[kestrel126]

I ran chkdsk in an attempt to fix an lsass.exe error message and now the computer keeps continually starting, running chkdsk, then restarting running it again etc etc. I can boot the original XP disk but am reluctant to reinstall as it tells me i may lose all my settings and files. Any ideas??

[blues_harp28]

Hi first try.
Boot from Xp Cd...when prompted press [R]
Choose Windows installation [typically by pressing [1]
When prompted for password.
Press Enter.
Type chkdsk /r [note space ]
Windows will fix errors..
Type Exit
And press Enter.

[kestrel126]

thanks BH - tried that but unfortunately still at the same place! any plan B?

[kestrel126]

to clarify...chkdisk no longer runs it get half way through the startup logo then goe to a blue screen sayng setup is restatsrting and then restarts and it all goes again...

[kestrel126]

I've tried this
http://www.informationweek.com/news/...yText=&isPrev= (from the reinstall XP sticky)
but cant get past step 10.

[blues_harp28]

Hi the way to do a Repair Install - is not to select R at the first screen.
But now that system files have been transfered, a repair install may not work.

XP-Repair install.
Insert the XP cd in the CD ROM Drive then switch on the computer.

You will receive the following message:

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
----------------------------------------------------------
DO NOT at this point select R.... DO NOT SELECT R

Select ENTER
----------------------------------------------------------
On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen
Press F8 to agree to the license agreement

Select current installation of Windows XP.and then

Press R to repair Windows XP.
----------------------------------------------------------
Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to repair Windows.
After you repair Windows , you may have to reactivate your copy of Windows XP
And install all Windows updates.

A repair install should leave all of your programs and data in place.

Read all info.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[kestrel126]

thank you BH..apologies for not getting back to you. I have been off air dealing with a death in the family. Back on deck now and will let you now how this goes!!

[kestrel126]

...have done the above but still in the same place (hlway throught the logo...etcetc) as before. Guess I will have to do a fresh install???

[kestrel126]

Thx BH - advice much appreciated. Computer has gone to god...oh well back to entering 12mths worth of tax records. Moral: Backup, backup and backup again! xx

[itsjusme]

Computer has gone to god...

Uh Oh, sounds like you took a hammer to it. Sorry you lost all your stuff. In the future, you can download a live Linux distro such as PUPPY LINUX, and use it for data recovery.
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=puppy
It also has a partitioning program built in. If your drive is big enough, i suggest partitioning the drive and moving your my documents folder and anything you want to save to a separate partition. Leave only system and program files on your C drive, everything else on the other partition. That way, you can do a repair install, or even if you crash and have to reinstall, MOST of the time your data is still safe on the other partition. This can be done anytime after you reinstall though, in case you want to read up on partitioning before you jump into it. There are many tutorials on the subject, and many here who will help you with it. It can be a life saver for critical data.

[kestrel126]

yeh thanks for that - partitioning sounds like a good idea. I will read up on it and see what i can do. I probably should do same on my laptop?