Walrus Down!! Weasel + Cross pls read. Cheers

Walrus · 10-28-2006, 02:42 PM,

Hi Guys
I have managed to kill my computer, or at least disabled it for the meantime.
I also seem tp have no access to my remote mail server.
So...I will keep an eye on the board.
Sorry Chris, I'll get the turns back asap. It is possible that those games are lost, we'll see soon enough. I expect to be up and running by the end of next week at the latest.

Cross...you may be able to help me after all :rolleyes:
I managed to delete my system hive (xp pro SP1) during a boot time defrag. Very strange, but there it is. I have managed to use recovery consol to get windows\system32\config\system back (using xp cd) but now I cannot get past the admin password (on the R console). I never created a p/w so I have no idea what it could be. I have seen it said the "blank" is the default...but not it seems on my system :angry:

I cannot use the xp repair function (in the blue screen) not sure why and I have not backed up my importand C drive files...was about to do it the next day before my rebuild.

I know I can remove the actual HDD and slave it to another system and recover the info that way but I am trying to get it sorted by myself...and learning heaps in the process.

So...any clues with the admin password thingy?
Cheers all
Jason

Grumbler · 10-28-2006, 07:32 PM,

Depending on your BIOS and who manufactured your board, you might be able to pull the battery out and get the BIOS to re-set. Sanyos, Tengs and most Asian boards will do this, I don't think the DFI's or European boards will.

RedDevil · 10-28-2006, 09:10 PM,

try using
ADMIN
USER
for passwords.

Cross · (This post was last modified: 10-28-2006, 10:14 PM by Cross.)

Weasel · 10-29-2006, 06:21 AM,

Roger last buds, I still have the game files so no problem there.

Walrus · 10-29-2006, 03:35 PM,

Hi Guys

Thanks for your replies.

1. Chris...cool, I would really like to finish those games if possible. I guess if we cannot, we can always negotiate an end result. Thanks for hanging in there pal.

2. Grumbler. It's an Asus, I don't think that trick will work. Good idea though, thanks.

3. Red Devil. I have tried ADMIN, no joy. I will try USER next chance I get. I fear, as i never set a pw for the system, that it has created some random one. Thanks for your help.

4.Cross. I have not given up yet!! I was not even started on the rebuild yet!! Just doing a little house keeping etc. Random defrag caused the headache. Thanks for the link, I have about 50 different bookmarks now but none of them have my exact answer. I don't want to have to buy anthing to fix it so am trying to sort it for free. I do have a plan Z...do my rebuild and a fresh install of XP to a new HDD...then slave my old HDD to the new one and get access that way. It's still possible that I'll have issues but all I really need is my Doc and settings folder (mail, favs etc). It was on a partitioned HDD so I am sure the data in the D partition is safe, and I should be able to get at the C without the pw....that's the plan.

I have learnt so much while trying to fix this issue. Especially...backup more often!!!!!! DUH!!!!! It is annoying that I cannot do a repair from the xp cd-rom, nor can I use safe mode to access C files.
Even more annoying is that I worked out how to restore windows\system32\config\system and managed to sort that out but didn't realise that I should have done all the hive files at the same time...so now it gets to the system ok but \software..\sam etc are all gone too...and now it is freaking out on the admin pw....AAARRRGGGHHHH...bloody computers...you gotta love them!

The real problem is me, and my lack of knowledge...but at least I can do something about that Big Grin

So...thanks for your help. Somehow i'll be up and running soon enough.

Cheers lads...what a rocking community cheers

Jason

Weasel · 10-30-2006, 03:31 AM,

I partitioned my HD into three sections. The C drive only contains the operating system and programs like Word etc. The D drive is where I only stick my games, and the E drive is only used for utilites etc. That way if the drive crashes you format the C but nothing else is effected. I don't have any backups.

Walrus · 10-30-2006, 11:19 AM,

Hi Chris

I have a similar thing going.
1 HDD is partitioned into C (windows and apps) and D which is all my data. I also have a huge G drive full of audio data.
The problem is that on the C drive is the Docs and settings folder which has a bunch of stuff I need for my new install. I was within hours of doing a backup of all that stuff but was ambushed (by myself..is that an auto-ambush?) and now the only back ups are very old, too old to be really useful.

So...I have done heaps of investigation and have learned this...I have reached a bad place with trying to get into the recovery console and fix the hive. There is no other way in. I found some web pages that offered dire warnings about the situation I am in...oh dear.

Still...I have plan B. Fresh install on a new HDD. Slave the old C and C drive HDD to the new C drive...BUT, I just found a page which tells me that as the old C AND the new C are both BOOTABLE drives there may be issues in getting them both to run.
Now I have a day of more information gathering to see how to get around this issue.

All this just to get my email and settings for my programs back!!!
The data is there and safe (unless I launch another auto-ambush!!) so I just need to get at it.
My flatmate is a real computer wizz, but he is on tour in the UK at the moment. He's back soon so I guess you could say the reserves are on the way...actually he's more like the main force ;)

Cheers mate
Jason

General SP · 10-30-2006, 04:31 PM,

Hey Walrus

Check this Microsoft link out.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308402

I believe it has what you have experienced.

Gary

Walrus · 10-31-2006, 01:35 AM,

Hi Gary
Cheers but that was not the issue really.
I have NO access to XP, Safe mode, repair XP install, and Recovery Console now requires an admin password at the 2nd promt.
So...I am stuck

I did this...
http://swatrant.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_...chive.html

Then hit the password problem, as I should have done this...
http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=313

I realsied this when I saw further warnings like this fgix wold have worked too if I had applied it properly at the first chance)...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.asp...-us;307545

..."
Note Make sure to replace all five of the registry hives. If you only replace a single hive or two, this can cause potential issues"...

I wish I had seen that line!!
And when I saw this line ...I knew it was all over...

"Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives."

Oh Dear...

I am resigned to a fresh install, no bother really as I was just about to do a clean upgraded and install anyway...I just wish I had done a recent backup before I ambushed myself.
My mistake there.

The trick now is getting my doc and setting info across. which may be a little tricky...you never know...and then starts the long process of restoring all my apps etc.

I now have a funtctional XP running on a fresh drive. A good approach march but now the scouts have spotted the enemy positions and it's time to make the initial assault. We'll see how good my command skills are in this battle eh!!

Cheers for the link...it was a good try.
Jason