Unable to boot XP, need to reinstall without losing data.

Question

Alright, so I recently uninstalled the RedOctane Universal Controller Adapter from my first Gen Inspirion XPS laptop, and when I go to reboot, everything goes fine up right until the XP GUI loads. I get a blue screen the following message:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further
assistance.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I figure now I have either two options, try to repair my "corrupted" registry or reinstall XP (which I don't want to do). I've found information at the following links:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm#Install
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1090151&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

All the information there seems useful, however every one of them either mentions the possibility of losing data, having to reinstall all my programs (which would take months with all the stuff I've installed), or both. I want to try to fix the hive thing first, but I don't want to risk losing any data or reinstalling my programs.

I have Linspire Linux 5.0 installed on an external drive. If I boot Linux on my Laptop, would I be able to copy the entire contents of my Laptop's 80GB NTFS drive to a 180GB FAT32 partition without hassle (I have some files, though, that are bigger than 4gb on the NTFS drive)?

Is it possible to backup my entire drive as an image (like a really big ISO), that way I could reinstall XP, then put everything back how it was so that I don't have to reinstall everything again? How much would this cost to get done professionally? (I don't want to, nor am I able to spend more than, say, $100USD).

As you can see, I really don't want to either lose any data nor have to reinstall all my programs. Is there anyone out there that can hook me up with a solution?

simpswr · Answer

You should not loose data or programs with a repair install . . however . . if your data is important to you, you should back it up either using the linux disc or taking the drive out and installing temporarily to a working pc to salvage the files.

This is a good guide to performing a repair install

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Message Edited by simpswr on 03-20-2006 04:36 PM

ScYtH · Answer

Would the following solve my probem?:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1056993&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=19&s=dhs

It seems to suggest that it can repair XP without me having to reinstall my programs...

maxd · Answer

A Repair Install will not help your corrupted registry. Boot to the Advanced Menu and see if you can boot to the Last Known Good Configuration option. To get *there* restart computer and start tapping the F8 key repeatedly as soon as the keyboard lights start to flash. If that doesn't work save what you can by whatever means you can and then try to repair the registry.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1068335&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

jmwills · Answer

Data not backed up TWICE, is data you care nothing about.  Do the repair installation and then back up your data.

ScYtH · Answer

Ok, so I've already backed up my entire hard drive in linux by simply copying and pasting its contents; now it's time to try to fix my comp.

The article you refered me to, maxd, mentions using System Restore. However, I've always had issues with Sys Restore telling me that my "restore was unsuccessful", therefore, I've had it disabled since it's been absolutely useless to me. Is there a workaround?

jmwills · Answer

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm#Install

You've already backed up your data, so wipe the drive and start over. This time create about a 20 gig partition for the OS and programs and the balance for your data. You can then wipe the C partitons without affecting your data.

maxd · Answer

To be honest I've never run the linked procedure but it would appear that you require the use of System Restore or, at least, a 3rd-party program such as GoBack already installed on your machine.

Since it appears that your uninstall of RedOctane caused the problem I would try re-installing it if you get Windows up and see what happens. The procedure outlined will *not* get your System State of the registry back to where it was before things went back so you will probably have to do a lot of those pesky re-installs in any case.

My suggestion is to verify that your backups work, ie copy to another computer if possible (NTFS preferred) and then do a clean install. The Denham link you already posted is the best re-install link and further help is available from this board if you require it. Once you get everything back fresh install the MS Backup program from the XP cd and back up your System State; that way if this happens again you will be restoring to a more up-to-date registry.

Tip: To fix System Restore: disable it (as you did), restart, and then re-enable it. Then test it out to verify it's working. You can also re-install it if step one doesn't get it in top form.

ScYtH · Answer

Alright, since it seems that I'm going to have to reinstall all my junk anyhow, I am going to go ahead and completely format the drive and reinstall XP. Now before I go ahead and do that, is there any way to verify that my hard drive trully is completely backed up (I know that copying and pasting all my files isn't the best way to backup.)? I've opened a few random files on the backup to check for corruption, but I can get paranoid at times and want to make sure everything is backed-up. I guess what I should do is like you said, copy my most important data to another pc and make sure they work.

maxd · Answer

Ya, see if they'll run on another xp system. You'll see that formatting is part of the XP install procedure; it doesn't have to be run "in dos" before the installation.

For the latest drivers:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

You can make separate partitions, as jmwills has already mentioned, during the install but plan it out carefully beforehand as to how many and how big. Print out the Supersite instructions and follow to the letter as well as the suggestions by Denny Denham. Remember to install the chipset driver immediately after XP SP2.

Good luck with the transition. Nice site.

ScYtH · Answer

My PC orginally came with SP1. Are you saying that I should install the Intel Mobile Chipset after installing SP2, or should I install the chipset immedately, then SP2?

jmwills · Answer

Unless you already have a copy of SP2 downloaded, you are not going on the internet with the chip set installed.  Install your anti-virus and spyware before you go anywhere on the net.

maxd · Answer

Disconnect all peripherals and do your installs offline. Install XP (SP1), then SP2, then your chipset, then video driver, then the rest of your drivers. Install your AV program and 3rd party firewall if you use one.

Use another system to download SP2 as well as your drivers and burn to a cd. If the connection is too slow to download SP2 and you decide to download it from the Windows update site be sure you have a 3rd-party firewall installed OR at least, the SP1 firewall enabled.

Here's the SP2 link.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Another required link.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Message Edited by maxd on 03-30-2006 04:52 PM

ScYtH · Answer

Alright, so it's been just a little over a week now since reinstalling. I've installed the chipset, important drivers, anti-virus, security updates, SP2, more updates, then the latest graphics drivers (which I always have to get third party because DELL's are ancient).

Good news:
1) My computer no longer stays at the XP screen for over two minutes like it did when it was new; maybe it was because I chose not to install all that useless trial/limited software that came installed (Paint Shop Pro, PowerDVD, Sonic, Word, etc.).
2) Games run much faster than before.

Bad news:
1) The second partition I made out of my 80GB hard drive isn't showing up in My Computer (so I have about 50gigs of an unformatted partition MIA).
2) My wireless network card isn't detecting my router (or any signal/hotspot, for that matter). The blue Drivers and Utilities had two different drivers for a wireless card; I installed both. Fortunately I can just use a LAN cable for now, but would like to get this fixed.
3) A few USB devices I have are recgonized by Windows and installed correctly, but do not function at all, no matter what port I use and even when it's the only device plugged in. (Either fried USB ports or too much power drain? Maybe a powered USB hub would work?

Message Edited by ScYtH on 04-10-200611:37 PM

jmwills · Answer

You are going to have to create(mark active) the second partition.  Just right click and follow the default prompts.

ScYtH · Answer

Right-click what, where? To clarify, this is what I see. Message Edited by ScYtH on 04-11-200612:31 AM

Windows General

Unable to boot XP, need to reinstall without losing data.

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