Dear all, I just wanted to ask for your opinion. Badly need your help and advice... I had xp with important programs on it and needed to re-partition. I copied all files from C:\, repartitioned and restored filed. Unfortunately, I didnt thought of it but now, windows won't boot. I managed to install new system and copy old files over it but the most important program on xp is asking for a key and activation. So this won't work. I am wondering how to boot into the "old system" without any modification as I do believe, that this program will be still working. (obviously I cannot get a key). When I pop in XP installation CD it doesnt even have option to restore and fix old system. It doesn't see it at all. Please, could you let me know did you solved such issues? I'm sure somene run into this kind of problem before.
I used linux live CD and copied absolutely all files that were on C:\ to external disk, than re-partitioned and copied back all of those files to new partition C:\ Yes, I was checking twice, although something could been omitted... small chance although. Hmm.... how would I do that without access to this partition ? I don't really have any accessible console from Windows CD as installation CD doesn't see the system there. I am very keen on trying to import hive, but don't know where from to start regedit in my situation
I would take a different approach myself - I would delete everything on c: and then restore the files from your backup again. This puts you back at square one with your original system that won't boot. Then I would use fixboot: Replace ntldr and ntdetect.com by copying fresh files from the XP CD using the COPY command. Boot with the XP CD and enter the Recovery Console. At the Command Prompt type the following (where "X" is your CD-Rom drive letter) allowing the files to overwrite the old files COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C: COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C: Then repair the Boot Sector at the command prompt C: by typing FIXBOOT and press Enter. Then answer "Y". That should get you back to where XP boots.
Thank you very much for this tip. I am heading to bed now but will do asap tomorrow after work. Just one question: I cannot enter the Recovery Console. It just isn't appearing on my Windows CD. What to do ? I could use linux live CD to replace those files but how to issues FIXBOOT command? From linux I can't...
That worked like a charm. Windows is booting in. Thank you! The only issue I have is that the software is still not working. It asks for key... It's Star Diagnostic for Mercedes Benz cars. Has anyone had any experiences with this kind of soft?
Unfortunately, I didn't bought it. The garage that fixed my cars has bought it but obviously IT specialist who facilitated purchase isn't working there since long time. I called provider of this software and almost had a heart attack after they have told me their price for diagnosis of fault and recovery of activation key... Is there any debugging software I could use to see "what for" is this program looking for at start ? It's certainly there as i have 2 dedicated partition to this software with over 30GB of files...
by the way to copy everything in linux (mint for example) u have to right click the c: and open as admin.. or some files wont copy. best to do a proper clone of partition with driveimagexml in hirens boot cd.
How would you do that ? I need to do proper copy of this HDD. It has 3 or 4 partitions. I need to make an exact copy of it to external drive. Questions is how ? I have Hiren boot cd but never used copying/cloning tolls.