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| Thread ID: 125314 | 2012-06-20 00:25:00 | Need a way to reformat old HP Pavilion A7 47C (recovery mod broken) WinXP | applejack2j (16815) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1282905 | 2012-06-20 00:25:00 | Hello there PCWorld, I wanted to reformat my relative's old, dust clogged HP Windows XP SP2 (made in 2004) desktop. So basically the HP Recovery Module is broken and by that I mean when I press F10 when the PC first boots (HP OEM logo shows up), the recovery/reformat function fails because of a registry error on a blue screen (stop: 0000218 [registry file error]) in the "security" section. In addition, no luck with the F1 (setup)--> Windows XP Recovery Console (worded something like that) because I'm shown cmd coding like text. -I have ran CHKDSK /r but no luck. -There is no recovery software installed when I go to START-->All Programs (I've checked everywhere for a hint of HP recovery software). -I do not have the OEM discs. -I did some research on "winnt32.exe" (from Google search results) but apparently that does not reformat things, rather it just overwrites existing data. From all the stuff I have experienced over the years (I have moderate background on tech and computers), I have never seen anything like this, so I'm stuck. I presume that I'm missing some registry keys, but I don't even think there is a place to find it. Lastly, thank you all for any help. I'm very grateful that there are so many helpful people here. |
applejack2j (16815) | ||
| 1282906 | 2012-06-20 07:35:00 | Buy a copy of Windows xp (home or pro), you should find one on Trademe for a reasonable price. Format and partition the drive & re-install Windows. Clean out the dust and dirt first. If there is data on the hard drive which you wish to save, boot it up with Linux, there are many versions on CD and save the files to an external drive. Don't bother to save program files as they will have to be re-installed anyway. You can also use the Linux (part edit) to format it. |
mzee (3324) | ||
| 1282907 | 2012-06-20 10:09:00 | You can also use the Linux (part edit) to format it. I presume you mean PartedMagic (partedmagic.com)? |
johnd (85) | ||
| 1282908 | 2012-06-20 11:55:00 | I presume you mean PartedMagic (partedmagic.com)? Whatever :-) 'Partition Magic' for Windows, 'Part Edit' for Linux. |
mzee (3324) | ||
| 1282909 | 2012-06-20 12:53:00 | Hello there PCWorld, I wanted to reformat my relative's old, dust clogged HP Windows XP SP2 (made in 2004) desktop. Try removing the dust. Perhaps your BSOD problem is caused by overheating or such. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1282910 | 2012-06-20 13:36:00 | If you can find someone with a windows XP disc you can do a repair installation. Insert the Cd and all that but instead of installing fresh (god don't do that unless the key on the sticker matches the disc version) press R to do a repair. |
8ftmetalhaed (14526) | ||
| 1282911 | 2012-06-20 15:18:00 | Thank you all for the prompt responses! No, I do not have a BSOD error; it was simply a blue screen with a registry file error (missing a key I guess). So I presume the only way to resolve this error and proceed with a reformat is to find a Windows XP CD? So "winnt32.exe" does not repair the registry portion? Thank you :] |
applejack2j (16815) | ||
| 1282912 | 2012-06-20 22:34:00 | Winnt32 can do a repair install as long as the i386 folder is on the HDD in C: What it cant do is do a complete reinstall from fresh, as its missing some of the other files that are required. There are ways to overcome that, but its a lot of pissing about. Depending on what's wrong with the Reg will depend if a repair install will fix it. To do a repair install: Reboot the PC in Safe Mode with command Prompt ,You should then have something like C: documents and settings\your name\ Type in CD C:\I386 <Enter> Type in winnt32.exe <Enter> Agree to anything, this should then reinstall windows as doing a repair install. When asked, enter the product key that’s on the Case. If its a name brand PC, the factory COA while it will allow you to install it wont activate. Its most important you use the COA on the side of the case. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1282913 | 2012-06-20 23:41:00 | Thank you all for the prompt responses! No, I do not have a BSOD error; it was simply a blue screen with a registry file error (missing a key I guess). Still, computers should not be full of dust ;) |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1282914 | 2012-06-21 01:50:00 | From my previous Post " There are ways to overcome that, but its a lot of pissing about." Had a while today, waiting for parts to arrive so, Here’s the full way to install from the i386 folder. Its a little long, but works fine. YES its XP, but using more modern software (W7 repair CD) Since the original PC has a recovery partition, there may be an ISO file in it that is the actual recovery – sometimes can make and boot from a CD using it, something like Linux and copy out the ISO, burn it and it may boot and allow you to install fresh. The way you asked about: The other way from the i386 folder can be done as follows. You need the following : Partition software/ CD, Windows 7 Repair CD (Or any CD that allows Command prompts to be activated) , and Original XP i386 folder. From the original PC, copy the i386 folder to a removable Drive. I used Ubuntu, i386 folder was on a flash drive. Wipe the original drive clean. Create two partitions one large, the other smaller, approx. 2GB or there abouts then format the larger as NTFS and the smaller as Fat32, - (your Partition software can do this), in the second partition (Fat32) then put the i386 folder. Note:You have to have two partitions as you cant install it on the same partition as the i386 folder. Tried installing on a single partition Via USB drive and got pissed off waiting. Boot from a windows 7 repair CD, select the top option of Use recovery tools, open the command Prompt, change to the partition that has the i386 folder, ( type D: <press enter>) to make sure it’s there, type DIR <Press Enter> you should see the i386 directory. Note:If it’s not then it either hasn’t copied correctly, or the partition is NTFS. As long as its there, type CD i386 <press Enter> type winnt32.exe <press Enter> The Windows install options will open, select new Install, work through, tell it to upgrade to NTFS, windows will now copy files, it will take a few minutes. When the Window closes you will be back at the Command Prompt, type exit Click restart on the W7 repair window, and remove the CD, Windows XP will now carry on installing like normal. Once finished, you can now boot from the Partition software, delete the second partition that had the i386 folder, and expand out the other partition to gain some more space. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
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