access denied to i386 folder - who wants a challenge?

[robFSS]

whoo boy!
this is a real pain.

Got a compaq running winxp pro. This is the OS that came loaded on the machine.

last night it wouldn't start properly. was looking for autocheck - (autochk). Tried reinstalling WinXP from the CD but that failed.

It wasn't able to find certain files...wierd...ntldr, etc.

so I cancelled the install and now it doesn't even get far enough to talk about autochk. It wants ntldr, (my favorite!)

I read some posts, and thought maybe I could replace some files in the i386 folder, using recovery console, booting from the cd.

The system won't let me into i386 or another folder called fixes.

This machine's user informed me that he took the liberty of removing some security profiles from the computer a few days ago. He said were titled with long number strings, and since he didn't know what they were, he just deleted them.....(i feel like i'm taking crazy pills!)

Of course we could just reformat the machine and yadda yadda, but there's a lot of important stuff on there which I've got to recover.

Any suggestions? Does this plan of attack make sense?

thanks,
Rob

 

[N0ktar]

When you attemted your install, how far did you get? Did you opt to remove the current install or did you attemt to upgrade? As a consequence, is there still OS on the drive to be recovered?

 

[robFSS]

NOktar,

The XP install is still there. It is found when I boot from the CD. I can only hope that the data is still good.

I didn't attempt to install a second one, just to reinstall over the damaged one.

I'm pretty sure I have performed this type of task in the same fashion on Win2k machines with better results...

thx

 

[linney]

See if you can boot with this.

305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305595&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Have a look at running Fixboot to fix a boot sector problem, or running Fixmbr to fix the Master Boot Record (MBR) from within the Recovery Console.


It is hard to guess the state of play of your system as the waters have been muddied with your repair attempts.

If the original XP is intact you could try this procedure.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

http://www.mediaworkstation.com/htm/homeset1.htm

Click on Tutorial then the Charlie White article on XP crash.
This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.

The missing Ntldr may cause problems.

320397 - You Receive an "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message When You Start Your Computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320397&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

318728 - HOW TO: Troubleshoot the "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message in Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318728&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Data recovery links.

http://www.restorer2000.com

http://www.runtime.org/hints.htm

Try here too.

-General Data Recovery discussion Forum (4103 members)
Forum528

 

[bcastner]

But to answer your original question:

Restrictions and Limitations of the Recovery Console

When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can use only the following folders:

. The root folder
. The %SystemRoot% folder and the subfolders of the Windows installation that you are currently logged on to
. The Cmdcons folder
. Removable media drives such as CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives

NOTE: If you try to obtain access to other folders, you receive an "Access Denied" error message. Also, while you are using the Windows Recovery Console, you cannot copy a file from the local hard disk to a floppy disk. You can copy a file from a floppy disk or from a CD-ROM to a hard disk, and from one hard disk to another hard disk.

You can improve things for the next time:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310497

 

[linney]

AllowRemovableMedia: Allow files to be copied to removable media, such as a floppy disk.

 

[bcastner]

AllowWildCards = TRUE Enable wildcard support for some commands (such as the del command)
AllowAllPaths = TRUE Allows access to all files and folders on the computer
AllowRemovableMedia = TRUE Allow files to be copied to removable media, such as a floppy disk
NoCopyPrompt = TRUE Do not prompt when overwriting an existing file

 

[zpetersen]

restrictions and limitations of the recovery consol:
it never (very rarely) works. personally.. i have never seen it work.

you say there is a bunch of stuff on this users computer. if i were in your shoes i would take the HD .. put it in another computer copy the data and then just flormat the sucker.

unless of course we are talking about applications to which the user "lost" and cant get reinstalled.

 

[bcastner]

It works fine if you make the entries through Group Policy.

 

[robFSS]

Ok gang.

Thank you all for your input.

I suppose I learned something new about the recovery console. So that's good.

I guess I'll go along with ZPetersen's suggestion and do a little surgery.

I was really hoping that the workable solution would be finese than muscle oriented, but whatever gets the job done will have to do.

thx again

 

[zpetersen]

always happy to be of assistance

 

[toonei]

Try this:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

Try making the floppy disk first and see if you can boot, you should be able to, if so you can try and fix the OS or get at least get your data before you need to format. It should be fixable though using these techniques.