windows XP SP2 cant boot - require help fast!

ZeW0 ToleraNce · **Memory**: 4GB CMD 1600 8-8-8-24

hi all,
i hav windows XP Pro SP2 on a 780i board w/ RAID5. i unistalled the nForce drivers and ran drive sweeper for the nVidia chipsets. the thing is, now i can boot into windows!

under normal boot, i get to the boot screen and this takes exceptionally long. after that, the screen blacks outs and nothing happens

under safe mode, i can get to the logon screen, though neither my mouse nor my keyboard work. dunno if the com is frozen or not. the mouse and keyboard do under another copy of windows XP Pro on another harddrive and in BIOS so it shouldnt be that.

i guess its cuz of the RAID5 setup

could anyone walk me through windows recovery or any other way ppl hav overcome the same/similar prob

any help appreciated greatly!

Animatrix · 06-01-2008, 18:10 | posts: 6,852 | Location: Denmark

There was a thread with the same problem not so long ago, I'm not sure what the problem is but it seems like an issue with Driver Sweeper and Nvidia chipsets. Normally there should be no issue with uninstalling the chipset drivers, it should just revert back to how the system was when you first install windows using the native drivers.

Did you try Last Known Good Configuration ?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

Is the keyboard and mouse both USB ? Can you try using SP/2 and see if you can get into safe mode that way, then reinstall the drivers.

I doubt it's the RAID as i think that would render the system totally unbootable. Unless you can do a system restore i don't think you have much of a choice other then doing a repair install.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

I would suggst you post in the Driver Sweeper thread and let him know about it.
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=224647

--Some examples

Lost RAID
http://www.************com/modules.ph...ic&p=7889#7889

Quote:

http://www.tribalwar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=543061
Unfortunately a couple of people have selected their nVidia chipset drivers in addition to their nVidia graphics drivers when using Driver Sweeper. This has rendered their computers unable to boot.

More issues
http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=891590

ZeW0 ToleraNce · **Memory**: 4GB CMD 1600 8-8-8-24

ive tried last known good config; doesnt work

my keyboard is PS/2 n mouse USB (no mouse PS/2 port!). though i highly doubt these r to blame, seeing as they work fine in other situations, such as now, since im using the same keyboard n mouse, jst a different copy of XP on my backup drive.

thnx a lot for compiling such an extensive list of sources from different websites Animatrix. from a cursory glance (its 3 in the morning XD), i'd say they're having the same prob i hav. and most apparent fix would be to do a repair install.

some guy told me once that you can do a repair install but u can keep everything from ur last configuration. dunno abt details, though the guy was a complete software freak so god knws wat he did. jst hoping someone knws abt this here and can possibly walk me through it

otherwise, i can get into the recovery console, and possibly theres a way to reinstall the nForce chipset drivers via recovery console? i already tried chkdsk here to my C: drive. it fixed some errors but still wont boot. (i think same prob as this guy http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=891590)

anyhow, thnx in advance

Animatrix · 06-02-2008, 22:57 | posts: 6,852 | Location: Denmark

My point about your keyboard and mouse was not that they were physically broken. Only that the reason why they didn't work in safe mode might have been related to USB. But if your keyboard is PS/2 then never mind that idea. But i am still a bit confused about why they don't work in safe mode.

Yes you can do a repair install and it will leave your data alone. But please take the time and read the info in the links i gave you. If you have very important data on the system you should back it up first anyway. At this point i think a repair install is your best bet.

No you can't install drivers through the recovery console, you can expand and copy files (drivers) but it won't help you if the registry info is missing. Using a boot CD with access to the registry you might be able to add registry info and then manually copy the drivers in place, but that would mean you would need to have the registry info. It might be possible but likely not worth the effort (say install XP on the same system as dual boot, i.e. side by side, then obtain the info needed from the new install and add it to the old install). Personally i think your better off just doing the repair install.

How to edit the registry offline using BartPE boot CD ?

Watcher · 06-04-2008, 01:43 | posts: 1,989 | Location: Canada

You could also try using system restore from the command promt:

http://www.ashe.k12.nc.us/techsup/xp.htm

How to Start the System Restore Tool from the Command Prompt

System Restore is a great feature in XP, but if you aren't able to boot into the Windows GUI normally or in Safe Mode, how can you use it? Here are the instructions for starting System Restore from the command prompt:

1. Start your computer by selecting Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the startup menu.
2. When the command prompt is displayed, type the following: [systemroot]\system32\restore\rstrui.exe (the system root folder is the folder to which you installed the XP operating system files, usually c:\windows).
3. Press Enter.
4. Now you can follow the instructions on the screen to use System Restore to restore your computer to a previous functional state.

Watcher

xg-ei8ht · 06-04-2008, 01:54 | posts: 1,730 | Location: London Baby

Hi, are they usb keyboard and mouse?

You could also try legacy usb in the bios.

switch it on.

ZeW0 ToleraNce · **Memory**: 4GB CMD 1600 8-8-8-24

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg-ei8ht

Hi, are they usb keyboard and mouse?

You could also try legacy usb in the bios.

switch it on.

lolz, first thing i checked

anyways, thnx a lot for the input guys. i hav a major exam 2molo (yes, the pains of high school) so i cant try out any of ur excellent ideas yet. i'll be sure to post once i do though, so thnx again.

hope these ideas keep coming as well, lolz

btw Animatrix i meant repair install but EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME, not only the data intact. ive done it once, but all my old stuff i set up regarding windows was overwritten. jst really want to avoid installing all games n progs again... esp after a gruelling test schedule

again, thnx a lot