obtc101

Hi Goku, Thanks for your reply, I see what you mean, and had feared that may be the case. I haven't been able to perform a repair install yet though, as the repair option wasn't available, I simply used the recovery console to try and get back some of the system files. Your point would make sense, even as a result. I suppose I'm possibly looking for one of two things, activtaed system restore, without being able to go into the recovery console, or extract data from the HD. Thanks again Oliver

Sorry you've missed my point. An admin password has been introduced to the recovery console since I started working on it, meaning I can no longer use the recovery console itself. No password exists on the normal user accounts. being more explicit, I am not trying to gain access to another person's computer.

Hi, Thanks for the quick reply. Using my windows cd, I was able to get into the recovery console, pressing r at the initial windows setup. My only problem is that I can enter any commands because of the admin password issue. By following your step, are you saying it might be possible to re-sintall the console and access it without the password? Sorry another question, if by some way I can access the recovery console what command would I use to restore to a restore point please. I know the number of the restore point I want which helps. Many Thanks Oliver

Here goes, Looking at a friends laptop with XP which was stuck in a loop, she desperately needs to keep some of the data on there so clean install out of question just now. Repair option is not available in the setup menu. If it was a desktop I'd just pull the hard disk and use a slave on my machine, but I don't want to break open the laptop. The config\system file was corrupt and I was receiving the normal message and prompted to repair, and the system was caught in a permanent loop. Managed to boot from my own Xp pr OEM cd (she has lost her restore disk). Managed to copy over some of the old system files from her penultimate restore point, using the recovery console. Machine starts to boot....great. It hangs just after the windows logo. If I try safe mode, last known good config etc it just hangs as well. (safe mode hangs on mup.sys, although I know it isn't actually related to this file) Other info, repair option is not available when trying to re-install windows. The recovery console now asks me for an admin password, which I do not even know. (it didn't ask for one before I copied over the system file) I need to know whether there is any way I can access the hard drive and get the info off. Clean install after that isn't a problem. Thanks for any help