Windows XP Troubleshooting
Tips
March 27, 2007
The information in this page
applies to:
- Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
How to check for corrupt system files?
To do this simply go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in:
sfc /scannow
This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem.
When prompted, insert Windows XP CD.
What if my Windows XP cannot
boot...
If your Windows XP won't boot
due to filesystem problem,
try these steps:
Boot to the Recovery Console
Start your computer with the
Windows startup disks, or with
the Windows CD-ROM if
your computer can start from
the CD-ROM drive.
When the Welcome to Setup screen
appears, press R to select
the repair option.
If you have a dual-boot or
multiple-boot computer, select
the Windows installation that
you want to access from the
Recovery Console.
Type the administrator password
when you are prompted to do
so.
NOTE: If no administrator password
exists, just press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type
chkdsk /r, and then press
ENTER.
The chkdsk command checks the
specified drive and repairs
or recovers the drive if the
drive requires it. The command
also marks any bad sectors and
it recovers readable information.
/r: Locates bad sectors
and recovers readable information.
At the command prompt, type
exit, and then press ENTER to
restart your computer.
Only proceed with the rest
if the system still won't boot.
If you cannot perform the
above steps due to some reason
(NO XP CDROM?): -
Transfer the problem harddrive
to a working WinXP PC
The trick to running Chkdsk
/r is to install the problem
harddrive into another machine
that is already running Windows
XP. The "new" machine
should recognize the NTFS partition
and allow you to run ChkDsk
/r on the harddrive from the
failed machine.
If chkdsk says your harddrive's
filesystem is proper...
Run Copy [cd driver]\i386\ntldr
c:\
Run Copy [cd drive]\i386\ntdetect.com
c:\
Assuming your hard drive is
C:
To fix the boot sector,
FIXBOOT C:
To fix the mbr,
FIXMBR C:
BOOTCFG /REBUILD
Further attempts if the above
still don't work
1. Boot with XP CD
2. Select Setup
3. Select Repair
Useful sites
http://rselby.net/xprc.htm
http://www.winnetmag.com
DON'T
DO THESE
Your computer uses an Ultra
Direct Memory Access (UDMA)
hard disk controller, and the
following conditions are true:
You
use a standard 40-wire connector
cable to connect the UDMA drive
to the controller instead of
the required 80-wire, 40-pin
cable.
The basic input/output system
(BIOS) settings are configured
to force the faster UDMA modes.
Using
the wrong type of cable can
damage the file system.
More information about chkdsk
When you run the chkdsk command,
you are required to use the
Autochk.exe file. CHKDSK automatically
locates this file in the startup
folder. If the Command Console
was preinstalled, the startup
folder is typically the Cmdcons
folder. If CHKDSK cannot find
Autochk.exe in the startup folder,
CHKDSK tries to locate the Windows
CD-ROM installation media. If
it cannot find the installation
media, CHKDSK prompts you for
the location of the Autochk.exe
file.
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