[bubblz]

Hello,

I'm working on a Compaq Deskpro EN500 running Windows XP Professional SP2 (with all patches and updates), current antivirus and antispyware, and firewall.

The system was working fine, user was online browsing the web when the system froze. The mouse froze, etc. Start button could not be accessed. The user shut down the system with the power button. When he turned it back on, he was greeted with the standard Microsoft 'an error has occured' screen' and given the choices of
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Last Known Good
Start Windows Normally

When I choose any of these, I can get as far as the Windows XP splash screen and then the system seizes.

I can get into the Windows Recovery Console. I have run a CHKDSK /P /R and a FIXBOOT. CHKDSK returns no errors. I'm not sure what to try next short of a rebuild. Ideas?

[bubblz]

I have since gotten into the system using Bart PE; however, I still can't boot normally. I feel like I'm missing something simple here, but I'm not certain what.

It's obviously not hardware. Anybody have any thoughts?

[Bob Cerelli]

Have you tried booting with the XP CD and doing a Repair Install?

[bubblz]

yes -- i get to the recovery console. That's where I did a fixboot. I'm not sure what else to do there however. The system didn't give any error messages, so I'm not certain what to type.

[bubblz]

trying to boot to safe mode causes the system to hang while loading the agp440.sys driver; however, all other options will load up to the splash screen and then the screen goes blank.

Should I try fixmbr when in recovery console?

[Bob Cerelli]

A repair install is completely different than going to the recovery console.

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#repair

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD
2. At the second R=Repair option, press the R key
3. This will start the repair
4. Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement
5. Press R when the directory where WindowsXP is installed is shown. Typically this is C:\WINDOWS
6. It will then check the C: drive and start copying files
7. It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive.
8. You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation)
9. When prompted, click on the Next button
10. When prompted, enter your XP key
11. Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name
12. The computer will reboot
13. Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install
14. Activate if prompted (usually a good idea)
15. Register if you want (but not necessary)
16. Finish
17. At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.

[bubblz]

That's what I thought, but when I put in the XP CD, it comes to the Windows XP Professional Setup Screen. I have 3 options:
To Setup Windows XP now, press Enter (Enter = Contiue)
To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R (R=Repair)
To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3 (F3=Quit)

I hit R and it dumps me to the recovery console. It then asks which Windows installation I would like to log onto with 1. c:\windows as the only choice. I select 1 (which is the ONLY) Windows installation. It asks for my Administrator password and then dumps me at the c:\windows command prompt.

I don't get anything where I can press F8 like what you're referring to. Do I need to wipe the drive and start from scratch at this point or is there a way to salvage this installation?

[Bob Cerelli]

You are taking the first repair option, not the second.

So Press (Enter = Contiue) and take the second repair option to start it.

[bubblz]

Ahhhhhh. I see. I never knew that. Don't I feel like idiot. I've always gone to recovery console. doh!

Well, I have now done a repair install, but I'm getting this error -- An invalid parameter was passed to a service or function. lsass.exe - System Error

Then I get a FATAL ERROR -- An error has been encountered that prevents Setup from continuing. Setup failed to install the product catalogs. This is a fatal error. The setup log files should contain more information. Press OK to view the Setup log file.

Warning: Setup failed to remove the product catalog SP2Cat.

Error: The signature for Windows XP Professional Upgrade is invalid. The error code is 426.

The service has not been started.

*****
Fatal Error:

Setup failed to install the product catalogs. This is a fatal error. The setup log files should contain more information.

******

It thinks it's trying to do an upgrade installation. Is there a way to fix this problem or should I wipe it and start fresh?

[Bob Cerelli]

Is this the same CD that was used to install the computer?

Does it have Service Pack 2 as part of that CD?

[bubblz]

Yes, it's the install CD. No, it's not slipstreamed though so it doesn't have SP2 on it. I have Sp2 on the PC itself in a subdirectory. I haven't gotten around to slipstreaming an install CD yet.

[Bob Cerelli]

Might want to create a bootable XP CD with SP2 and then do the repair from that.

[bubblz]

Well, I slipstreamed my installation; however, all my burners only burn DVDs and the system only reads CDs. Arrrrrrrgh.

Do you think I've already screwed the system up beyond the point of being able to go to the recovery console and recover the hives by doing a manual replacement?

[Bob Cerelli]

What kind of burner and/or software do you have that it will only make DVDs and only read CDs?

[bubblz]

I'm using Nero Express and my drives are these (for burning):

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4084N [CD-ROM drive]
HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GSA-2166D USB Device [CD-ROM drive]

When I put in a CD/R or CD-RW, it spits it out and says to insert a disc of the proper format (see pic). I don't have the model info on the CD drive in the system I'm trying to read from (the one that's having problems). I'm trying to get that now.