Reinstalling Windows 2000 On Unbootable HD

I'm having trouble getting Win2k to boot. It stops with the "loader error 3" message. I've used recovery console to install a new boot sector and MBR. Neither one worked. I tried to repair using a CD boot from the Win2k CD. Nothing seems to work. The setup starts copying files then says to reboot and when it reboots the same old error. Is there some utility that will allow me to reinstall from DOS without actually booting Win2k?

Yyrkoon

 

You probably had (still have) a corrupted registry. If you haven't damaged the current OS load too badly with the repair attempts, the tool Here might allow you to fix things.

Otherwise I think your best option would be a clean OS install rather than the repair things.

2K does not use DOS, does not have DOS, can't be run from DOS.

 

Thanks. However I meant any utility that would allow me to boot from a floppy or CD. I'm going to try the Microsoft utility as it uses floppies to boot from.

Thanks,

Yyrkoon

 

There’s a couple of possible fixes for your error in this forum thread.
http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10063
Can you boot into Safe Mode?
If only the registry problem seems relevant to you then Newt’s link to the 2K registry repair tool is your best way to go.

There is no way to do a new install or repair install without booting into Windows during the process. Only if you were restoring a previously created backup image of the entire OS could you do it like this.

Which utility do you mean?

 

The Win 2K registry repair utility. I tried it and it didn't work. Looks like it's back to a fresh install. This install lasted me for five years without going south. I know I should have backed up more often but I just kept putting it off.

Yyrkoon

 

I think I may have isolated teh problem. The link to the thread you provided led me in the direction of looking into the registry files. It appears that my registry fils "system" and "system.alt" are too large to fit into memory. I substituted the system file and it nearly booted. It got past the boot loader error. I need to find a way to clean up the registry using ERD Commander or some CD bootable registry clean up utility.

Yyrkoon