setup-reboot-setup-reboot loop

[rlee1]

my XP box crashed, IBM PL300GL, 256 ram, 20 gb hd. it went to a memory dump blue screen and when rebooted went right back to it. no safe mode attempts. (stupid me!!) tried to run repair from XP cd. upon inserting the CD, setup started and I was notified that setup was not complete. It tried to reinstall setup. It got 80% complete and could not finish. now the system is in a setup-reboot-setup-reboot loop.

creating a XP boot disk did not work. for kicks put in an old win95 boot disk, I can get to DOS. from there I have save 65% of wanted files.

But before I do a format C from DOS, I was wondering if anybody has seen this one and possibly has a fix. I may try the repair from the CD, fixboot(?) to see if that would help. I doubt it.

thanks

 

[linney]

Before you reformat you might want to have a try using the Recovery Console.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

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

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

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

 

[rlee1]

thanks!! I'll give it a try.

 

[rlee1]

linney, thanks the article gave just the right info. now of course, since it's been a year or so since the admin password was set I don't remember what it was. (it's a home system)I'll try and get the SAM file off of it and run a cracker.

 

[rlee1]

OK who has a cracker for an XP SAM file?

my version will not open it. the SAM is for my home box so it's nothing shady

 

[rlee1]

or ?????

will deleting the SAM file from c:windows\system32\config solve the problem???? and then reboot and the admin account will not have a password?

 

[askIllustrator]

are you sure theres is an admin password? Try just hitting enter at the loggin screen. Seems silly I know but I've seen crazier solutions. BEHOLD! As Steve Jobs introduces us the latest in desk-lamp technology!

http://www.apple.com

 

[rlee1]

yep, there is. did that.

it's actually at the recovery console log in step.

 

[linney]

Try the linux boot disk to reset your administator password in windows XP.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Or have a look here

http://www.securiteam.com/tools/6T00D0A35S.html

Try piggybacking the drive in another NTFS or FAT32 machine and delete SAM from windows. Once this is done and the system rebooted, you will be able to logon with the Administrator account with a blank password.

Here's something to look at too.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - Q308402
Cannot Log On to Recovery Console After Running Sysprep in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/02.asp

"As a workaround, the following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center. These floppy disks are required only if the hotfix discussed in this article has not yet been applied, you cannot boot the computer, and you need to use the Recovery Console to make
repairs.

Windows XP Home Edition:
Download WinXP_en_hom_bf.exe now
Windows XP Professional:
Download WinXP_en_pro_bf.exe now
Release Date: October 24, 2001"

 

[rlee1]

linney, thanks for the info. I went with the piggyback route on another XP box. saw all the files. deleted the SAM file. No Go. It didn't clear the password. the recovery console is still asking for a password. And I'm still in the setup-reboot loop. even with a XP boot disk.

I'll try WinXP_en_pro_bf.exe next.

I may just take a XP box home piggback the drive again, save all the files and format the HD and start over. what a pain!!

 

[linney]

What is the current actual state of your system? What operating systems and part operating systems have you got on your machine now?

It sounds like you have XP Pro?, that went bad, and you tried to repair it with XP, and that went bad, leaving you with a Setup half installed. Is this a correct understanding of your situation.

If you can access your current Boot.ini file, perhaps you can delete the line that is causing it to load setup each time you boot. This may get you out of the setup/boot loop.

However after what your system has been through, I think a clean install is called for, like you suggest, after you have saved all your files.

 

[rlee1]

the box started as Win98SE. "upgraded" to XP Pro. picked clean install option. ran like a champ until the recent events. tried to repair with the same XP disk that was used to install the upgrade.

cannot access boot.ini due to a permission issue.

It looks like I'll have to use the OEM 98SE and then take it to XP. bummer.

 

[linney]

Borrow a 9x install CD (or other qualifying product) and do a clean install straight from your XP CD without loading 98SE.

 

[rlee1]

finally found info from MS about the error

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q316417&

But, they don't bother to explain a way around not being able to get to the recovery console.

It looks like I should have edited the boot.ini when I had the HD piggybacked.

I'll try that before I go the format route.

 

[rlee1]

oh yea, tried the WinXP_EN_PRO_BF.EXE file to create XP boot floppies, no go.

got "ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded error code is 7" on the second diskette.

 

[deskduty]

it's easy to remove the permission on the boot.ini file
in a dos prompt, type:
attrib -h -r -s boot.ini

that will remove the hidden, readonly, and system attribute. Then you can edit.

you can also try boot from the XP CD and do a clean install