download the guided help files and stick it on a floppy or cd and boot into safe mode by clicking F8 till you see the boot options, you can also try booting in safe mode with network support , that will allow you to use the internet then and to download the file to that pc without having to copy it to a cd or floppy. run the guided help and see if that helps you to get back into normal mode with usb support to copy all your files off that pc, then do a complete restore from the original xp disk.
I would go threw the options of troubleshooting a bad startup in normal mode but I have a feeling this way of doing it for you will be easier because it saves you alot of time and you also get a clean windows install after, it could be many things causing the bad startup, for example bad drivers to some nasty running on your pc thats messed up the registry.
So give that a go and see how it goes ;) try the corrupted registry fix 1st and see if that helps if not try the clean boot option.
Only other option if these fail and you can't get xp to start with usb support to copy over your files is to make a new directory on the drive call it MYDATA or anything you like in the C:
then copy all your files to that folder, make sure you have everything and then you can just reinstall xp over the old install and the folder will remain there called MYDATA aslong as you dont make the install disk format the drive and if its a disk that is not a real xp disk but a disk that came with the pc that was special for it, you will lose all the data, they normally format the drive. In this case you will need to take the hard drive out of that pc and stick it in a working pc and copy all your files off it. SO step with care if its not a original xp disk from misrosoft but a disk that came as a restore disk for the pc.
There is one more option you can try sticking linux on a cd and boot from that and then copy everything over to the usb drive. Not sure you know how to use linux. Try these things under this 1st and then we can try other options if these fail. Good luck.
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us
How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state
Try this http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310353
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q307545
On This Page
* SUMMARY
* MORE INFORMATION
o Guided Help to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
+ Requirements to install and to use this Guided Help
o Manual steps to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
+ Part one
+ Part two
+ Part Three
+ Part Four
* REFERENCES
Expand all | Collapse all
SUMMARY
This article describes how to recover a Windows XP system that does not start b...
This article describes how to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry. This procedure does not guarantee full recovery of the system to a previous state; however, you should be able to recover data when you use this procedure.
Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives.
You can repair a corrupted registry in Windows XP. Corrupted registry files can cause a variety of different error messages. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base for articles about error messages that are related to registry issues.
This article assumes that typical recovery methods have failed and access to the system is not available except by using Recovery Console. If an Automatic System Recovery (ASR) backup exists, it is the preferred method for recovery. Microsoft recommends that you use the ASR backup before you try the procedure described in this article.
Note Make sure to replace all five of the registry hives. If you only replace a single hive or two, this can cause potential issues because software and hardware may have settings in multiple locations in the registry.
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MORE INFORMATION
When you try to start or restart your Windows XP-based computer, you may receiv...
When you try to start or restart your Windows XP-based computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:
Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: WINDOWSSYSTEM32CONFIGSYSTEM
Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: WINDOWSSYSTEM32CONFIGSOFTWARE
Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): SystemRootSystem32ConfigSOFTWARE or its log or alternate
System error: Lsass.exe
When trying to update a password the return status indicates that the value provided as the current password is not correct.
Guided Help to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
Guided Help
Guided Help is available to help recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting. Guided Help can automatically perform the steps for you.
The actions that this Guided Help performs can be undone after Guided Help is finished. To undo the actions that this Guided Help performs and to restore the corrupted registry files, start Recovery Console, and then manually copy the WindowsTmp*.bak files to the WindowsSystem32Config folder. Make sure to rename the files to remove the .bak extension.
For more information about Guided Help, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
915092 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/915092/ ) Description of Guided Help for Microsoft Knowledge Base articles
Requirements to install and to use this Guided Help
* You must be logged on to Windows by using a computer administrator account to install and to use this Guided Help.
* You must be running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install and to use this Guided Help.
You must first download Guided Help. To start, click the following link:
Download Guided Help
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/ )
Manual steps to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
The procedure that this article describes uses Recovery Console and System Restore. This article also lists all the required steps in specific order to make sure that the process is fully completed. When you finish this procedure, the system returns to a state very close to the state before the problem occurred. If you have ever run NTBackup and completed a system state backup, you do not have to follow the procedures in parts two and three. You can go to part four.
Part one
In part one, you start the Recovery Console, create a temporary folder, back up the existing registry files to a new location, delete the registry files at their existing location, and then copy the registry files from the repair folder to the System32Config folder. When you have finished this procedure, a registry is created that you can use to start Windows XP. This registry was created and saved during the initial setup of Windows XP. Therefore any changes and settings that occurred after the Setup program was finished are lost.
To complete part one, follow these steps:
1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
md tmp
copy c:windowssystem32configsystem c:windowstmpsystem.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configsoftware c:windowstmpsoftware.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configsam c:windowstmpsam.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configsecurity c:windowstmpsecurity.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configdefault c:windowstmpdefault.bak
delete c:windowssystem32configsystem
delete c:windowssystem32configsoftware
delete c:windowssystem32configsam
delete c:windowssystem32configsecurity
delete c:windowssystem32configdefault
copy c:windowsrepairsystem c:windowssystem32configsystem
copy c:windowsrepairsoftware c:windowssystem32configsoftware
copy c:windowsrepairsam c:windowssystem32configsam
copy c:windowsrepairsecurity c:windowssystem32configsecurity
copy c:windowsrepairdefault c:windowssystem32configdefault
6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.
Note This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:Windows folder. Make sure to change C:Windows to the appropriate windows_folder if it is a different location.
If you have access to another computer, to save time, you can copy the text in step five, and then create a text file called "Regcopy1.txt" (for example). To use this file, run the following command when you start in Recovery Console:
batch regcopy1.txt
With the batch command in Recovery Console, you can process all the commands in a text file sequentially. When you use the batch command, you do not have to manually type as many commands.
Part two
To complete the procedure described in this section, you must be logged on as an administrator, or an administrative user (a user who has an account in the Administrators group). If you are using Windows XP Home Edition, you can log on as an administrative user. If you log on as an administrator, you must first start Windows XP Home Edition in Safe mode. To start the Windows XP Home Edition computer in Safe mode, follow these steps.
Note Print these instructions before you continue. You cannot view these instructions after you restart the computer in Safe Mode. If you use the NTFS file system, also print the instructions from Knowledge Base article KB309531. Step 7 contains a reference to the article.
1. Click Start, click Shut Down (or click Turn Off Computer), click Restart, and then click OK (or click Restart).
2. Press the F8 key.
On a computer that is configured to start to multiple operating systems, you can press F8 when you see the Startup menu.
3. Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate Safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
4. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, use the arrow keys to select the installation that you want to access, and then press ENTER.
In part two, you copy the registry files from their backed up location by using System Restore. This folder is not available in Recovery Console and is generally not visible during typical usage. Before you start this procedure, you must change several settings to make the folder visible:
1. Start Windows Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. Under Hidden files and folders, click to select Show hidden files and folders, and then click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box.
5. Click Yes when the dialog box that confirms that you want to display these files appears.
6. Double-click the drive where you installed Windows XP to display a list of the folders. If is important to click the correct drive.
7. Open the System Volume Information folder. This folder is unavailable and appears dimmed because it is set as a super-hidden folder.
Note This folder contains one or more _restore {GUID} folders such as "_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}".
Note You may receive the following error message:
C:System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied.
If you receive this message, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article to gain access to this folder and continue with the procedure:
309531 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309531/ ) How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder
8. Open a folder that was not created at the current time. You may have to click Details on the View menu to see when these folders were created. There may be one or more folders starting with "RPx under this folder. These are restore points.
9. Open one of these folders to locate a Snapshot subfolder. The following path is an example of a folder path to the Snapshot folder:
C:System Volume Information_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}RP1Snapshot
10. From the Snapshot folder, copy the following files to the C:WindowsTmp folder:
* _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT
* _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY
* _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
* _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM
* _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM
11. Rename the files in the C:WindowsTmp folder as follows:
* Rename _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT to DEFAULT
* Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to SECURITY
* Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to SOFTWARE
* Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEM
* Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM
These files are the backed up registry files from System Restore. Because you used the registry file that the Setup program created, this registry does not know that these restore points exist and are available. A new folder is created with a new GUID under System Volume Information and a restore point is created that includes a copy of the registry files that were copied during part one. Therefore, it is important not to use the most current folder, especially if the time stamp on the folder is the same as the current time.
The current system configuration is not aware of the previous restore points. You must have a previous copy of the registry from a previous restore point to make the previous restore points available again.
The registry files that were copied to the Tmp folder in the C:Windows folder are moved to make sure that the files are available under Recovery Console. You must use these files to replace the registry files currently in the C:WindowsSystem32Config folder. By default, Recovery Console has limited folder access and cannot copy files from the System Volume folder.
Note The procedure described in this section assumes that you are running your computer with the FAT32 file system. For more information about how to access the System Volume Information Folder with the NTFS file system, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
309531 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309531/ ) How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder
Part Three
In part three, you delete the existing registry files, and then copy the System Restore Registry files to the C:WindowsSystem32Config folder:
1. Start Recovery Console.
2. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
del c:windowssystem32configsam
del c:windowssystem32configsecurity
del c:windowssystem32configsoftware
del c:windowssystem32configdefault
del c:windowssystem32configsystem
copy c:windowstmpsoftware c:windowssystem32configsoftware
copy c:windowstmpsystem c:windowssystem32configsystem
copy c:windowstmpsam c:windowssystem32configsam
copy c:windowstmpsecurity c:windowssystem32configsecurity
copy c:windowstmpdefault c:windowssystem32configdefault
Note Some of these command lines may be wrapped for readability.
3. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer restarts.
Note This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:Windows folder. Make sure to change C:Windows to the appropriate windows_folder if it is a different location.
If you have access to another computer, to save time, you can copy the text in step two, and then create a text file called "Regcopy2.txt" (for example). To use this file, run the following command when you start in Recovery Console:
batch regcopy2.txt
Part Four
1. Click Start, and then click All Programs.
2. Click Accessories, and then click System Tools.
3. Click System Restore, and then click Restore to a previous RestorePoint.
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REFERENCES
For more information about using Recovery Console, click the following article...
For more information about using Recovery Console, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
307654 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/ ) How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
216417 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216417/ ) How to install the Windows Recovery Console
240831 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/240831/ ) How to copy files from Recovery Console to removable media
314058 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/ ) Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
For more information about System Restore, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
306084 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084/ ) How to restore the operating system to a previous state in Windows XP
261716 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/261716/ ) System Restore removes files during a restore procedure
For more information about the three likely causes of registry corruption and how to isolate them, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
822705 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822705/ ) Registry troubleshooting steps for advanced users
_________________________________________________________________________________________
How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state
View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q310353
On This Page
* SUMMARY
* Start Windows XP by using a clean boot
o Method 1: Guided Help
+ Before you start
o Method 2: Manually starting XP with a clean boot (advanced user only)
+ Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
+ Step 2: Configure selective startup options
+ Step 3: Log on to Windows
+ Step 4: Optional step to disable features
o Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state
* MORE INFORMATION
* NEXT STEPS
Expand all | Collapse all
SUMMARY
If your computer is not starting normally, or if you receive errors when you sta...
If your computer is not starting normally, or if you receive errors when you start your computer that you cannot identify, you could consider performing a "clean boot." This operation starts the computer by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help you troubleshoot the problem.
This article describes how to configure Windows XP to start by using a clean boot and then how to return Windows XP to a Normal startup type.
After you configure Windows XP to use a clean boot, some programs may not work as expected. When you return Windows XP to a Normal startup type, the programs work again.
This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.
You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.
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Start Windows XP by using a clean boot
There are two methods to start Windows XP by using a clean boot: Method 1: Use t...
There are two methods to start Windows XP by using a clean boot:
* Method 1: Use the Guided Help
* Method 2: Manually starting XP with a clean boot (advanced user only)
Start with the first method. If it does not work and you are comfortable trying a more advanced method, try the second.
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Method 1: Guided Help
Before you start
Before you start to install and use Guided Help:
* You must be running Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition to install Guided Help.
* You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to configure Windows XP to start by using a clean boot.
For more information about how to log on to Windows, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
321305 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305/ ) How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or your password expires
Guided Help
You can use Guided Help to clean-boot your computer or to restore your computer from a clean-boot state. Guided Help can guide you through the steps, or can automatically perform the steps for you.
Notice that the actions that Guided Help performs can be undone after Guided Help is finished. To undo the actions, run Guided Help again. When you are prompted by Guided Help, click the Normal startup option or the Clean boot option.
For more information about Guided Help, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
915092 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/915092/ ) Description of Guided Help for Microsoft Knowledge Base articles
To start, download Guided Help. To start, click the following link:
Download Guided Help
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/ )
If the guided tour helped you start in a clean-boot state, you are finished with this article. If you have to return your computer to a normal startup state, go to "Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state." If the guided tour did not help, you can try method 2 if you are comfortable trying an advanced method. If you are not comfortable with the advanced steps, go to the "Next Steps" section.
Method 2: Manually starting XP with a clean boot (advanced user only)
This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact Support. For information about how to contact Microsoft support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/ (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/)
To manually start Windows XP with a clean boot, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.
Step 2: Configure selective startup options
1. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
2. Click to clear the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box.
3. Click to clear the Process WIN.INI File check box.
4. Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. Verify that Load System Services and Use Original BOOT.INI are checked.
5. Click the Services tab.
6. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
7. Click Disable All, and then click OK.
8. When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
Step 3: Log on to Windows
1. If you are prompted, log on to Windows.
2. When you receive the following message, click to select the Don't show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows start check box, and then click OK.
Notes
* You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.
* The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts.
* Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally and undo the changes you made using the System Configuration Utility.
Step 4: Optional step to disable features
If the clean boot fixed the error, you do not have to perform this step.
Important If your problem is not fixed and you do have to follow this step, it permanently removes all restore points from your computer. The System Restore feature uses restore points to restore your computer to an earlier state. If you remove the restore points, you can no longer restore Windows to an earlier state.
This step temporarily disables Microsoft features such as Plug and Play, networking, event logging, and error reporting.
1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.
2. Click the General tab, click to clear the Load System Services check box, and then click OK.
3. When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
If these steps helped you start your computer in a clean-boot state, you are finished. If these steps did not help, go to the “Next Steps” section. If you have to return your computer to a normal startup state, go to “Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state”.
Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state
After you used the clean boot to resolve your problem, you can follow these steps to configure Windows XP to start normally.
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type msconfig, and then click OK.
The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.
3. Click the General tab, click Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services, and then click OK.
4. When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.
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MORE INFORMATION
For more information about how to troubleshoot startup problems, click the foll...
For more information about how to troubleshoot startup problems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
308041 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/ ) Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP
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NEXT STEPS
If these methods did not work for you, you can use the Microsoft Customer Suppor...
If these methods did not work for you, you can use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find other solutions to your problem. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web sites provide include the following:
* Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
* Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
* Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
* Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.
If you continue to have problems, you might want to contact Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus)
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APPLIES TO
* Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition (Itanium)
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Keywords:
kbexpertiseinter kbresolve kbceip kbexpertisebeginner kbhowto kbacwsurvey kbpubtypekc kbfix kbenv kbfaq kbprod2web KB310353
Regards
Nabil
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