Q: How to force Windows repair install? (What matches up the IDs?)

Discussion in 'Windows XP / Older OS' started by Agret, Mar 18, 2014.

  1. Agret

    Agret MDL Junior Member

    Aug 6, 2012
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    A customer brought in a PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition and asked if we can get it to boot. The drive had some damage so some windows files are corrupt and it will not get past the splash screen, normally I would do a reinstall of Windows but he insists we are not to do that as he has programs registered there that he has lost the registration information for so must keep the OS intact. I downloaded a few ISO images:
    Dell MCE 2005.iso
    HP_OS_RESTORE_MCE2005.iso
    win xpsp3 MCE.iso

    None of them present the R to repair option at the drive selection. I can get his registry hives on a Windows PE environment and edit them or edit any of the ISOs I have, what do I have to change to match up the edition of the installed windows with the edition of the disc so that windows will present the R to repair option?

    Thanks.

    Edit: and yes we have cloned his drive to a new one to avoid any further damage :p
     
  2. urie

    urie Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 21, 2007
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    When using OEM unattended cd with winnt.sif file you need to remove [Unattended] section from winnt.sif and you can use it as a repair disk.
     
  3. Agret

    Agret MDL Junior Member

    Aug 6, 2012
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