Dead XP and bartPE

grumpycrab

Hi, a neighbour has a laptop with dead XP (hal file missing or corrupt on boot). I have done:-
1. recovered her user's files (by putting laptop disk in a caddy)
2. tried to run recovery console but laptop reboots after ENTER at the [Administrator] prompt (so also a problem with passwords and/or registry?)

Not sure what to do now. I have a bartPE disk but don't know if there's a "system file recovery" tool; or will just do an in-place reinstall. Ideas?

waddler_8

I would just reinstall.

Pikeyp

There's a method to recover an XP registry here ... http://www.aade.com/XPhint/XPrecovery.htm

might be worth a shot ... good luck!

Stooby2

If you have an XP disc you can boot up with that and run the repair option. When you get to the command prompt try "CHKDSK", "FIXBOOT" and "FIXMBR" (one after the other after each has completed).

grumpycrab

Thanks guys. Reinstalling (I have an XP Pro disk and key sticker is still on laptop.)