Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
More info?)
Wow, thanks Malke. I'll try that right away. Thanks for the help
"Malke" wrote:
> Rory wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the help. This is what happens when i try these steps.
> >
> > Typing Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini, results in a bad command message.
> >
> > typing del c:\boot.ini, results in a no matching files found message.
> >
> > When i do bootcfg, it tells me it couldn't run the command becuase of
> > an error caused by a corrupt file system. It tells me to run chkdsk,
> > which I do, and that tells me it has "unrecoverable errors".
> >
> > Any ideas as to what this means? I just need to access files to save
> > them, then I can do a clean install.
>
> "Unrecoverable errors" sounds nasty. Perhaps your hard drive is failing.
> To get the data off, I'd use Knoppix rather than mess about trying to
> get into Windows. Here's information about Knoppix:
>
> An easy way to retrieve Windows files is to boot with Knoppix, a Linux
> distro on a live cd. You will need a computer with two cd drives, one
> of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to
> hold your data. To get Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast
> Internet connection and third-party burning software. Download the
> Knoppix .iso from www.knoppix.net and create your bootable cd. Then
> boot with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If you are
> using the usb thumb drive, right-click on its icon (on the Desktop) to
> get its properties and uncheck the box that says "Read Only". Then
> click on it to open it. Note that the default mouse action in the
> window manager used by Knoppix (KDE) is a single click to open instead
> of the traditional MS Windows' double-click. Otherwise, use the K3b
> burning program to burn the files to cd/dvd-r's.
>
> Then I'd test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr.
> Download the file and make a bootable floppy or cd with it. Boot with
> the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical errors,
> replace it.
>
> While you're in testing mode, you might also want to give the RAM a
> test. I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you have to
> get the program from a working machine. You will either download the
> precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or the .iso to
> make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll need to have
> third-party burning software on the machine where you download the file
> - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job. In either case,
> boot with the media you made. The test will run immediately. Let the
> test run for an hour or two - unless errors are seen immediately. If
> you get any errors, replace the RAM.
>
> The hardware tests won't hurt anything, and that way you'll be sure
> before you try and reinstall Windows. Reinstalling Windows with faulty
> hardware will be a waste of time.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
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