Messed up big time - system recovery - repair no good
-
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system. I messed up big time, so I have no restore points before the mess up. All the programs that say they can fix the problems cann't, so their 100% Garantee is bull. I tried doing a repair via an installation CD of Windows Professional, but it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key". That is when I was really in trouble, because it nuked all previous restore points etc.... The original install CD is in storage in another state and the only reason I have access to the internet now is by running in safe mode with networking (Note: That is an improvement and shows that my efforts have not been a total waste of time). I restored manualy, ran WMIDiag and fixed all but 3 problems with WMI security. Still no normal internet access regardless of brower or access to the help system. Any ideas or other will be appriciated.
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
-
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system. I messed up big time, so I have no restore points before the mess up. All the programs that say they can fix the problems cann't, so their 100% Garantee is bull. I tried doing a repair via an installation CD of Windows Professional, but it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key". That is when I was really in trouble, because it nuked all previous restore points etc.... The original install CD is in storage in another state and the only reason I have access to the internet now is by running in safe mode with networking (Note: That is an improvement and shows that my efforts have not been a total waste of time). I restored manualy, ran WMIDiag and fixed all but 3 problems with WMI security. Still no normal internet access regardless of brower or access to the help system. Any ideas or other will be appriciated.
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
John R. Shaw wrote:
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system
That largely depends on what kind of 'messed up' you are talking about. How did you get to this state?
John R. Shaw wrote:
it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key"
Provided your product key is valid, any windows CD should work. It must be the same edition though.(E.g. Home/Pro, and type i.e Retail/Volume/Msdn/etc)
Simon
-
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system. I messed up big time, so I have no restore points before the mess up. All the programs that say they can fix the problems cann't, so their 100% Garantee is bull. I tried doing a repair via an installation CD of Windows Professional, but it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key". That is when I was really in trouble, because it nuked all previous restore points etc.... The original install CD is in storage in another state and the only reason I have access to the internet now is by running in safe mode with networking (Note: That is an improvement and shows that my efforts have not been a total waste of time). I restored manualy, ran WMIDiag and fixed all but 3 problems with WMI security. Still no normal internet access regardless of brower or access to the help system. Any ideas or other will be appriciated.
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
Try to make someone in that other state put the CD into a FTP server or send it by snail mail. If this is not possible, download a Windows XP system from Internet and then apply your key... This should definitely work (if it is the exact version) and I guess you are not breaking any law as you own the CD... The other thing you can do is to contact the manufacturer of the computer and ask for a restore CDROM. They will charge you a small amount of money but you'll get that... Hope this helps...
-
John R. Shaw wrote:
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system
That largely depends on what kind of 'messed up' you are talking about. How did you get to this state?
John R. Shaw wrote:
it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key"
Provided your product key is valid, any windows CD should work. It must be the same edition though.(E.g. Home/Pro, and type i.e Retail/Volume/Msdn/etc)
Simon
Simon Stevens wrote:
Provided your product key is valid, any windows CD should work.
That is what I thought or I would not have tried it.
Simon Stevens wrote:
How did you get to this state?
I had a Trojan and was removing it manually; but I went to far. I have a new saying "anyone can mess up the system, but it takes someone with knowlege to really [blank] it up. :laugh:
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
modified on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:51 AM
-
Try to make someone in that other state put the CD into a FTP server or send it by snail mail. If this is not possible, download a Windows XP system from Internet and then apply your key... This should definitely work (if it is the exact version) and I guess you are not breaking any law as you own the CD... The other thing you can do is to contact the manufacturer of the computer and ask for a restore CDROM. They will charge you a small amount of money but you'll get that... Hope this helps...
Thanks! :-D
Joan Murt wrote:
Try to make someone in that other state put the CD into a FTP server or send it by snail mail.
I do not remember what box it is in.
Joan Murt wrote:
contact the manufacturer of the computer and ask for a restore CDROM.
That feature is built in and a destructive (nuke everything not originaly on machine) install can be done at any time. The problem is that the current OS is not the original and all the disks for the multiple programs installed are also some where in storage.
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
-
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system. I messed up big time, so I have no restore points before the mess up. All the programs that say they can fix the problems cann't, so their 100% Garantee is bull. I tried doing a repair via an installation CD of Windows Professional, but it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key". That is when I was really in trouble, because it nuked all previous restore points etc.... The original install CD is in storage in another state and the only reason I have access to the internet now is by running in safe mode with networking (Note: That is an improvement and shows that my efforts have not been a total waste of time). I restored manualy, ran WMIDiag and fixed all but 3 problems with WMI security. Still no normal internet access regardless of brower or access to the help system. Any ideas or other will be appriciated.
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
Run a new Win installation over the existing one from the Windows Save Mode, NOT from the CD auto boot. IIRC in some point you will be prompt if you want to keep the original system drivers installations etc.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
-
John R. Shaw wrote:
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system
That largely depends on what kind of 'messed up' you are talking about. How did you get to this state?
John R. Shaw wrote:
it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key"
Provided your product key is valid, any windows CD should work. It must be the same edition though.(E.g. Home/Pro, and type i.e Retail/Volume/Msdn/etc)
Simon
He probably has a machine that uses an OEM key (Dell / Compaq / Gateway among others) that requires a Windows CD from the manufacturer. They will not work with retail CD copies of Windows.
Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am
-
He probably has a machine that uses an OEM key (Dell / Compaq / Gateway among others) that requires a Windows CD from the manufacturer. They will not work with retail CD copies of Windows.
Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am
Steve Mayfield wrote:
He probably has a machine that uses an OEM key
Ahh...Good point. If that's the case you should be able to get a replacement from the manufacturer. You might have to ask nicely. I got a replacement from Advent a few years back. I was initially told 'no, you should use the full restore option, and it restores from a folder on your hard drive', but after being forwarded around a few different departments, and explaining that the restore folder didn't exist any more because I'd wiped it and installed Linux over the top I got one. they charged me £5 for postage though.
Simon
-
Does anyone know of a program that can actually fix a really messed up system. I messed up big time, so I have no restore points before the mess up. All the programs that say they can fix the problems cann't, so their 100% Garantee is bull. I tried doing a repair via an installation CD of Windows Professional, but it was not the original CD used to install the system and it rejected my "Product Key". That is when I was really in trouble, because it nuked all previous restore points etc.... The original install CD is in storage in another state and the only reason I have access to the internet now is by running in safe mode with networking (Note: That is an improvement and shows that my efforts have not been a total waste of time). I restored manualy, ran WMIDiag and fixed all but 3 problems with WMI security. Still no normal internet access regardless of brower or access to the help system. Any ideas or other will be appriciated.
INTP "Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence."Edsger Dijkstra
I'm not sure if that's better or worse than what I did. I installed a new CPU and motherboard (from Pentium 4 to Core 2 Quad) and performed a repair install. The system runs slow, often pops up "do you want to debug?" messages, and I don't seem to have a network driver. I don't even see the (built-in gigabit) network adapter in Device Mangler, even though I have it enabled in the BIOS. Plus I don't have an appropriate resolution listed for my wide monitor. I've emailed the motherboard manufacturer (ECS), but have gotten no response yet. Currently using my wife's (Vista X| ) laptop. Update, even though I doubt anyone cares: I downloaded the drivers and installed them, the network and video not work properly. I ran through a bunch of Windows Updates and things are much better. But I still get the "do you want to debug?" messages, particularly when I start Windows Explorer.
modified on Friday, January 9, 2009 1:46 AM