using F8, I am able to get to the "Windows Advanced Options" menu. But any selection takes you back to the "We apologize ---" screen.

I ran a virus check off the Norton CD (old signatures).
Memory - OK
Master Boot Records - OK
Boot Record - OK
No viruses found

If I am limited to using "System Recovery" is there a way to use DOS commands to copy picture files to floppies? In DOS, I can only get two folders to show up under the C drive. Also, no emergency discs were ever created.

Thanks for any help,
LarryC

 

Steve:

Command Prompt will not let me run the stinger.exe file. Don't have access to Window functions.

Thanks,
LarryC

 

LCCJr

As a suggestion.
In the future any new pictures ( and the old if they can be recovered ) should be stored in a place other than the C: drive. I am sure you see why.

If the machine has a CDRW or CD burning software a CD is a GREAT place to put them.

Along with the pictures any other none replaceable things should be stored somewhere else also.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob:

Yes, I learned that lesson. I have mentioned CD backup of personal files to the owner of the computer.

Thanks,
LarryC

 

Just an update:

I was able to scan for viruses using a DOS anti-virus program with the latest signatures. No viruses were detected.

The program was available at:
ftp://ftp.f-secure.com/anti-virus/free/

LarryC

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307654
set AllowAllPaths = true
Unfortunally, this is not enabled on most installs, and is off by default.

I think Steve's got your best bet, yanking the drive and mounting it as a secondary in another machine.

 

Hi Joe:

I am booting the XP with a Windows 98 boot floppy and using dos commands.

From the info. I have seen, it looks like I need the recovery console to use the AllowAllPaths = true command. If I try to access the recovery console by using the F8 key, I get an "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error. (Evidently, no XP CD comes with the Home Edition)

The only thing I have available is "System Recovery" (F10 key) which will give me this message: All files on the User partition will be lost.

Thanks,
LarryC

 

Knowing When Its Time To Call In The Calvary ........

edit: make that Cavalry - but you got the idea, right?

OK, so neither you or your young lady friend has an XP CD. Perhaps she would consider you most chivalrous if you were to take it to someone who does.

 

Hi Rockster2U:

Can't do, father refuses to pay $$.

Compaq sending me the CD at "no cost ".

Back later with an update.

LarryC

 

Good for you Larry - persistance pays off.

Now for the cautionary note. Be careful - if Pop's that cheap, he won't be springing for Champaigne at her wedding either.

Good luck on both counts.

 

Last update (hopefully)

Haven't received the CD from Compaq, but went to Microsoft, and downloaded the recovery program that installs on 6 floppies. Used Repair - dskchk /r to fixed the problem. No files lost.

Disabled about 20 unnecessary programs from MSconfig start list.

Updated Norton anti-virus and repaired numerous viruses/worms/trojans. Still having problems with a Batt.trojan file - c.bat - that keeps showing up in the windows\system32 folder. I will probably post to the virus forum soon.

BTW - Before the repair, I was able to copy personal files from the NTFS partition to the FAT partition using the program NTFSDOS. Then was able to work with the files under DOS. I then tried to use the program DOSCDROAST to copy the files to CD under DOS. Never got any further because I kept getting an error something like "adaptor manager" not found.

Thanks to all for the help.