Windows update problem

well, i upgraded the Bios for my motherboard with the latest driver. I read that it could be a problem since it is so outdated. After i rebooted I was able to install like 45 updates. Still 6 failed with the same errors i have given before. I havent tried sp2 yet, because i bet the same error will happen and i dont want to have to do another repair install. If there is anything else i can provide let me know.

Hey Sk220

Sorry for the late reply, real-life issues taking up some time

Now, before we start on any fixes, there is a small thing on my mind.

Could you please bring up your task-manager (CTRL-ALT-DELETE) and
see if there is a running process named ntoskrnl.exe, with or without the
exe. ending.

If there is, please disregard further advice, and report back. Do not make
any further attempts to solve it, until we got that process sorted out.

—————————————————————————————————–

There is alot going on, on your machine right now. And any fixes from outside
sources may jepordize what we are doing here. Its your machine and your choice,
just be aware that any fixes done out of order, may prolong the ordeal, or put the
machine in a state where a fix is no longer required, but a full re-install is required
instead.

—————————————————————————————————–

Ok, lets fix that Boot sector and anything else that might be out of order, so we can get it running.


Please get hold of your windows Home-CD, and put it in.
Reboot and make sure that Boot-order in BIOS is set to CD-ROM

Now, follow this procedure step by step

1. Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer.
2. When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key.
3. Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows. (which will take you to the recovery console)
4. Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.
5. You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password. (If you have none, press enter leaving it blank)
6. Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter, which in this case is "e." This letter may be different on your computer.

copy e:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

7. Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot.

Once this is done, proceed with the next steps. If not successful, please report back before doing anything else.


Next Step:

Please navigate to your:

C:\windows–Prefetch Folder

Open up the Folder and delete its contents, Do not delete the folder!

Navigate to your C:\ drive
Right-click it, choose Properties at the bottom of the right-click menu.
Select the Functions tab
Choose "examine now"
Place a checkmark in each options shown
Click start

You will now get a message that says Windows can't perform that action now, and if you
want it to start at next reboot, say yes to this.

reboot

Windows will now scan in 5 steps, do not interrupt it at this point, just let it work through.

After this reboot, some programs may feel sluggish, this is quite normal and nothing to worry
about. It will subside soon enough. The reason is we cleared your prefetch cache, and it will
cause this behavior until windows have replaced the necessary files.

Please say if there is something you don't understand or want me to elaborate on.
I haven't been precise to the point, as i get the feeling that you know your way around
your PC.

Once done, please proceed with the update fixes with Tallin.

Regards Abydos

Thanks for the update.

here is my task manager. just to show you what is running. http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=taskqb4.jpg


I am going to start the cd stuff in just a second, ill update when im done, hopefully with good news.

Thanks for the update.

here is my task manager. just to show you what is running. http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=taskqb4.jpg


I am going to start the cd stuff in just a second, ill update when im done, hopefully with good news.

Processes looks fine to my knowledge.

Regards Abydos

well I did as you said, sorry it took a while for me to get back. It just said "Access denied" each time i typed it. so….dont know whats up with that. I didnt try the next part because you told me not to. It didnt ask me to for my password for some reason. It has before, when i have done it. Could that be a problem? I only have one account on the computer, it is administrative and it doesnt have a password, so, again, im not sure what is going on.

Hey Sk220

Now that sounds weird

The recovery console only comes up with that message if the command
is trying to access folders which are not supported through the recovery
console.

Did you remember the spaces between the commands?
Did you remember to replace "e" with your CD-ROM drive letter?

copy-e:\i386\ntldr-c:\
copy-e:\i386\ntdetect.com-c:\

I've shown the spaces with bars, "replace" those with space.

Your primary partition is on C right? Otherwise you'll have to substitute it with the correct one.

Other than that, I can't say for sure why you get access denied. I'll have to research it or ask around.
There are some other methods to rebuild the Boot sector, and we can give those a try if you want.
But the above commands should work, and the other methods might also fail when this one did.

Regards Abydos

Well i had my boot disk in the dvd drive (drive d:\), which hasnt seem to make a difference. I switched it to my regular cd-rom drive and when i tried it this time (with drive e:\), it just said "Cannot find the specific file" I looked on the windows cd and found ntdetect, but not ntldr. I did all of the spaces correctly, and yes my primary is C. At this point im willing to try anything to avoid a complete re-install, so anything you have to rebuild the boot would be great.

Hey Sk220

well, your Ntldr file should very much be there.

Try use the search function, with your CD in, and then search for it.
It should be in the i386 folder. If its not there, I'll be very baffled….
That would mean whatever install you tried, would never have a
correct boot file. Ntldr is the Main Boot Loader file, without it
your PC wouldn't even get past the BIOS screen.

Ok. Lets try this then:

1. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD into the computer.
2. Reboot the computer with the CD and press any key when prompted to press any key to boot from the CD.
3. Once in the Microsoft Setup menu press R to open the recovery console.
4. Select the operating system you wish to use; if you only have Windows XP on the computer you will only have one prompt.
5. Once prompted for the password enter the Admin password and press enter.
6. Once at the command prompt type bootcfg /rebuild to start the rebuild process.
7. The rebuild process will step you through a number of steps depending upon how many operating systems you have on the computer and how the computer is setup. Below is a listing of the common steps you are likely going to encounter.

* Prompt for the identified versions of Windows installed. When you receive this prompt press Y if the bootcfg command properly identified each of the Windows operating systems installed on the computer. It is important to realize this command will only detect Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT installations.

* Prompt to enter the load identifier. This is the name of the operating system for the boot.ini. For example, Microsoft Windows XP Home users would enter "Microsoft Windows XP Home edition".

* Prompt to Enter OS load options. When this prompt is received type /fastdetect to automatically detect the available options.

8. Once you have completed all the available options in the rebuild and are back at the prompt type exit to reboot the computer.

If this will work for you, please proceed with the next steps I wrote above in the other post.


Regards Abydos

its funny, i googled it and found that site. Did the thing, and come back to find you wanting me to do it. Well, atleast im ahead of the game. It worked fine. Which would you like me to try? I will assume deletion of prefetch files and disk check. Gonna reboot, and ill let you know.

its funny, i googled it and found that site.

Did the thing, and come back to find you wanting me to do it. Well, atleast im ahead of the game. It worked fine.


Which would you like me to try?

I use the site primarily because the text saves me from typing it all

Just proceed with the next steps as explained in post.32
Continue from after the Copy Fix.

Regards Abydos

so it doesnt seem to be working. still access denied. I deleted my other drive, it was a hassle and odd to be to have another one. So, just have my C drive like i always did. Could it be a hardware issue, and not a software? I know my way around a computer but the mechanics on every detail i certainly do not know. I'm just wondering if there could be like Ram issues, or if my mother board is freaking out or something…..i dunno, maybe even my video card. I have gotten an ati related error a few times, resulting in a blue screen, since i have a radeon, i figure there may have been some error between the mother board or its software and the video card. I also sometimes get that IQRL_NOT_LESS_OR_ZERO error with the blue screen.

I'm sure that others have been thinking the same, but have been more puzzled by the fact that your machine posts, boots, and loads Windows apparently without that darn ntldr file.

We will continue working on a solution for that.
_________________

You can safely run MemTest86 from floppy or CD or run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc745953.aspx
_________________

so it doesnt seem to be working. still access denied.

But first you said:

Did the thing, and come back to find you wanting me to do it. Well, atleast im ahead of the game. It worked fine.

Could you please elaborate as to what worked, and what did not….

Blue screens can be quite normal after a windows repair, as you might not have the same drivers as before the repair, or
even the drivers at all. But drivers shouldn't be an issue regarding accessibility for rebuilding the Boot sector. But there would
be no harm done if you were to update your drivers.

I deleted my other drive, it was a hassle and odd to be to have another one. So, just have my C drive like i always did.

Are we talking a seperate partition, or a seperate HD here?

If its a seperate HD, you might have to load up your BIOS, and reload default settings. Two of the same OS on two seperate HD's in the same machine, is bound to make screw-ups unless prepared for it. Loading the default settings for your BIOS might be a good idea anyways, just to eliminate any odd interference from it.

When / where exactly do you get the access denied message?

At password section?
Or when it tries to load files of the CD?

Also, could you please verify that your windows CD does in fact contain the Ntldr file.

Regards Abydos

Hi sk2200,

I think you have done a wonderful job following Abydos's suggestions here……..patients you really must have and also you know your way around computers I can detect that.

Abydos as you may have realized is one of our really knowledged volunteers and will continue to assist you with his knowledge if he is able to research and find just whatever is the problem with your machine.

However if possible the following advice to you would be at this stage what I would do.

If you have a reputable IT Business near where you live I would take your computer to it, get a quote for correcting the problem giving them details of what you have been doing here on this thread then at least you would have a professionals opinion of what the problem could be.

IT shops have great ways of saving data that we cannot help you with here nor can it be done other than with a hands on experience.

It is not usual for me to advise this plan of action, but for your own peace of mind that would be my advice to you in this instance. Less stress for you and the main thing would be a professionals opinion of your problem.

Kind regards,

"Could you please elaborate as to what worked, and what did not…." I did the bootcfg /rebuild. Everything worked at that point, it scanned fine. I deleted the files you asked me to. The problem was at the copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\ as well as the other one. It gave me an access denied error after each entry. "I deleted my other drive, it was a hassle and odd to be to have another one. So, just have my C drive like i always did." Sorry, i meant partition. I only have one hard drive. Im not up to date on the lingo I guess. You all are actually teaching me a lot as I go through this. I know my way around the computer, just not its functioning and the actual terms. "When / where exactly do you get the access denied message?" when it tries to load files of the CD Also, could you please verify that your windows CD does in fact contain the Ntldr file. I tried to verify that they were on there, I manually looked for them as well as tried using my "search" tool. Came up with nothing. I will keep looking though. Tallin, I will look into finding some "professionals" around where i live. I really appreciate what you all have helped me with so far, i can't stress that enough. I know what we have done of the past few days, one of you could have tried within a set of hours. Hands on is different then directing me. So thank you! I will keep posted. UPDATE: I did find ntldr on the windows cd, detect is also still there as well.