Repair Windows Installation w/out Disc or Safemode

[wiskic10_4]

Hey AO,

I recently applied to Geeks Mobile to contract as a repair tech. To complete my application, I have to fill out a survey to prove I know what I'm doing. The first question is as follows:

1. List a few ways to repair windows installations without a windows cd when WINDOWS WILL NOT BOOT INTO NORMAL MODE

AND

The following additional difficulties exist.

When
-Pressing F8 to do last known good, and safe mode are NOT AVAILABLE or Working
-Original Windows CD is not present
-Hard drive IS working
-Customer's data is of vital importance
-Customer would PREFER to avoid a reinstall

(list different ways for xp and vista if there are any.)

Now, the first thing I know to do would be to try another CD w/ that version of the OS and try a Repair from there, but it says no CD is available, so I guess I didn’t bring one (d’oh!). So I would boot into command prompt check out the boot.ini and autoexec.bat and make sure that they’re not botched (why would they be?). Then I think that there is a way to edit the registry from the command prompt using reg.exe, but I’ve never messed with it.

You see, if I encountered this situation in the real world, I would simply use Knoppix or something to back up whatever vital data they had to DVD or thumb drive, etc and reinstall the system using my own CD.

But – how would you go about reinstalling the system using their old key? I mean, say their OS is XP Home but it was on there when they bought it, and they lost the OEM CD and I’m not able to do a system restore. If I have an XP Home CD, I’m not able to use their key – so what do I do?

Thanks in advance AO… I need this job, and I can answer all the other questions w/out a problem. Just needed a push in the right direction on this one.

[HYBR|D]

why not just put a default mbr onto a usb or CDR, and if you can get into a command prompt copy it in the /system directory? maybe using a copy of FREEdos would let you do this.

also seeing as the F8 option is pretty much not working as per the question, then you will need to change the BIOS to boot from CD/DVD and use a live OS/usb stick/CDR etc etc

also just pulling the drive mounting it as slave into a working machine can enable you to play with the drive more.

[westin]

Is autoexec even used anymore? I haven't seen that since 98 or maybe ME.

You could boot to a command prompt, and try

sfc /scannow

-- although that can prompt for the cd... and needs some of the services to be started if I remember correctly. [It seems like I had trouble running it in safemode.]

You can do system restore from a command line:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

[although that opens a GUI system restore wizard, which may or may not work depending on what is wrong with the system]

Personally, I am with HYBR|D [use a live cd, backup, reinstall] -- but that doesn't answer their question.

[wiskic10_4]

Thanks HYBR|D, westin.

Yeah, I thought about slaving the drive - of course, the same thing can be accomplished by mounting it from a linux live cd. Here's what I think I'm going to put down:

(note - if I were dispatched on to a job with this description, I would bring a CD for the appropriate OS - but the question says we do not have one, so these are the steps I would take in that situation)

1. Check that this is the case - often the problem reported and the actual problem are completely different.

2. Ask if any new hardware has been recently installed. If so, remove the new hardware and try to boot.

3. Vista: Check for Advanced Boot Options --> Repair your computer from the F8 menu. Or obtain a Vista recovery disc.( http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/)
XP: Use a custom Recovery Console CD/USB drive (http://www.ubcd4win.com/) to access recovery console and try to repair the installation by first checking boot.ini and autoexec.bat, and then by using FIXBOOT and FIXMBR commands.

4. Boot from a Linux live CD such as Knoppix, mount the C: drive and back up customer's data to thumb drive or CD.

5. Get permission from customer and obtain Windows XP or Vista CD and perform a reinstall. (The customers data is backed up in step 4.)

Anymore feedback? Some guy on another forum I asked this on said they shouldn't help me b/c I should already know this stuff if I want the job. I say online forums are a great place to learn new tips and tricks. Whatever it takes to get the job done, right?

Also - westin - it says safe mode is not available, so I assume that means safe mode w/ command prompt isn't either.

[HYBR|D]

also don't forget Hirens BootCD has a lot of tools all on 1 CDR that will enable you to repair the install.

i would just grab a set of default mbr/boot.ini etc copy them over then run a chkdsk

and the comment made on the other forum well sort of is true, as you are applying for the position so you should know these sorts of things. We can only give vague responses as you carn't say to customers hang on let me start a thread at x,y,z and we'll just wait for a response before i go ahead and do anything to your machine.

[wiskic10_4]

and the comment made on the other forum well sort of is true, as you are applying for the position so you should know these sorts of things. We can only give vague responses as you carn't say to customers hang on let me start a thread at x,y,z and we'll just wait for a response before i go ahead and do anything to your machine.

I agree, but this was one question out of fifteen that I wasn't 100% positive on how to answer. It doesn't hurt to ask around. This company sends you a description of the problem before you go to the job site, so I wouldn't have been sitting at the customer's house posting a thread. But I may very well post a thread the day before I am scheduled to be there! Like I said, whatever it takes to get the job done.

[HYBR|D]

Originally Posted by wiskic10_4

I agree, but this was one question out of fifteen that I wasn't 100% positive on how to answer. It doesn't hurt to ask around. This company sends you a description of the problem before you go to the job site, so I wouldn't have been sitting at the customer's house posting a thread. But I may very well post a thread the day before I am scheduled to be there! Like I said, whatever it takes to get the job done.

understand, i was just commenting about the response you recieved from another site.

You would be best to compile yourself a "Toolkit" and when you get sent onto jobs you will have your arsenal of tools to make the job easier.

a "Toolkit" of both software and hardware components will make a world of difference.

also if you have access to a spare machine setup different scenerio's and try out different method's on solving them.

[nihil]

Hmmm,

Looks like a trick question to me

If it won't boot normal, won't boot safe, and you don't have a CD then you are stuffed.............it won't boot.........at least not so you can do a Windows repair.

"Original CD"................probably useless, because if you have applied service packs then this probably won't be recognised as the correct version. You should have slipstreamed versions of all service packs.............or you shouldn't even be there!!! Remember, the licence is on the label stuck to the case And there had BETTER be one, or you don't know if it is a legal copy...............walk away.............

OK............first thing are the User data...............use roadkil's "unstoppable copier" to grab as much of these as you can.

Then run HDD diagnostics. If the HDD is stuffed or on the way out then you don't want to waste time............it is new drive and reinstall........no other acceptable option?

If the drive is OK then reformat and reinstall. You might try repairing first just in case it is some trivial corruption. Use your slipstreamed CD to do this.

Your basic problem is to get it to boot Windows...............these suggestions should work, although whether you can effect a repair would depend on circumstances.

Good Luck!

EDIT:

As for "user preferences" I have always told them the hourly rate and the fact that there is no guarantee.........that usually brings them back to reality.

[romanticcowboy]

Originally Posted by wiskic10_4

Hey AO,

I recently applied to Geeks Mobile to contract as a repair tech. To complete my application, I have to fill out a survey to prove I know what I'm doing. The first question is as follows:

1. List a few ways to repair windows installations without a windows cd when WINDOWS WILL NOT BOOT INTO NORMAL MODE

AND

The following additional difficulties exist.

When
-Pressing F8 to do last known good, and safe mode are NOT AVAILABLE or Working
-Original Windows CD is not present
-Hard drive IS working
-Customer's data is of vital importance
-Customer would PREFER to avoid a reinstall

(list different ways for xp and vista if there are any.)

Now, the first thing I know to do would be to try another CD w/ that version of the OS and try a Repair from there, but it says no CD is available, so I guess I didn’t bring one (d’oh!). So I would boot into command prompt check out the boot.ini and autoexec.bat and make sure that they’re not botched (why would they be?). Then I think that there is a way to edit the registry from the command prompt using reg.exe, but I’ve never messed with it.

You see, if I encountered this situation in the real world, I would simply use Knoppix or something to back up whatever vital data they had to DVD or thumb drive, etc and reinstall the system using my own CD.

But – how would you go about reinstalling the system using their old key? I mean, say their OS is XP Home but it was on there when they bought it, and they lost the OEM CD and I’m not able to do a system restore. If I have an XP Home CD, I’m not able to use their key – so what do I do?

Thanks in advance AO… I need this job, and I can answer all the other questions w/out a problem. Just needed a push in the right direction on this one.

i keep a boot usb flash drive around with hirens boot cd and universal boot cd along with a distro of linux and stripped down versions of xp and vista for this perpouse along with others its saved my butt so many times in too many situations to count i hope this is what your look for if you need any additional info send me a private message