Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Darkstrike on January 25, 2014, 01:50:08 AM
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Hi all,
I've got a problem with my mom's older desktop...after a Windows update, I rebooted to find it will no longer boot into Windows, but instead seems to pause at the loading screen infinitely. I tried booting into safe mode and the same thing happens, but lists that the last loaded driver is one of Avast's - aswRvrt.sys.
I've read in a few threads other people have had this problem. I've used a WinXP-Recovery-Tool-only disk to run a chkdsk C: /r on the drive and it said it found and fixed errors, however, it still won't boot into Windows and stops at the same place. Trying the "Last Known Good Configuration" results in the same thing...still won't boot past that Avast file in the list :(
What can I do next? I really don't want to have to format the thing...
Thanks for any assistance!!!
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The Avast apologists here have been blaming everything from Windows updates, various worms and viruses for this problem since October and if there was an easy fix or an update that addresses the Win XP problem it should be displayed in a sticky at the top of the forum. It isn't as far as I can see but I might be wrong.
Good luck getting a fix which doesn't involve reinstalling Windows. You know there is something rotten in the barrel when this is 'solution' suggested. It is only one rung up the ladder from the wally who blames viruses for almost any problem they get on their computer.
What I will say is that I've been happily updating Windows XP throughout this period. No problem thankfully but I've become so scared of updating Avast in case this issue affected computer I refuse to update. I only have one way to get online so even if there were a fix I couldn't get to find out what it is let alone download the solution. I'd be really stuffed as I rely on this machine for many things now.
In fact this potential problem and the impending loss of Win XP support by MS has spurred me to spend what I can ill afford on a new PC as the existing one can not run Win7/8 due to HDD capacity and RAM limitations.
The advice should be don't update to the latest Avast if you're using WinXP in any form.
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.....good luck on this........there is hope with FRST tool and Essexboy if you can ping him for help will step you thru it.
However past that do not do a "format"....do a repair install.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Hopefully you have a XP O/S disc if not do a Google but many links for free ISOs.
http://c2nsoft.blogspot.com/2013/06/free-download-windows-xp-professional.html
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How can I get in contact with him? I would be grateful....doesn't a repair install need a copy of the WinXP CD with the same Service Pack level that is currently installed on the machine?
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How can I get in contact with him? I would be grateful....doesn't a repair install need a copy of the WinXP CD with the same Service Pack level that is currently installed on the machine?
YES.....there are ISOs you can download.
Another How-To: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/138-how-to-repair-windows-xp/
Do a search for Essexboy and PM him to this thread.
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Is there a minimum post count before I can do that? I don't have any options to PM anybody (I don't even see my forum control panel anywhere...?)
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Also, I don't recall there being a release for a WinXP CD with SP3 installed on it, just SPs 1 and 2...?
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Also, I don't recall there being a release for a WinXP CD with SP3 installed on it, just SPs 1 and 2...?
I PMed him with link to this thread.
Think he is UK time....not sure.....I'm East Coast USA.
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Thanks mate, I appreciate it...East Coast of Canada here, so it's like 3am where he is... :( ...hopefully he'll be kind enough to respond in the morning!
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Thanks mate, I appreciate it...East Coast of Canada here, so it's like 3am where he is... :( ...hopefully he'll be kind enough to respond in the morning!
Essexboy is one of, if not the best, out there. Have no idea what he does for a living but he seems to be on every friggin Forum.....Dude gets around. He seems to be the A/V & Malware expert remover but clearly he is savy across many PC things. :)
Good luck........in the mean time try to find a XP O/S CD.....you may need it.
Of course, as you pointed out you need the proper XP version (Home, Pro, etc.) and SP level.....do you know what was on her machine ?
I hope your Mom's desktop still has the Windows sticker on it with the license code ?
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I have some XP Pro CDs around, but I'm not sure what SP level they have.
Hers had WinXP Professional SP3 on it, this I know, and I am pretty sure I have the CD key for it written down somewhere...
I only recall ever seeing CDs with SP2 on them though, is there even a WinXP Pro. SP3 CD out there? :S
Quite frustrated as it was working 100% perfectly until I restarted for those two Windows updates and I may now have to completely reformat it? I'm capable of doing that, but backing everything up and setting everything back up on it is so tedious, it will be a P.I.T.A. if that's what it comes down to... 9_9
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Doing a search on aswRvrt.sys in the Forum you'll see you are not alone.
You may want to read this thread....on topic & XP: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144887.0
It'll give you an idea of the process but I'd HIGHLY recommend letting Essexboy walk you thru it....but you can prep.
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Thanks for the link - I had actually found that thread and downloaded Reatogo to try running FRST, but whenever I booted Reatogo, it seemed to just hang on a blue screen with the mouse cursor and that was it :S
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I have some XP Pro CDs around, but I'm not sure what SP level they have.
Hers had WinXP Professional SP3 on it, this I know, and I am pretty sure I have the CD key for it written down somewhere...
I only recall ever seeing CDs with SP2 on them though, is there even a WinXP Pro. SP3 CD out there? :S
I assume you have other PCs ?...obviously, you are posting from one. ::)
You could take the XP SP2 and then create/slipstream a XP SP3 CD.
http://winsupersite.com/article/windows-xp2/slipstreaming-windows-xp-with-service-pack-3-sp3-128464
You can get SP3 from MS: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24
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We have 4 other PCs in the house, 1 desktop (mine and the one I am typing these messages on) running Win7 Ultimate x64, another desktop running Win7 Home x64, a netbook running Linux Mint 14, and another netbook running WinXP Home.
Never thought about slipstreaming...here's hoping that would work if push came to shove, I just hope I could find the right CD key!
Here's hoping above all that EssexBoy has some helpful suggestions...
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Another thread where Essebox goes thru the steps....look at reply #3. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=131070.0
Perhaps you can get ahead of the game and get the logs posted.
Note.....he does say: I can remove Avast or any malware but there is no guarantee this will work as a few systems have been broken by windows updates
For the CD key....check her machine...usually a sticker put on it that is very hard to peel off...so usually they are there.
....sometimes on notebooks they are on bottom of machine.....just check all around the box.
I'll cross my fingers for you.
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There is an XP Home key on the side of her tower case, but I don't think that is the one I used on her machine....pretty sure her machine has XP Pro as we were given the computer by a friend of hers and I recall being the one who formatted it, but I am fairly certain I had used my own XP copy.
I would post the logs, but I can't seem to get into Reatogo to run FRST as all I get when I boot Reatogo is a blue screen with a mouse cursor and seemingly nothing else....maybe my download for it is corrupt? I see Essexboy mentions an ISO for it in that link you posted, but I don't see a download link to the ISO anywhere...?
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An update! I decided I'd try re-burning the CD for Reatogo in case the burn failed at a higher speed, so I burned it at 2X speed and it boots now! Going to run FRST and post the logs in a few.
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Log complete and attached:
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Going to bed....long night.....hopefully Essexboy will see in morning and post.
I took a quick look and there is a lot of restore points (daily, good job Mom !!!) on machine.......good deal.....may be one avenue.
Don't get creative and try stuff....wait.
==================== Restore Points (XP) =====================
RP: -> 2014-01-24 17:46 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP394
RP: -> 2014-01-23 19:56 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP393
RP: -> 2014-01-22 12:16 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP392
RP: -> 2014-01-21 10:48 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP391
RP: -> 2014-01-20 10:35 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP390
RP: -> 2014-01-19 10:00 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP389
RP: -> 2014-01-18 08:05 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP388
RP: -> 2014-01-16 21:24 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP387
RP: -> 2014-01-15 20:37 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP386
RP: -> 2014-01-14 18:53 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP385
RP: -> 2014-01-13 16:46 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP384
RP: -> 2014-01-12 10:48 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP383
RP: -> 2014-01-10 21:57 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP382
RP: -> 2014-01-09 01:08 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP381
RP: -> 2014-01-07 20:27 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP380
RP: -> 2014-01-06 16:34 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP379
RP: -> 2014-01-05 13:57 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP378
RP: -> 2014-01-04 07:47 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP377
RP: -> 2014-01-03 02:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP376
RP: -> 2014-01-02 01:46 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP375
RP: -> 2014-01-01 01:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP374
RP: -> 2013-12-31 00:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP373
RP: -> 2013-12-29 23:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP372
RP: -> 2013-12-28 22:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP371
RP: -> 2013-12-27 22:12 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP370
RP: -> 2013-12-26 18:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP369
RP: -> 2013-12-25 18:32 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP368
RP: -> 2013-12-24 15:45 - 024576 _restore{9511F5F1-E81D-431B-87D3-2D54CE80FF0A}\RP367
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Will do....I work tomorrow from 9am-5pm Atlantic Standard Time, so I probably won't be able to try anything until after I get home in the evening...mom will have to borrow my Linux Mint netbook for now to check her e-mail and stuff I guess!
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Hi first we will try a restore point
I will take you back to the 9th
Download the attached fixlist.txt to the same location as FRST
Run FRST and press FIX
On completion try a normal boot
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Hi EssexBoy, thanks so much for your help (and thanks to you too TheKochs!), I'll try it right now in the few minutes before I head to work...
Tried the Restore Point - FRST says it was successful, but the machine still won't boot into Windows normally, and it still won't boot into Safe Mode...it stops in the same place as it did before: aswRvrt.sys
Is the next step trying to remove the Avast drivers from startup? I won't be home until after 5:30pm my time this evening (9:30pm your time), so whatever you suggest next I will have to try then! Thanks again for the help so far from you both!
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OK that is the next setp
Download the attached fixlist.tx to the same location as FRST
Run FRST and press fix
On completion try a reboot
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Hi first we will try a restore point
I will take you back to the 9th
Essexboy. I have a "theory"......granted with absolutely no proof behind it but with lack of response to me Avast Team questions on all these aswRvrt.sys hangs all I can do is "theorize"......that Avast9 is much more intrusive (to try to be a better A/V) and it can see on some Windows updates those as major PC changes. I say this because most of these folks see this all seem to be after Windows Update....which requires boot and then the hang. My only point is Avast Team should really take a look at this possibility because clearly there is correlation to Avast (I know some machines are HDD hardware, come have been file system issues) but seems too coincidental to me not to at least investigate.
Anyway, back to the thread.......perhaps Darkstrike should confirm when he did the XP O/S updates. I only say this because if before the 9th which you RP to then perhaps this needs to go back further ? Either way getting rid of Avast via FRST should be telling too. Thx for coming to the thread !
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@ TheKochs - I did the updates literally last night and then restarted the machine within 5 minutes of the updates finishing, that is when all this started, so the 9th would've been a good choice for a restore point, but sadly, hasn't worked.
As for the "removing-Avast'from-startup" fixlist EssexBoy just gave me, trying that one now.........and it didn't work, fix was successful (fixlog attached), but when trying to boot Windows normally now, I end up with the same symptoms as before, but the screen is black.
As for trying it in Safe Mode, it goes down the list as far as Mup.sys, trying to boot SPTD.sys, and then it also freezes there. :(
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Does the last known good option work on the safe menu ?
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I had tried that already and it didn't work, should I try it again? (NOTE: I had tried it before any of the FRST.exe stuff)
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We could trey to remove the daemon tools component
Download this fixlist and run as before
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I haven't tried removing Daemon Tools yet, but....new symptom. For the hell of it, I let it sit at trying to boot into Safe Mode with Networking while I went up to get seconds for supper and when I came down, it is now at a screen that says:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
Doesn't sound good....
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I haven't tried removing Daemon Tools yet, but....new symptom. For the hell of it, I let it sit at trying to boot into Safe Mode with Networking while I went up to get seconds for supper and when I came down, it is now at a screen that says:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
DarkStrike, make sure if you go down the full XP Repair Install path you know the sequence.....not as straight forward as one might guess.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
3.Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.
To setup Windows XP now and Repair Install , press ENTER. do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".
Essexboy, do you recommend to him a CHKDSK /R ?....if so, perhaps a how-to on how to run from this machine state.
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If I try booting from a WinXP cd to get to the recovery console or otherwise, the machine just hangs on the CD at "checking for previous versions of Windows"
can I do a chkdsk /r from Reatogo?
I booted into Reatogo earlier to see if I could access the partition on the disk, and I could, but it looks like her user profile may be corrupt because where her folder under "Documents and Settings" used to be, it now simply says "name"...? *sigh*
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If I try booting from a WinXP cd to get to the recovery console or otherwise, the machine just hangs on the CD at "checking for previous versions of Windows"
can I do a chkdsk /r from Reatogo?
I booted into Reatogo earlier to see if I could access the partition on the disk, and I could, but it looks like her user profile may be corrupt because where her folder under "Documents and Settings" used to be, it now simply says "name"...? *sigh*
Essexboy is going to have to provide guidance on next-steps here.
You ran FRST with his daemon tools fixlist.txt removal ?...post #28....you had said in Safe Mode it goes down the list as far as Mup.sys, trying to boot STPD.sys....
Also, any chance Safe Mode boots without Networking ?....min driver type thing.
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I thank you both for your continued efforts, but at this point I have a bad feeling the data is somehow irrecoverably corrupted.... :(
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I thank you both for your continued efforts, but at this point I have a bad feeling the data is somehow irrecoverably corrupted.... :(
You may be at point of repair install.
Here was another thread on similar effort: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144887.15 with several other items Essexboy provided guidance on. It may be worth the two page read....but again, I'd wait for his suggestions.
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I'll wait and see what he suggests tomorrow before I do anything else. If her user profile folder seems corrupted, that's where most of her files are, so unless he knows how to recover that, it doesn't matter if I do a repair install or a full reinstall because I won't be getting those files back. I DID do a backup of them to a flash drive, but that was at least several months ago (although her files don't change that much), so she told me if I do have to completely reformat, it's not a HUGE loss.
Also, with a Repair Install, don't I still have to reinstall all of her software again?
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I'll wait and see what he suggests tomorrow before I do anything else. If her user profile folder seems corrupted, that's where most of her files are, so unless he knows how to recover that, it doesn't matter if I do a repair install or a full reinstall because I won't be getting those files back. I DID do a backup of them to a flash drive, but that was at least several months ago (although her files don't change that much), so she told me if I do have to completely reformat, it's not a HUGE loss.
Also, with a Repair Install, don't I still have to reinstall all of her software again?
Correct, and perhaps those files are there in some recoverable state.
Is this a desktop or notebook ?.....I ask because if you can remove the HDD and get a USB adapter you can attach to other PC and grab the files.
There are boot CDs you can boot from to access the HDD with perhaps the USB port enabled to copy off the files.
May want to Google about recovery CDs to see what is out there since I've not done this in along time.
Some I recall........
BartPE Windows Live CD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwpy55mb-nk
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
Hiren: http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd
....one of the better ones I recall..........
UBCD:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm {Steps to Create CD}
Ultimate Boot CD is a powerful tool kit for scanning and recovering system. This is a small sized image file of boot CD which contains huge amount of various programs which can help to restore your data if something’s happened to your PC. The necessity of this tool kit appears when you need to extract some important data from HDD, but your OS doesn’t work properly or just doesn’t work at all. Ultimate Boot CD will easily help you to cope with this problem. Ultimate Boot CD main features are LAN, USB and mouse support. Numerous applications integrated in UBCD will serve to:
•Make virus filtering
•Make operations with HDD (Formatting, section adding/deleting etc.)
•View system files
•Restore deleted files
Ultimate Boot CD will save the day to you and its additional functions will ensure your data is safe even in some critical situations. And this fact makes UBCD a must have application. Download Ultimate Boot CD free of charge and secure your data from various unpleasant accidents.
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I had actually booted from a Xubuntu Live CD to try to get files off and copy them to a USB HDD, but Xubuntu couldn't mount the windows drive, which was my first indication something may be very corrupt on it. It's a desktop. Reatogo is based on BartPE, so that option won't work as I'll probably end up with the same issue I had with Reatogo (i.e. I booted into Reatogo earlier to see if I could access the partition on the disk, and I could, but it looks like her user profile may be corrupt because where her folder under "Documents and Settings" used to be, it now simply says "name"...?)
I keep those other options in mind however.
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UPDATE:
Hi guys, an update...woke up this morning and for the hell of it, decided to try a "Last Known Good Config"....it WORKED! I somehow was able to boot into Windows normally! First thought was "get Avast Uninstall tool and finish removing remnants of it"....which I did, however, clearly not thinking, the tool said it needed to run in Safe Mode and I thought "sure, that's fine"....stupid mistake, as when I rebooted and tried to go to Safe Mode, I got stuck back at the loading screen at "aswRvrt.sys" again...
Back to square one I guess.....going to try running through all the steps you've mentioned so far (use FRST to restore to the 9th again, use FRST to remove Avast from start-up, use FRST to remove Daemon Tools from start-up), and pray I can get it to boot back in again...if I can, instead of trying to run the Avast uninstall clean tool, I'll try running the normal uninstaller and see if that will work...
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New (current) issue while trying to re-do the fixlist for Daemon Tools. FRST shows the drivers for SPTD.sys still exist in it's Scan Log, but running your fixlist.txt results in FRST saying "Service not found." even though your file exactly matches what is listed in the FRST.txt log....?
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Do you have another FRST scan please
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Trying, but I can't get my Reatogo CD to boot past a blue screen with the cursor at the moment to even get to FRST...
UPDATE: I did another Last Known Good Config and am booted normally back into Windows!!! Suggestions to what I can do to prevent this from happening again next time I restart...? :)
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Sounds like a hardware problem of some sort as Reatogo bypasses windows
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It might just be the CD-RWs I've been using, they're ancient (i.e. from like 2005)...
At any rate, I am sitting at a normal boot of Windows right now, but fearful of restarting in case this all happens again. Any ideas to prevent it aside from uninstalling Avast...?
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Now you are normal windows could you run an OTL scan, as that looks in different areas
Download OTL (http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.exe) to your Desktop
Secondary link (http://www.itxassociates.com/OT-Tools/OTL.exe)
- Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73555776/OTL_Main_Tutorial.gif)
- Select All Users
- Select LOP and Purity
- Under the Custom Scan box paste this in
netsvcs
BASESERVICES
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.exe
c:\program files (x86)\Google\Desktop
c:\program files\Google\Desktop
dir "%systemdrive%\*" /S /A:L /C
/md5start
rpcss.dll
/md5stop
CREATERESTOREPOINT
- Click the Run Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
- When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
- Attach both logs
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Will do, but before I run that scan tool, should I try uninstalling Avast first?
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Yes do that, but this appears to be an intermittent type problem. So at some stage you may need to run chkdsk
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I'd already hit start on OTL before I thought of removing Avast first, so I ran the scan now WITHOUT having removed Avast first. Logs are attached below. I've got to head to work in 30 mins though, so after that I won't be back to try anything else until after 4pm my time (8pm your time)
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Yes do that, but this appears to be an intermittent type problem. So at some stage you may need to run chkdsk
The Avast uninstall runs in safe mode as stated.
Try the regular uninstaller and then also Rejzor's util which runs in Normal windows mode.
http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/
Is the D&C directory corrupt ?.....you did copy Mom's data files off to USB HDD ?
Also, you really need to get an "image" of the machine for two reasons.
1) If this intermittent problem is a hardware issue (eg, eroding HDD) then having an issue to restore to new HDD is needed.
2) You can always mount the image and get files/items you may have missed.
I use Macrium....is it Free and simple....free version does full backup. You can create boot rescue CD to restore.
Of course once you install I'm sure it will require a re-boot.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
I agree with Essexboy that a CHKDSK repair is in order.
Keep having him step you thru it......glad to see progress. :)
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OK you have one errant driver and the registry entry for WMI is totally missing
Warning This fix is only relevant for this system and no other, using on another computer may cause problems
Be advised that when the fix commences it will shut down all running processes and you may lose the desktop and icons, they will return on reboot
Run OTL
- Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/OTL_Fix.GIF)
:Commands
[CREATERESTOREPOINT]
:OTL
DRV - File not found [Kernel | On_Demand | Unknown] -- -- (advy9go8)
:Reg
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Wmi]
"Description"="Provides systems management information to and from drivers."
"DisplayName"="Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions"
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
6b,00,20,00,6e,00,65,00,74,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,73,00,00,00
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"Start"=dword:00000003
"Type"=dword:00000020
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Wmi\Parameters]
"ServiceDll"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
61,00,64,00,76,00,61,00,70,00,69,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,\
00
"ServiceMain"="WdmWmiServiceMain"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Wmi\Security]
"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,90,00,00,00,9c,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,00,02,00,60,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,fd,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
05,12,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,0b,00,00,00,00,\
00,18,00,fd,01,02,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,23,02,00,00,01,01,\
00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00
:Commands
[resethosts]
[emptytemp]
[Reboot]- Then click the Run Fix button at the top
- Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done
- Open OTL again and click the Quick Scan button. Post the log it produces in your next reply.
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Try the regular uninstaller and then also Rejzor's util which runs in Normal windows mode.
http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/
Is the D&C directory corrupt ?.....you did copy Mom's data files off to USB HDD ?
@TheKochs: I've tried the Avast uninstaller and literally nothing happens, it brings up the window, I hit Uninstall and it takes me back to desktop with Avast still in the Add/Remove Programs list...might have to just use Rejzor's tool anyway!
Mom's data files are somehow actually here and not corrupt....I may have made a mistake in that regard; her user profile folder IS labelled "name" but all her data is still in it. Maybe it WAS called that before, and I'm not remembering - I don't use her machine very often other than to fix it!
I will back her data up to my USB HDD adapter for now, yes.
I've not heard of Macrium, but I'll have to check into it. I'd need to get a larger backup drive first though, as I don't have one big enough for a full image of her C:/ drive, let along the C:/ drive on my machine!
@Essexboy: I'll try that and let you know....here's hoping it will actually restart normally this time! BUT, before I try it, should I run Rejzor's Avast uninstall tool BEFORE I run OTL considering the usual Add/Remove Programs Uninstaller for Avast isn't working...?
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Yes try Rejzors tool
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Ok, ran Rejzor's tool, then ran OTL with your script. On restart, I was greeted with a black screen just after POST with nothing on it. I thought "ok, very odd", but let it sit at this screen for quite awhile to see if anything would happen.
I now have a:
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
system32\DRIVERS\pci.sys
error.
-
New symptom, once again a black screen after POST. If I let it sit and wait about 5 or 6 minutes, it comes up to a
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"
error....maybe I DO need to run a CHKDSK...can I run one from Reatogo, or does it have to be from a Recovery Disk?
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Can you get to the safe mode menu, select command prompt and run :
chkdsk /r
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Restarted, must've missed pressing F8 in time to select Safe Mode, but Windows booted normally this time and I was greeted with the dialog asking OTL to run and nothing else but the cursor and background wallpaper. I hit yes. After about 30 seconds, I was given a log file from OTL and the desktop/everything else loaded normally...was that part of your script?
Log file contents attached below...?
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Yes if OTL has a lot of junk to remove it will complete it at logon and delay the start until it is completed
Total Files Cleaned = 920.00 mb
There is something wrong .. Possibly with the HDD can you run a chkdsk on it
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Can you get to the safe mode menu, select command prompt and run :
chkdsk /r
Think he needs to run this too........seems like there is something else going on too.
Also, doesn't he need to run CHKDSK {driveletter with Windows install} /R ?
-
Only if run from the command prompt, as he is in windows he can now schedule one normally http://www.computerstepbystep.com/chkdsk_windows_xp.html
-
Scheduled using the Command Prompt, restarting and attempting scan...will report back with results...or otherwise.
-
How was the computer behaving when you were in normal mode ?
-
It seemed 100% fine! Like I said at the start of the thread, the computer was COMPLETELY normal before that Windows update that started this all :(
An update, after I restarted, I am currently greeted with a seemingly infinite Windows XP loading screen....it's just sitting there with the loading bar repeatedly moving left-right. Should I try a CHKDSK from a recovery console or let it go for awhile and see if anything comes up?
-
Did it do a chkdsk prior to this reboot ?
If not then use the recovery console method
-
I had used your link to schedule a CHKDSK, once I restarted, it was then that I was greeted with the infinite WinXP loading screen I listed in my previous post - it never got to the CHKDSK screen or back to Windows. It's still sitting at that loading screen now, but I will restart with a recovery disk and see if I can run one from there; I'll let you know how that turns out.
-
OK looking like a possible disc problem
-
Do I need to use a WinXP Home disk with the same Service Pack as my install or will any XP Home disk work for the Recovery Console to run CHKDSK?
-
Any xp disk will work
The command will need to be :
chkdsk c: /r
-
Restarted into a Recovery Console disk and hit "R" to enter the Recovery Console. Seemed to pause at "Examining disk..." so I restarted into the BIOS. I know her machine has S.M.A.R.T. drive tests built into the BIOS. Running a the Short S.M.A.R.T. test resulted in "Completed without error."
A long S.M.A.R.T. test takes 50 minutes, so I won't do that yet. I'll try loading back into Windows normally and see if it will run the scheduled CHKDSK again. If not, I'll restart and try the Recovery Console CHKDSK method again for the hell of it and report back.
-
Managed to get it to boot into Windows / Scheduled CHKDSK....CHKDSK screen seemed to stay there for all of 30 seconds, enough for me to read it say something about...
"The volume is clean."
Windows has finished checking the disk.
And then it booted to the login screen....200% sure it didn't even check the disk at all? 0_o
I'll back up her Firefox Profile while I'm in here and try rebooting into the recovery console again for a CHKDSK there.
Starting to think the disk is completely screwed at this point...but the REALLY weird thing is it runs 100% fine while it's booted normally into Windows!!!
-
Only a wild guess but failing HDD with bad sectors going can corrupt things...obviously.
CHKDSK is run/works will move those items to good places and repairs the file system/etc.....but then the question becomes how good is the disc ?...is it in failure mode.....degrading, etc. How long have you had the PC/HDD ?
Assuming you get all this done I'd go back in the BIOS and do a full SMART check/scan.
I also have a SMART software running on all my PCs to monitor the HDDs.
The one I use is DRIVESITTER: http://www.otwesten.de/drivesitter/
It's $26 but you can buy once on put on all your PCs with same key that you own.
A Free one that a lot of folks use is Crystal Disk Info
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/crystaldiskinfo.html
....of course these monitor things/changes over time and provide warning on decay.
Sounds like you already have the BIOS util to run the SMART integrity checks else there are others out there to run.
A lot of the HDD guys offer their own...
-
It's just incredibly surprising because the computer's been running fine up until this point. It's a bit older of a machine, we were given it by a friend about two years ago to replace mom's old desktop. This one is a Compaq Prescario SR1910NX with some upgrades (newer video card, more RAM), but the computer itself is about 8 years old I think....Windows Vista-age, but it has WinXP Home SP3 on it now as I had formatted it when it was given to us.
I'll see if I can get it to do a CHKDSK in the Recovery Console again, if not, I'll do a full S.M.A.R.T. scan in the BIOS. If push comes to shove, I'll format it if it turns out the disk is the issue...I have an ancient (2003) 80gb IDE drive I can put in it for now that I keep as a spare from my old desktop.
EDIT: As a side note, it's been booted "normally" into Windows for 30 mins now and it's running perfectly....no idea what's going on.
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It's just incredibly surprising because the computer's been running fine up until this point. It's a bit older of a machine, we were given it by a friend about two years ago to replace mom's old desktop. This one is a Compaq Prescario SR1910NX with some upgrades (newer video card, more RAM), but the computer itself is about 8 years old I think....Windows Vista-age, but it has WinXP Home SP3 on it now as I had formatted it when it was given to us.
I'll see if I can get it to do a CHKDSK in the Recovery Console again, if not, I'll do a full S.M.A.R.T. scan in the BIOS. If push comes to shove, I'll format it if it turns out the disk is the issue...I have an ancient (2003) 80gb IDE drive I can put in it for now that I keep as a spare from my old desktop.
I bought three DELL notebooks and within 3 weeks two of their HDDs crashed....Hard !
One morning I came to see one with BSOD on it...the other black screen...powered down.
Went to the BIOS and could not even see the HDD.....Dell techs came out swapped the HDDs....I ran image restore from Macrium good to go.
They say there are only two sure things in life.....taxes and death......there is a 3rd....HDDs will fail....just a matter of time.
I work in the tech industry and my industrial customers the #1 return issue with their systems is HDD failure.
So, if you are able to get it stable and use Macrium to store offline the HDD Image you can use the Macrium recovery CD to restore that image to new HDD once you replace. You may wish/prefer to do a full/clean install but that's a PITA with drivers, software, etc....even if you have your mom's "data".
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Yeah, but at this point I'm wondering if Windows itself isn't corrupt somehow. It's fine when it's up and running but it seems to go haywire on restart, or when booting from a shutdown, as you've both seen...so as much as I hate doing it, if I have to switch drives, maybe a full reinstall would be the best way to go.
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Yeah, but at this point I'm wondering if Windows itself isn't corrupt somehow. It's fine when it's up and running but it seems to go haywire on restart, or when booting from a shutdown, as you've both seen...so as much as I hate doing it, if I have to switch drives, maybe a full reinstall would be the best way to go.
Would not disagree......however, I'd get a copy of the HDD image regardless.
Macrium is free.....runs a full image in about 30-45 minutes......of course per the comments above.....have to have a place to put it. :)
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Would not disagree......however, I'd get a copy of the HDD image regardless.
Macrium is free.....runs a full image in about 30-45 minutes......of course per the comments above.....have to have a place to put it. :)
Yeah, that's the issue, unfortunately, space. :-\ I have my 80gb IDE spare, and I actually do have an older 40gb IDE spare, both work fine, but if I am doing a full format, I'll be putting my spare 80gb in as her main drive so I can't use that to backup an image, and the 40gb is SLIGHTLY too small to do an image backup to (the drive in the machine atm is a 120gb, and about 52gbs of it is filled, so the 40gb would be too small...).
Also, the 40gb is currently storing a backup of somebody's data whose computer I repaired the other day - they asked that I keep it for now in case something else on their computer turns out to be the problem, so I can't use it regardless! (Coincidentally, that laptop became fouled up almost in the exact same fashion as my mom's machine....uninstalled 3 programs just after an Avast program update and it stopped booting as well, also stopping at aswRvrt.sys!!!) We couldn't get that machine to boot into Windows AT ALL though, so I ended up just formatting it...
Running the extended S.M.A.R.T. scan on mom's drive now from the BIOS...said it would take about 50-60 mins, so I'll report back when it's done. Having a feeling I may be formatting her machine tomorrow on my day off though, but at least I have her data now! I'll see if Essexboy has any more ideas...
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Update: Ran an Extended (full S.M.A.R.T. scan on the drive in mom's comp from the function in the BIOS...took an hour, but says it passed with no errors...?)
Upon restart, computer felt like booting into Windows normally again, THIS TIME, however, It actually IS running the CHKDSK properly. Will post results once it's complete.
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I'm hoping that the WMI corruption Essexboy found was it and the OTL fix with reboots finished the process.
Since SMART went well and assuming CHKDSK does too....I'll cross my fingers you are out of the woods. ;)
If so, one last thing to run within Windows Normal just to be sure is System File Check. Think of it as a CHKDSK for the O/S.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/system_file_checker.mspx?mfr=true
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/termss/p/sfc-command-system-file-checker.htm
Run command prompt and type SFC /scannow ....doesn't take terribly long to run....you can run the SFC /verifyonly first to see what comes up.
/scannow = This option instructs sfc to scan all protected operating system files and repair as necessary.
/verifyonly = This sfc command option is the same as /scannow but without repairing.
Assuming all goes well I don't think you have Avast installed.
"If" you decide to do this then make 100% sure you do a clean uninstall/install
How-To: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143284.0
It is up to you but if this was my Mom's PC I'd do a Custom install option from Avast9 and just check the "shields"...none of the tools.
....BUT I'd highly recommend doing a image/backup of the HDD prior.
-
CHKDSK completed while I was up on the phone, so not sure what it said the results were. However, it restarted and I was once again greeted with:
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"
I tried restarting again, and was greeted with:
"A disk read error occurred
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart"
Restarted again and was greeted with a normal boot of Windows and the CHKDSK screen that said the "Volume is clean." (Except this time I know the CHKDSK scan actually completed.)
Running an sfc /scannow now...
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Ok, next update...I went to bed last night as I was tired, but left the sfc /scannow complete overnight (computer seems fine for having ru overnight by the way)
The scan completed and it must've found issues because I now have a window that says "Files that are required for Windows to run properly need to be copied to the dll cache. Insert your Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM now."
Except, that when I formatted this computer ~2 years ago....well, I've lost the EXACT same install disk I had used then (I still have a legitimate Windows license key on her machine, just not the legitimate physical disk I used for the install in the first place). However, I do have ANOTHER WinXP Home disk. Upon inserting that, however, I am just given an error that says "The CD that you provided is the wrong CD. Please insert the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive."
Is there a way around this so I can get the files copied...? :(
-
Ok, next update...I went to bed last night as I was tired, but left the sfc /scannow complete overnight (computer seems fine for having ru overnight by the way)
The scan completed and it must've found issues because I now have a window that says "Files that are required for Windows to run properly need to be copied to the dll cache. Insert your Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM now."
Except, that when I formatted this computer ~2 years ago....well, I've lost the EXACT same install disk I had used then (I still have a legitimate Windows license key on her machine, just not the legitimate physical disk I used for the install in the first place). However, I do have ANOTHER WinXP Home disk. Upon inserting that, however, I am just given an error that says "The CD that you provided is the wrong CD. Please insert the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive."
Is there a way around this so I can get the files copied...? :(
You should be able to us another "disc"....but I think it must be the same XP Home => Home, Pro => Pro.....as well as Service pack level.
Since you are able to boot to machine what does it say it is ?
I "think".....perhaps Essexboy can confirm
Some googling on this can help....a lot of stuff out there.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900910
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That's the thing TheKochs, my other disk I'm trying to use IS a WinXP Home SP3 disk, supposedly!
Originally this was a WinXP Home install with a basic disk that I installed SP1, 2 and 3 on as updates...would that be part of it....?
-
Update - tried modifying the registry file as per that MS article, but my registry entry for that item already says "%windir%\ServicePackFiles" ...? There's another item under it in the registry labelled just "SourcePath", so I tried changing that to "%windir%\ServicePackFiles" as well, ran the sfc /scannow, and still get the error asking for my CD.
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That's the thing TheKochs, my other disk I'm trying to use IS a WinXP Home SP3 disk, supposedly!
Originally this was a WinXP Home install with a basic disk that I installed SP1, 2 and 3 on as updates...would that be part of it....?
Here is a link on how to do this without the CD.
http://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php?topic=3103.0
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One other item.....you said this was a desktop and you are clearly getting intermitant boots.
You checked the cabling from the motherboard to the HDD that it is seated OK ?
-
Well, honestly, no, I didn't check that cabling as (yes it is a desktop) it has literally been sitting in it's same current location for the last 2 years, and is almost impossible to bump with it's location on this desk, so I couldn't see anything having been knocked loose. I'll check the cabling inside, but I'm 99% sure it's fine.
-
Any chance you have a second HDD attached to the PC ?...internally or via USB during boot ?
Another Avast Forum post pointed to this article and the answer "appears" to be a 2nd HDD....not sure I follow but wanted to throw out.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/329127-aswrvrt-i-cant-boot/page__st__15
-
Nope, only one HDD in this machine and one CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive.
-
Trying the trick for running sfc /scannow without a CD now, will report back. On a possibly positive side, when I restarted after editing that registry file so I could run sfc /scannow without the CD, Windows booted normally on the first try for once...?! :P Not going to hold my breath though...
.....and Windows is still asking for the CD...
-
Restarted to try getting sfc /scannow working with another registry change and Windows won't boot, decided to try safe mode.....it's stopping at
aswRvrt.sys again....
What the hell? I ran Rejzor's removal tool to get rid of Avast! I used FRST.exe to remove it from the startup lists....HOW IS IT STILL THERE AGAIN!?!? *sigh* So frustrated right now...I'm just going to have to format the bloody thing...
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Yeah.....I'm just decided I am going to try and format her machine guys, I thank you both so much for trying to help, but clearly something is completely messed up somewhere...I have no idea why parts of Avast are back, I didn't do any other system restores, or "Last Known Good Configs", nor did I reinstall Avast, so why is Avast back...?
Once again thanks for the attempted assistance, but as I'm not the only one having these issues, the Avast Devs are hopefully looking into this...
Cheers and kudos for being so patient!
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OK....sorry that it had to go to this point.
Cheers.
-
It's ok man, you and Essexboy did the best you could, and I've learned some handy tips and tricks along the way, it's just quite frustrating, haha.
Keep up the good work!
-
Hi guys - sorry to bring this thread temporarily back from the dead, but I have another machine (unrelated to Avast) that I am trying to restore to an earlier restore point.....except the machine won't boot. I could download the Reatogo ISO creator, but it requires a bootable legal copy of Windows XP....I don't have any machines running XP other than this one I am repairing that won't boot, so that is out of the question...
I hate to ask questions here about something not Avast related.....but....as this WinXP machine won't boot and you guys had shown me how to do a System Restore using restore points and FSRT on a WinVista system that wouldn't boot, could you possibly direct me to where I can get an already-generated ReatogoXPE ISO again so I can try the same trick on this XP machine....?
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Hi guys - sorry to bring this thread temporarily back from the dead, but I have another machine (unrelated to Avast) that I am trying to restore to an earlier restore point.....except the machine won't boot. I could download the Reatogo ISO creator, but it requires a bootable legal copy of Windows XP....I don't have any machines running XP other than this one I am repairing that won't boot, so that is out of the question...
I hate to ask questions here about something not Avast related.....but....as this WinXP machine won't boot and you guys had shown me how to do a System Restore using restore points and FSRT on a WinVista system that wouldn't boot, could you possibly direct me to where I can get an already-generated ReatogoXPE ISO again so I can try the same trick on this XP machine....?
What is happening when you power the PC up ?
Can you boot into Safe Mode ? If so: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449
I thought in the thread you mention you have a WinXP CD ?.......if so, a fall back is with XP you can do a repair install: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Also, you have the Farbar Tool still ? http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/
....obviously, idea is to get to command prompt to run FSRT from USB stick and get log that will show restore points.
Go to this thread and read Essexboy's post/how-to on Rufus/ISO/FRST: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=131070.0
....once you get a FRST log and attach Essexboy will have to help.
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I have a WinXP RECOVERY CD that I had downloaded somewhere, it doesn't have any of the WinXP files, only enough to run the Recovery Console and it's related functions.
On boot into WinXP, it was getting so far and then simply restarting into a reboot loop. On Safe Mode boot, it was doing the same thing...referencing an issue with "windows logon" if I disabled auto-restart on BSOD. I remembered a friend had a WinXP netbook with no CD-ROM drive, but I was able to copy the files from the System32 folder on his WinXP Home SP3 netbook and paste them into the WinXP Home SP3 machine that isn't booting using a Linux Live CD (a pretty screwy and definitely not tech-recommended fix, I know...). BUT, I can now boot it into Safe Mode, but ONLY "Safe Mode" (as in if I try to boot it into "Safe Mode with Networking", or just a normal boot, it now freezes at the little loading bar and won't go any further....better than repeated restarts I guess). I tried disabling some listed network drivers for a wireless USB adapter and some other stuff listed in the Device Manager in case they were what was preventing "Safe Mode With Networking" from working when "Safe Mode" works fine (I did leave the on-board ethernet card's drivers enabled, and even updated them, but it will still freeze on boot to "Safe Mode With Networking" or on normal boot.)
Yes, I do still have FRST - running a scan with that now, but I don't mean for you folks to try and help me as I know these are the Avast forums and this machine doesn't have any issues caused by Avast (it doesn't even have Avast on it!), so I feel guilty! :-[
I just thought I'd pop back and ask you where I could get that WinXPE Recovery disk with the limited WinXP Live install again as I lost the ISO for it. :P
Logs attached if you didn't mind looking at them!
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A quick note to answer your question to me having a WinXP CD - I also have a WinXP PROFESSIONAL CD (no Service packs) aside from that "Recovery Console Only" WinXP CD, but the computer I am dealing with atm has WinXP Home SP3 on it.
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Essexboy will have to comment on where the XP limited live ISO is...I'm not sure.
BUT....if you can boot into Safe Mode with command prompt why not try this ?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449
How to start System Restore by using the Command prompt in XP
1. Restart your computer, and then press and hold F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in Safe Mode with a Command prompt.
2. Use the arrow keys to select the Safe mode with a Command prompt option.
3. If you are prompted to select an operating system, use the arrow keys to select the appropriate operating system for your computer, and then press ENTER.
4. Log on as an administrator or with an account that has administrator credentials.
5. At the command prompt, type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.
6. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to a functional state.
If going to a restore point does not work then go get the XP Home SP3 ISO via uTorrent: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/26911-The-Windows-XP-Repository
....and then do a repair install: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
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I did manage to get a System Restore done via Safe Mode as I now have it consistently booting into Safe Mode no problem (but not Safe Mode With Networking). The System Restore was successful, but it didn't solve my "Windows won't boot in normal mode" issue.
As for a Repair Install - that's the one where all the system files are properly replaced, but it means I have to reinstall whatever programs are installed, right...?
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As for a Repair Install - that's the one where all the system files are properly replaced, but it means I have to reinstall whatever programs are installed, right...?
No, a repair install re-installs the O/S over itself.....everything else is left intact.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
A Repair Install will replace the system files with the files on the XP CD used for the Repair Install. It will leave your applications and settings intact, but Windows updates will need to be reapplied.
In Vista, W7, etc. you have to be within Normal Windows to do this "repair" install....which they call a in-place upgrade.
To me this is going backwards.....because XP allows you to do this from the O/S CD.....you can't with Vista/W7/etc.
If you did a restore point and no luck then this would be my next step....but make 100% sure you've backed up all "data" files to USB HDD to make sure.
XP Repair install
1.Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive.
2.When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below
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.
3.Press Enter to start the Windows Setup.
To setup Windows XP now and Repair Install, press ENTER.
DO NOT choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console).
I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".
4.Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
5.Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.
6.Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.
As shown above to get a XP Home SP3 ISO via uTorrent: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/26911-The-Windows-XP-Repository
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Repair Install was successful....
HOWEVER....now I have a problem. Apparently the XP CD you linked me to is a Retail CD...as the machine in question is a Cicero, when I try to enter the owner's legitimate CD key, I simply get an error saying "This CD Key Is Invalid...." I finished the install without registering a CD key as it wouldn't accept the real OEM one with the Retail install....
Is there any way I can get it to accept his key...? :( As I said, the key IS 100% legal...
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Repair Install was successful....
HOWEVER....now I have a problem. Apparently the XP CD you linked me to is a Retail CD...as the machine in question is a Cicero, when I try to enter the owner's legitimate CD key, I simply get an error saying "This CD Key Is Invalid...." I finished the install without registering a CD key as it wouldn't accept the real OEM one with the Retail install....
Is there any way I can get it to accept his key...? :( As I said, the key IS 100% legal...
If you are trying to put the OEM key in not sure that is valid "key".....is there a Windows sticker on the machine that has the original key ?
See what shows in the registry by using the free version of JellyBean: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
If this does not work you may have to re-activate by phone.
Here is long thread but I'd trying activating over the phone with a Microsoft Rep....tell them you did a repair install and give them your old key....they should be able to help.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/osproductkeys/ss/change-windows-xp-product-key.htm
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Ok, managed to boot into safe mode and use a Run command to do the 30-day Activation trial, so now I can FINALLY boot into normal mode....there is an OEM key from the manufacturer on a sticker on the side of the case, that is the key I had tried to use, as I know it's legitimate. However, the ISO for WinXP Home SP3 you linked was apparently a Retail copy, so it wouldn't (during install) accept the OEM key from the side of the case....HOWEVER.....using Speccy, I checked the key that is currently supposedly entered into the system and it is a completely different key from the one on the side of the case :S
Tried to run the MSOOBE tool to see if Windows is already somehow reactivated with this other key and it did nothing whatsoever...
Google Search shows that an un-updated Internet Explorer version CAN cause this, so currently updating the installed IE version on the machine from IE6 to IE8....will see if MSOOBE will run after that...
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will see if MSOOBE will run after that...
Think you must have seen this ? http://www.wikihow.com/Activate-Windows-XP-Without-a-Genuine-Product-Key
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Nope, I was only trying to run MSOOBE as I know from past experience that is the Windows Activation program and before I used Safe Mode to do the 30-day activation timer, Windows was asking me to Activate before it would let me log on to either account on the machine.
Now that the 30-day timer LETS me log on, I want to run MSOOBE to finish actually registering with my legitimate key or to see if it is somehow still activated already...?
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Nope, I was only trying to run MSOOBE as I know from past experience that is the Windows Activation program and before I used Safe Mode to do the 30-day activation timer, Windows was asking me to Activate before it would let me log on to either account on the machine.
Now that the 30-day timer LETS me log on, I want to run MSOOBE to finish actually registering with my legitimate key or to see if it is somehow still activated already...?
Ok....let me know how it goes..........a lot of avenues here......last one being truly calling MS and giving them your code and they help activate. Glad the system is repaired and this last step it not a biggie to get fixed.
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Yeah, I know it's not a big step, just a P.I.T.A.....was editing my last message when you posted that one, but here's what I was typing...an outline of my thought processes re: MSOOBE, etc.
Nope, I was only trying to run MSOOBE as I know from past experience that is the Windows Activation program. I'll try to explain in detail:
1. Once I finally got the computer to boot, it was asking me to Activate before it would let me log on to either account on the machine.
2. I did a search and read online that using a command in Run would activate the 30-Day Activation time window, REMOVING the "You have to activate before you log in" option, which would let me at least boot normally to the desktop (I couldn't "Activate before logging in because, when I clicked "Yes", nothing happened)
3. Once booted to the desktop, I checked Speccy to see what the currently-entered Windows CD key is, it doesn't match the one on the side of the case, and I hadn't entered a key during the repair install as it was telling me the key on the side of the case was invalid as the repair install was done with a Retail disk and not the OEM disk.
4. I've read sometimes the "entered" CD key in Windows shows differently from the key on the side of the case for some OEM factory machines as the install AT the factory actually uses a different disk than the one provided to you, so I thought "Ok, I want to see if this is still Activated, or at least try to activate it with the key that is currently entered.
5. I tried running MSOOBE.exe as I know it's the "Windows Activation" program...nothing happened.
6. Did a Google search as to why - most common reason is an updated IE install, most often suggested solution was to update the IE install to IE8 (latest version of IE available for XP)
7. Currently updating IE8 as we speak (IE6 was installed), then going to see if I can run MSOOBE again for reasons mentioned above...
Now that the 30-day timer LETS me log on, I want to run MSOOBE to finish actually registering with my legitimate key or to see if it is somehow still activated already...?
Will let you know how it goes...thanks so much for the support considering this isn't even an issue you need to be helping me with, VERY kind of you! :)
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Once booted to the desktop, I checked Speccy to see what the currently-entered Windows CD key is, it doesn't match the one on the side of the case, and I hadn't entered a key during the repair install as it was telling me the key on the side of the case was invalid as the repair install was done with a Retail disk and not the OEM disk.
That was my screw-up.....I should have asked if you had the true CD key....not the BS OEM one that is useless.
If I had thought about it you could have used Speccy or JellyBean and gotten that first and used during the repair install.
My bad. :-\ .....but in my defense I'm not an expert.....just a forum poster. :)
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Also, while we wait for your final results.........here are some Forums to bookmark for future issues.
Happy to help but good to know these Forums.....a lot of them out there but these are the real good ones.
Has All: http://windowsforum.com/
http://www.vistax64.com/
http://www.sevenforums.com/
http://www.eightforums.com/
The Elder Geek is very good too: http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/index.php?act=idx
Has sub-forums on all O/S.
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No worries man! We all make mistakes...if push came to shove, I could've just reformatted completely anyway as I could easily get the data off with a Linux Live CD or my USB HDD adapter.
BUT.....MSOOBE.exe is now showing Windows as "Activated" :D :D :D
Thanks for all the help once again!