[aamhinc]

I had recently contracted some malware on my work computer.
I went to maddoktor2.com and got some help from rorschach112.
Unfortunately, something went wrong and now I can't start my computer to try and fix any problems.
Rorschach112 sent me to this website for additional assistance.
Here is the link to maddoktor2.com for all of the background that led up to my problem:
my posts...


I have mid level knowledge about computers and will do all I can on this end, but I know that this is over my head...

Thank you for looking and please let me know if I can supply any more information.

- Jeff

[aamhinc]

Sorry... didn't want to seem lazy...
My basic problem is:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys

This shows up regularly, in safe mode, and in start using last known good configuration.

I do have my XP disk.

[Extremeboy]

Hello aamhinc, welcome to 247Fixes.

Quote

I do have my XP disk.

What is your Windows XP disk? Is it the XP Home CD or XP PRO CD and is the CD have SP1, SP2 or Sp3 on it?

Let me know.

With Regards,
Extremeboy

[aamhinc]

Reinstallation CD, XP Pro, Service Pack 1

[Extremeboy]

Your computer currently is XP Pro with SP3 installed and therefore can't use this CD yet however, just a question, is this computer an upgrade or was it installed with Windows XP to begin with?

Create a Slipstream of Windows XP using sp2: http://www.theelderg...ed_xpsp2_cd.htm

Let me know once you have done that successfully.

[aamhinc]

I have the boot image and xp file with the updated info. I only have sonic, but it says it can make a bootable cd... will this work?

[Extremeboy]

Hello.

Let's try something else. Artellos, one of the Tech Expert's here confirmed that we can still copy it even though your system is SP3 and the disk is SP1. Let's try to restore that file and see if that helps with the boot issue first.

Booting into the Recovery Console using Windows XP disk

Please insert your Windows XP Disk into the machine and reboot your computer. During the reboot and at boot up you should see Press Any key to Boot from CD/DVD.... If you see that please press any key to continue and continue to follow the next set of instructions on "Using the XP CD Disk to Access the Recovery Console". If not, please follow the next set of instructions on "How to Configure the System to Boot from CD/DVD" and then follow the steps to "Using the XP CD Disk to Access the Recovery Console".

How to Configure the system to boot from CD/DVD

Some machines will automatically attempt boot from the CD if a CD is inserted, if that is the case, please skip the instructions below...

• Please reboot your machine or turn it on (Without the CD)
  
• As soon as the BIOS is loaded begin tapping tapping the F2 or F12 or perhaps F9, F10 or F11 (try all of them if unsure, starting with F2)
  
• Different Machines have different keys.
  
• This will bring up the configuration options, please use your arrow keys to go to the Boot Tab.
  
• In the Boot tab, there should be instructions on your right-hand side on how to move your CD/DVD as the top or First Priority

• After you have moved CD/DVD at the top/first priority, please make sure you SAVE AND EXIT <- Important
  
• It will now exit with Configuration settings saved.

Using the XP CD Disk to Access the Recovery Console

To start the Recovery Console directly from the Windows XP CD make sure your Windows XP Disk is in the CD-Rom drive and then reboot your machine.

• Insert the Windows XP cd in your computer.
  
• Restart your computer so you are booting off of the CD.
  
• During the reboot and on bootup you will get a message saying: "Press any key to boot from CD", press Enter.
  
• Windows Setup will begin to load. Please be patient this may take a while (~ 5-10 minutes)
  
• When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press the R button on your keyboard to start the Recovery Console.
  
• At the prompt to select "Which Windows installation would you like to log onto", please press the number of the installation. This is usually 1 if you only have one windows installation on your computer. If you have more than one then type the one you use.
  
  
• It will then prompt you for the Administrator's password, if you have one. If there is no password, simply press enter. Otherwise type in the password and then press enter to continue.
  
• You will now be at the C:\Windows prompt.
  
• Enter the following code line by line one at a time and pressing enter on your keyboard on each line.
  
• Wait for each command to be completed before continuing with the next one.

expand D:\i386\pci.sy_ C:\Windows\system32\drivers

• At the next prompt after it is complete, type the following without the quotes and press Enter: "exit"

Windows will reboot the machine and should now begin loading again.

I believe D:\ drive is that location of your CD/DVD location from the logs I saw at the other topic. If it's not or the command doesn't work successfully, then change that to whatever drive it is and try again.

Any problems let me know.

Thanks.

With Regards,
Extremeboy

[Extremeboy]

How's it coming along? Any problems?

[aamhinc]

It worked... to a point...

It fixed that problem, but now won't boot because the following file is missing or corrupt: system32\DRIVERS\isapnp.sys

would I do the same thing with this file?

I really appreciate the help!

[Extremeboy]

Hello.

I had a similar issue to this with one my XP computer a few months ago. I'm thinking of a repair install but before we do that let's try replacing that file as well, and if that fails then I'll give you further instructions on what to do next.

Do the same thing but this time enter this code instead:

expand D:\i386\isapnp.sy_ C:\Windows\system32\drivers

Let me know how it goes.

[aamhinc]

Thats good, and now its System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys

[Extremeboy]

Run this command:

copy D:\i386\NTFS.SYS C:\Windows\system32\drivers

If you then get another system file not able to load, reply back here once more and we'll try something else and I'll ask if there's anything else we can try here.

With Regards,
Extremeboy

[aamhinc]

Its still System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys although it did say in the recovery that the one file was copied. Does it matter that we copied NTFS.SYS and this is saying Ntfs.sys (cases sentive issues)?

[Extremeboy]

Nope, it's not case sensitive.

I think the best option here would be to do a repair install. You can find instructions from here: http://michaelsteven...pairinstall.htm

Let me know how it goes upon completion. Any problems, please let me know.

[aamhinc]

I've tried the repair install twice (cleaning the cd in between tries). Both times, it reboots and is in the Installing Windows step, with 39 minutes remaining in the setup, and a Files Needed dialog box pops up. It says:
The file 'asms' on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 CD is needed.

Type the path where the file is located, and then click OK.

Copy files from:
GLOBALROOT\DEVICE\CDROM0\I386

This last part was a dropdown box that was already populated with that entry.
I am unable to click enter, cancel, or make another selection... I can't even see the mouse. Nothing on the keyboard seems to have an effect in moving the cursor, selecting the fields for OK or Cancel, or anything really.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much for your continued assistance!

I hope your day is going well!

- Jeff