SP2 installation debacle

[cyclingone]

Hello all. . .

I've got a real problem. Against my better judgement, I tried to install Service Pack 2 on my XP Pro system. Half way through the computer locked up and I had to shut it down manually. When I restarted, I got a message that says "system32\drivers\ntfs.sys is missing or corrupt. And IDIOT that I am, I didn't backup my system before doing the installation.

I tried to reinstall windows with the original cd, but my cd drive will not read it. So, I went to the Microsoft website, on another computer, and found a way to copy the setup files to 6 floppies, which I did. When I tried to install the floppies, I get through to number 5 and then get a message that "the file cdrom.sys is corrupt" and I have to abort the installation.

Any suggestions other than throwing the computer in the garbage. I really need some help with this.

Thanks in advance, Barry

[homecomputeraid]

Hi cyclingone,

Sorry the update crashed your system. If you decide to install SP2 again sometime, please make sure you have no spyware first. Terrible problems can ensue if you try to install SP2 on a system infected with spyware!

It sounds from your post like you're ok with doing a clean install at this point. If that's the case, you can got to http://www.bootdisk.com/ and make a Windows 98 Boot floppy. Windows 98 Boot Floppies also have drivers for most CD ROM Drives.

Boot to the floppy, and start a program called fdisk by typing fdisk and hitting Enter. You'll see a menu. Start by looking at your partition structure, I think it's option 4. Note whether you have just one big partition, or a small one, then a very big one. If you have a very small one (20 MB or so), then a very big one (20 Gig or so), you'll want to leave the small one, because it may be a System Partition. You can delete the big one. While you're here, make note of any Partition Names. Write them down, if they exist.

Escape back out to the main menu, and select Delete Partition. You'll want to delete the big partition. You can create a new partition immediately after you delete the current one, but changes will not take affect until you reboot.

After you deleted the old partition, created a new one, and rebooted, view the partitions again and make sure the new one shows up.

You may be ok to boot to the CD ROM Drive and install now. If you get a message that the hard drive isn't present, or isn't formatted, you'll have to boot to the 98 floppy again and type format c: You'll get a warning message but just say Yes and format, then try booting to your CD again.

If you still can't boot to the CD, you might have to change your boot order in BIOS. If you need help with that, please post.

Sincerely,

[cyclingone]

Hi. . .

Thanks for the help.

You're suggesting that I create win98 disks. . .even though I have win XP PRO. . .is that correct? Just want to be sure before I go to the trouble of creating the disks and trying what you've suggested.

Thanks again, Barry

[homecomputeraid]

Yes, I suggested Win 98 Boot Disks because they have CD ROM Drivers, and they're easy to use to start fresh from any Windows based OS. Once your Hard Drive's partitions have been deleted and recreated, you're basically starting with a like new Hard Drive.

[cyclingone]

Hi again. . .

I've started to do what you suggested, however, when running FDISK, the first thing it asks me is whether I want to enable support for large disks, which of course I do. But, then it cautions that if I enable that support and create multiple drives that I won't be able to access those drives using a different OS.

What should I do at this point?

Thanks again for your help.

-Barry

[homecomputeraid]

If you enable Large Disk Support, and install Windows 3.11, you'll have a problem. Shouldn't be a prolem for Windows 98 and later. :)