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28/10/2011

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

It is extremely important that you backup important data that is not available from other media sources. This backup should be located on a separate hard drive, CD, DVD, network storage, etc. that will not be affected by the repair install. 
Please check out the warning links before attempting the Repair Install. It is to your advantage you follow the suggestions to prevent data loss and especially if you also have the capability to boot into XP, perform the steps listed in the Warning #1 , before proceeding with the repair install.
After completing [if Windows is still accessible] the steps listed to prevent data loss in warning #1 and you did not remedy the no boot situation, you can use an OEM XP Pro or Home, "retail" XP Home or Pro full or upgrade version CD of the same version Home or Pro to perform a Repair Install.  OEM Restore disks or hidden restore folders on the hard drive will not work for the Repair Install. A Repair Install will replace the system files with the files on the XP CD used for the Repair Install. It will leave your applications and settings intact, but Windows updates will need to be reapplied.
A Repair Install will replace files altered by adware and malware, but will not fix an adware, malware problem.
You can use the In place upgrade option to change a Product Key in the event you entered a key that was already activated. The In Place Upgrade also produces the same result as the Repair Install.
Alternate options to Change XP Product Key #18 on the FAQ list.
Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD.
If you get a "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD." message, if you continue, you will need to apply the SP 2 updates after the repair install completes, plus you will need to take the following steps to keep your system from being immediately infected with a virus.
1. If you connect directly to the internet without a router or hardware firewall, disconnect from the internet by physically removing the connections cable, removing a wireless card, or any other means of internet connection.
2. After the Repair install is completed, enable the XP firewall or install third party firewall software or router before connecting to the internet.
If you get the "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD.". You should create a slipstreamed copy of your XP CD by using the software and step by steps supplied in the links below.
Slipstream XP
Automatic Updates
If you cannot download Automatic updates after the Repair install , follow the steps in the link below submitted by MS-MVP's Richard Harper and Ron Martell.
Automatic Updates stops working after a repair install of Windows XP 

XP Repair install Please read carefully and make sure you followed the warning links before initiating the Repair Install. You can print a text version for reference. repair.txt
  1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.
  2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below   This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
       Windows XP to run on your computer:

       To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

       To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

       To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

  3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.
     
    To setup Windows XP now and Repair Install , press ENTER. do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press  R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press  R". 
  4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
  5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair. If Repair is not one of the options, END setup. After the reboot read  Warning#2!
  6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot.  Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.  If you get files not found during the copying stage.
    Blaster worm warning: Do not immediately activate over the internet when asked, enable the XP firewall before connecting to the internet. You can activate after the firewall is enabled. Control Panel - Network Connections.  Right click the connection you use, Properties and there is a check box on the Advanced page.
    KB 833330u Blaster removal
    What You Should Know About the Sasser Worm and Its Variants
    Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-011
  7. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install using an Original pre service pack 1 or 2 XP CD used as the install media will remove SP1/SP2 respectively and service packs plus updates issued after the service packs will need to be reapplied. Windows XP Service Pack 1
    Service Pack 2
    An option I highly recommend; is creating a Slipstreamed XP CD with SP1, SP2, etc. .
    Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) Good
    Another Slipstream step by step Better
    AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer  Best!!
    Step by Step on AutoStreamer
    Printable Repair Install step by step. repair.txt
    XP Repair Install in PDF XPrepairinstall

 

Warning! #1

Should you do a repair install and is it the best choice?

A Repair Install is not foolproof and should not be considered the cure-all fix for non-boot situations.

Manually delete the Undo_guimode.txt file from the Windows\System32 folder before you perform any of the actions that are listed in the "Symptoms" section of this article. To do this in Windows XP, type the following command at a command prompt:
del /a /f %windir%\system32\undo_guimode.txt
  1. From the Start menu, click Run. See screen shot Image
  2. In the Run dialog box, in the Open text box, type: cmd. Click OK.
  3. Delete the undo_guimode.txt file. In the C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe dialog box, type: del /a /f c:\windows\system32\undo_guimode.txt. Press the ENTER key. See screenshot Image
KB Q312369
Check the link below for an option for recovering from a non-boot event. Windows XP Crashed? Here's Help
A salvage mission into the depths of Windows XP, explained by a non-geek


Also as a precaution the windows\system32\WPA.DBL  and WPA.BAK should be copied to a floppy before doing a repair install. For more information see Alex Nichol's  article on XP activation.


Additional tips to perform before initiating the Repair Install.
You should complete the basic requirements of backing up all files and folders that cannot be restored from other media. This includes passwords, applications purchased and downloaded from the internet without CD support, financial records and folders, digital images that cannot be replaced...............
Backup copies of your registry files (in the %systemroot%\Repair folder) are also replaced after the in-place upgrade is complete.  Copy these registry backups to another location before you perform an in-place upgrade/Repair Install.  You may need to use them after the in-place upgrade is complete.
It would also be a good idea to run the Files And Settings Transfer wizard F.A.S.T located on the XP CD.
If you made unorthodox registry changes with third party software, there is the potential of data loss from a Repair Install. Another consideration of concern would be a power failure during the repair install could render your system un bootable and result in loss of data.
The likelihood of you losing the files and folders is probably of minimal risk, but you have to expect the worst and make sure you are prepared for recovery.
If you are sure you have explored all other troubleshooting avenues, then proceed with the repair install.
If you get a warning message: "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD."
You get this message when you use a pre-SP 1, SP2 XP CD on an XP installation that has been updated to SP1, SP2.
You have the options listed below.
  1. Remove the SP 1, SP2 update if the option is available from Add/Remove.
  2. Create a slipstreamed XP CD merging the SP1 or SP2 update.
    2a Autostreamer for creating a slipstreamed CD the easy way.
  3. Purchase an XP CD with SP2 included.
Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or 2 (SP1, SP2)
Another Slipstream step by step
AutoStreamer mirror link for AutoStreamer 
Step by Step on AutoStreamer

Warning!! #2

If the Repair Option is not Available

What should I do? Most important do not ignore the information below!
If the option to Repair Install is NOT available and you continue with the install; you will delete your Windows folder and the Documents and Settings folders.  All applications installed that place keys in the registry will need to be re-installed and will require the original install media.
You should exit setup if the repair option is not available and consider other options. I have found if the Repair option is not available, you have a few paths I have listed below to try before XP  requires a Clean install.
Another option to consider (since the cost of 100 + gig hard drives has dropped to well under $75) would be to disconnect the current hard drive and install a clean XP from retail disks or restore media to a new hard drive. You can then connect the original hard drive after configuring the jumpers to a slave drive. You can retrieve important files. One thing to remember, if a hard drive has not been formatted or written over by reinstalling, the data is accessible. The less you access a hard drive after a non-boot episode; the better your chances of retrieving your data.
Very important!!
If you still have the ability to access the Windows XP installation, backup all important files not restorable from other sources before attempting any recovery console or other trouble shooting attempts.
Possible Fix by reconfiguring boot.ini using Recovery Console.
 1.Boot with XP CD or 6 floppy boot disk set.
 2. Press R to load the Recovery Console. 
 3. Type bootcfg
 4. This should fix any boot.ini errors causing setup not to see the  XP OS
      install. 
 5. Try the repair install.

One more suggestion from MVP Alex Nichol
"Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option and if the CD letter is say K: give these commands

copy K:\i386\ntldr C:\
copy K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:\


(two other files needed - just in case)
1. Type: attrib -h -r -s C:\boot.ini del C:\boot.ini
2. Type: BootCfg /Rebuild

which will get rid of any damaged boot.ini, search the disk for systems and make a new one. This might even result in a damaged windows reappearing; but gives another chance of getting at the repair"












12/10/2011

Load Gumstix Libraries


1) Install rsync pakage:
$ scp /build/czhang/overo-oe/tmp/deploy/glibc/ipk/armv7a/rsync_3.0.6-r0.6_armv7a.ipk root@10.0.0.146://home/root/

$ opkg install rsync_3.0.6-r0.6_armv7a.ipk

2) Install Qt lib:
$ rsync -av czhang@10.0.1.202://build/czhang/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.7.0/lib/* /usr/lib

3) Install serial port lib:
$ rsync -av czhang@10.0.1.202://build/czhang/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.7.0/projects/qextserialport/build/libqextserialport* /usr/lib

4) Install qwt lib:
$ rsync -av czhang@10.0.1.202:///build/czhang/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.7.0/projects/qwt-5.2.1/lib/* /usr/lib

4) Install sqlit3 lib:
$ scp czhang@x.x.x.x:/build/czhang/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.7.0/plugins/sqldrivers/libqsqlite.so /home/m4/sqldrivers

5) Install qzip lib:
$ rsync -av czhang@10.0.1.202://build/czhang/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.7.0/projects/quazip-0.3/quazip/libquazip.so* /usr/lib

6) Install Analogwidget lib:
$ scp /build/czhang/qt-everywhere-opensource-src-4.7.0/projects/AnalogWidgets/analogwidgets/libanalogwidgets_plugin.so root@10.0.0.146://usr/lib

 

01/10/2011

Create an Application Shortcut to Open Nautilus as Root in Ubuntu


$ sudo nano /usr/share/applications/Nautilus-root.desktop

Paste the following text in the editor that comes up in Terminal:

 [Desktop Entry]
Name=File Browser (Root)
Comment=Browse the filesystem with the file manager
Exec=gksudo nautilus
Icon=file-manager
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;

 Hit Ctrl+X  then Y

Done!