Guest Randy Williams Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 So I want to use method 2 listed here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US; Q315341 to re-install by starting the computer from the Windows CD. I get as far as "Which Windows installation would you like to log onto?" I don't know what this means but by typing any letter it says; "Please select a valid installation number." So using the word "number" as a clue I type 1 which gets me to "Type the Administrator password". I have no passwords. I used no passwords setting up this OS originally. I am trying to recover the system because it is asking me for a non-existent password when I try to boot up. So, another frustrating computer loop. Any suggestions.
Guest Ronald Nissley Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 Re: Trying to use Recovery Console. "Randy Williams" <rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com> wrote in message news:C30885F1.70C%rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com... > I have no passwords. I used no passwords setting up this OS originally. > > I am trying to recover the system because it is asking me for a > non-existent > password when I try to boot up. > > So, another frustrating computer loop. > > Any suggestions. > Randy, Did you try pressing Enter (blank password) when prompted? Hope that's helpful, Ronald Nissley
Guest David Webb Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 Re: Trying to use Recovery Console. You do not use the Recovery Console (RC) to reinstall the OS. The RC is used to repair the OS. You must have made the wrong choice at this part of the procedure: You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen that appears: This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer: To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER. To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R. To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3. Press ENTER to set up Windows XP. [end quote] "Randy Williams" <rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com> wrote in message news:C30885F1.70C%rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com... > So I want to use method 2 listed here: > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US; > Q315341 > > to re-install by starting the computer from the Windows CD. > > I get as far as "Which Windows installation would you like to log onto?" > > I don't know what this means but by typing any letter it says; "Please > select a valid installation number." So using the word "number" as a clue I > type 1 which gets me to "Type the Administrator password". > > I have no passwords. I used no passwords setting up this OS originally. > > I am trying to recover the system because it is asking me for a non-existent > password when I try to boot up. > > So, another frustrating computer loop. > > Any suggestions. >
Guest randwill Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 Re: Trying to use Recovery Console. Hold the phone. I'm back in with system restore from Safe Mode. But while I have your attention, any answer on how to get rid of the nonexistent DVD drive which is still hogging the "E" position in My Computer. This causes the newly installed drive, and another drive to be pushed one letter ahead and to not function. I have gone to Device Manger and to View>Show Hidden Devices and found it there and greyed out. So I uninstalled from there but on re-boot it is still listed at "E" in My Computer and the other DVD drives will not function. Using the RegistryFix software, which temporarily screwed me up, was an attempt to solve this drive letter issue. Which it didn't.
Guest David Webb Posted September 9, 2007 Posted September 9, 2007 Re: Trying to use Recovery Console. I'd start with the registry fix for drive associations listed under the Windows XP Tips & Fixes section of this website: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/index.html Create a new restore point before merging this into your registry. Let us know if it cured the problem. "randwill" <rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com> wrote in message news:J3GEi.142084$VU2.41851@fe02.news.easynews.com... > Hold the phone. > > I'm back in with system restore from Safe Mode. > > But while I have your attention, any answer on how to get rid of the > nonexistent DVD drive which is still hogging the "E" position in My > Computer. This causes the newly installed drive, and another drive to be > pushed one letter ahead and to not function. > > I have gone to Device Manger and to View>Show Hidden Devices and found it > there and greyed out. So I uninstalled from there but on re-boot it is still > listed at "E" in My Computer and the other DVD drives will not function. > > Using the RegistryFix software, which temporarily screwed me up, was an > attempt to solve this drive letter issue. Which it didn't. > >
Guest Unknown Posted September 9, 2007 Posted September 9, 2007 Re: Trying to use Recovery Console. Get rid of virus programs especially 'GOBACK' if you have it before restoring. "randwill" <rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com> wrote in message news:J3GEi.142084$VU2.41851@fe02.news.easynews.com... > Hold the phone. > > I'm back in with system restore from Safe Mode. > > But while I have your attention, any answer on how to get rid of the > nonexistent DVD drive which is still hogging the "E" position in My > Computer. This causes the newly installed drive, and another drive to be > pushed one letter ahead and to not function. > > I have gone to Device Manger and to View>Show Hidden Devices and found it > there and greyed out. So I uninstalled from there but on re-boot it is > still listed at "E" in My Computer and the other DVD drives will not > function. > > Using the RegistryFix software, which temporarily screwed me up, was an > attempt to solve this drive letter issue. Which it didn't. >
Guest Nightowl Posted September 9, 2007 Posted September 9, 2007 Re: Trying to use Recovery Console. Hi Randy I wonder if there are still other instances of the old E: drive still in the registry. Open up a command window, then type: set devmgr_ show_nonpresent_devices=1 <enter> then type: devmgmt.msc <enter> (Device Manager opens up). Leave the command window open for now, because as soon as you shut it the option to view nonpresent devices will be lost. In Device Manager, check Show Hidden Devices as you did before and see if there are any further grayed-out "ghosts" of the old drive there. Delete any you find. Then I'd shut down, open up the computer and disconnect your new DVD drives. Reboot and check to see if the E: drive has finally gone from My Computer and Device Manager. Once you've had a clean start without any DVDs at all, reconnect your new drives and let Windows detect them. -- Nightowl randwill <rwilliams4254@triad.rr.com> wrote on Sat, 8 Sep 2007: >Hold the phone. > >I'm back in with system restore from Safe Mode. > >But while I have your attention, any answer on how to get rid of the >nonexistent DVD drive which is still hogging the "E" position in My >Computer. This causes the newly installed drive, and another drive to be >pushed one letter ahead and to not function. > >I have gone to Device Manger and to View>Show Hidden Devices and found it >there and greyed out. So I uninstalled from there but on re-boot it is still >listed at "E" in My Computer and the other DVD drives will not function. > >Using the RegistryFix software, which temporarily screwed me up, was an >attempt to solve this drive letter issue. Which it didn't. >
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