Failed WinXP System Restore

Due to a problem with Username and Password settings on websites, was suggested that I used System Restore to go back a few days.

Problem now is that although System Restore appeared to go through, after rebooting the mouse cursor is off screen (I can see it at the bottom RH corner until the Task Bar appears) and cannot be moved. I have tried both PS2 and USB mice, same issue.

I have tried Safe Mode, still no mouse cursor.

Have tried getting to System Restore using the keyboard only, cant get there.

Also, cannot now access any my HDDs in that pc from my other networked pc's, whereas normally I can.

Outlook also refuses to start (using just keyboard) because Kaspersky also fails to start, my AV has just been renewed, so likely I tried restore point which was too early.

Looking for my next move??

Thanks!

In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

Due to a problem with Username and Password settings on websites, was suggested that I used System Restore to go back a few days.

Problem now is that although System Restore appeared to go through, after rebooting the mouse cursor is off screen (I can see it at the bottom RH corner until the Task Bar appears) and cannot be moved. I have tried both PS2 and USB mice, same issue.

I have tried Safe Mode, still no mouse cursor.

Have tried getting to System Restore using the keyboard only, cant get there.

Also, cannot now access any my HDDs in that pc from my other networked pc's, whereas normally I can.

Outlook also refuses to start (using just keyboard) because Kaspersky also fails to start, my AV has just been renewed, so likely I tried restore point which was too early.

Looking for my next move??

Thanks!

full info on how to use windows without a mouse windows without a mouse or hit TAB ALT & Num lock should bring up the settings ect

As for why mice not working on your system, could be hardware releated, but unlikely, more likely the windows o/s or conflicting s/ware or some form of malware

Edited by tommy45 (Fri 26-Apr-13 14:21:54)

may be drifting towards a Repair Install, ideally from an XP SP3 CD.

There are methods for doing a registry restore other than from Windows using bootable CDs which would allow you to choose a different restore point.

A repair install had crossed my mind, but am wary of risk to data; although that said as it stands I have data but no access to it...

My pc was built with WinXP Home back in 2003 I still have the MS OEM WinXP disc. I also have later MS OEM WinXP discs for my other home builds and I certainly have a SP2 amongst those.

I'm guessing that for a repair install I need an identical disc to the original build rather than one with a more recent SP on disc. That said, I have MS SP1 SP2 and I think SP3 Service Pack discs.

ISTR that a repair install asks for a password which foxed me previously because I dont use a password to boot.

Grateful for any pointers.

Thanks.

Cheers!

I tried this when I had issues with XP and it helped but don't know if it will be any help for your PC's problems.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/helpcentre/troubleshooting/...

In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

A repair install had crossed my mind, but am wary of risk to data; although that said as it stands I have data but no access to it...

My pc was built with WinXP Home back in 2003 I still have the MS OEM WinXP disc. I also have later MS OEM WinXP discs for my other home builds and I certainly have a SP2 amongst those.

I'm guessing that for a repair install I need an identical disc to the original build rather than one with a more recent SP on disc. That said, I have MS SP1 SP2 and I think SP3 Service Pack discs.

ISTR that a repair install asks for a password which foxed me previously because I dont use a password to boot.

Grateful for any pointers.

Thanks.

Cheers!

The repair install procedure that i have used ,is the one using the win xp disk, Ithink you will need a disk with the same service pack version as the installed os, To do that i booted from the xp disk, and selected the second repair option,(not recovery console) the one that at first looks like you are going to do a clean install of windows , That shouldn't cause data loss , as it just re writes all or some of the system files, you will probably need to update windows again afterwards, If this doesn't work i think it may be clean install time, as for saving all your data depending on free space on your hdd , you may be able to create a new partition for windows xp to install on to, then delete what files you don't need from your old installation, at least you could then back up any important data on to dvd or external hdd and re formatt the disk and delete the new partition should you wish before doing a clean install linky

if you don't need a password to log in the repair install won't ask for one (if indeed it asks at all, can't remember)

if you have the disk you built it with and don't mind going through the SP installs etc you should be OK. There can be a "gotcha" if it forces you to online activate the copy of XP and it has IE8 installed as XP will assume it has IE6 to do the activation.

This may not arise, and is solveable if it does by manually installing IE8.

I've never lost any user data doing a repair install. An SP3 disc from the same family should work ok, it's the product key bit that goes wrong if you use a VL SP3 CD with an OEM product key etc.

Thanks Phil

I am away from the pc now,so will try a repair this weekend.

Cheers!

Thanks tommy45

I am away from the pc now,so will try a repair this weekend.

Cheers!

Thanks Apprentice

I am away from the pc now,so will try a repair this weekend.

Cheers!

If you like, I can upload an ISO of ERD Commander 5 or an ISO of the F4 UBCDv4 which contains ERDC 5.
ERD Commander is an official MS CD which boots to an XP "rescue environment" GUI which, amongst a host of other invaluable tools, includes access to System Restore points and it generally works.

Thank you for your kind offer.

My ancient pc circa 2003 uses a pair of SATA drives for C: - when I built the pc I needed to use a SATA driver floppy during XP installation.

I have used a XP disc to repair a more basic pc a year or so back and ISTR the repair requesting the SATA disc.

My intention is to try the standard Repair later today and if that goes OK, it may even fix my initial problem yesterday which caused me to use System Restore to go back to an earlier date. The initial problem being loss of log in info to new websites.

If I cannot progress the Repair, I will likely be back here....

Cheers!

Update.

Attempted to carry out a repair install, but at each attempt sometimes quite early after booting with the winXP dvd on other times just before the Repair option appeared, I got a BSOD with typically:-

STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D663C, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Tried the suggested CHKDSK /F from a c: prompt in Safe Move, but since system in use pc offered to carry out next bootup, but it didn't.

Do you think it worth trying your ERDC 5 ?

What is not helping me is the C: drive being a SATA array, luckily most of my data is on a seperate HDD and C: just used for winXP and programs.

Cheers!

The "0x0000007B" error along with your login problem suggests malware (Possible boot sector infection) so before we try anything else, download, burn and boot the affected machine from the Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Carry out a full scan.

In the meantime, tomorrow, I'll upload the F4 4.0 UBCD which I'm pretty certain has provision to load a floppy image as a virtual drive on pressing F6. I'll need the make/model of your SATA controller to create this image.
The ISO's are created from an XP SP3 CD but better to be safe than sorry.

Edited by Deadbeat (Sun 28-Apr-13 00:04:59)

Thanks

The SATA controller is built into the MSI motherboard which is a K7N2G Series MS-6570 The SATA controller is a Promise 376 with the floppy labled G72-PRSA040

Cheers!

Is the XP repair cd SP3 slipstreamed, the BSOD suggests not and suggest that SATA drivers are not present on the XP disc.

I have a choice of two original WinXP discs, either one with SP1 on or the other with SP2. I have a MS disc with just the SP on for SP3 (but of course that will not boot).

SATA drivers are on a 3.5inch disc which normally inserted when requested after keying F6 earlier when asked.

Cheers!

Ah right.... So you already have the SATA drivers and an accessible floppy drive? That makes life easier. I'll upload the ISO in a mo but it will take some time. I'll PM you when it's done.

if you have access to a Vista, Win 7 or Win 8 DVD you can do a chkdsk with those - they'll likely understand the RAID / SATA card and they have a better chkdsk algorithm too.

Though if it fails to boot off a floppy with a BSOD that isn't likely to be file system corruption on the hard disk