New XP image

[NJC]

I need to re-image my XP partition. I have a fairly recent backup image that I can retrieve, as well as all of the files copied to a separate drive last night.

I want to wipe out partition, and re-install. I am unclear as to how to reinstall my data though, as XP was suffering from "windows has encountered a serious error" when I made the image mentioned above. Therefore I'm leery to use.

Any suggestions or advice is welcome.

EDIT: Should mention I can't access my Win partition nor Repair.

 

[Rand]

have you checked for hardware failure?

do you have a less recent not failed image?

backing up a computer with errors is not the right way to image.

Might need to just do a fresh install with the xp media.


Sounds like you have a possible goofy Motherboard/cpu/memory/hdd/cable somewhere... esp considering its xp and that means the computer probably has some age to it.

 

[NJC]

Hardware works, as I am booted from Ubuntu Live CD and writing this.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: NJC
Hardware works, as I am booted from Ubuntu Live CD and writing this.


so what caused the windows errors back when you imaged it?

and what caused its current state of failure?

 

[NJC]

XP used to boot fine, but occasionally would give a "Windows has encountered a serious error" but then I could carry on as usual. Finally it wouldn't boot, with NTLDR file missing error. I tried to copy new files, run bootcfg /rebuild, chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr blah blah. I tried to re-install Win over the existing installation and after 5 times of errors, I gave up. So I'm wiping clean, but need to get my files back into the new installation.

 

[Brybo86]

They don't call it winblows for nothing

 

[Voltmaster]

Ubuntu live CD doesnt write to HDD! Data is moved between memory and CD. Could be a bad Hard drive or small defect in motherboard and its unable to communicate properly.

My gut feeling would be HDD.

I suspect this because your still using XP.... So there is a good chance your HDD is old.

 

[uc50ic4more]

I do not know in what format your current backup image is in; but you can usually "image" one partition to another in Linux by using the (extremely powerful and not-to-be-trifled-with) "dd" command. You can Google it for some examples on it's usage but I would suggest leaving that as a last resort.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
Ubuntu live CD doesnt write to HDD! Data is moved between memory and CD. Could be a bad Hard drive or small defect in motherboard and its unable to communicate properly.

My gut feeling would be HDD.

I suspect this because your still using XP.... So there is a good chance your HDD is old.




+1

This would be my thought as well.

 

[javacontour]

A live CD may be able to mount the hard disk. Maybe check it out to see if you can view the files on the hard disk????

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
A live CD may be able to mount the hard disk. Maybe check it out to see if you can view the files on the hard disk????


The Ubuntu live media ought to show the local HDD on the left side pane of the file manager. Simply clicking on that will "mount" the drive and enable the user to view whatever is possible to view.

The OP may also wish to use the application on the Ubuntu media called "Disks" on the live media which will enable him to perform several tests on the HDD.

 

[NJC]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
Originally Posted By: javacontour
A live CD may be able to mount the hard disk. Maybe check it out to see if you can view the files on the hard disk????


The Ubuntu live media ought to show the local HDD on the left side pane of the file manager. Simply clicking on that will "mount" the drive and enable the user to view whatever is possible to view.

Yes - there was no problem mounting the Win XP partition from Ubuntu file manager and copying to another drive.

Initially I tried to slipstream a CD with SP3, but it wouldn't accept the Win Product Key. So I had to use a slipstreamed SP2 XP (reluctantly). I got it installed last night, and have downloaded SP3, Security updates et al. I had forgot that XP doesn't install out of the box with network adapters - good thing I had my motherboard CD.

I used WDC Data Lifeguard to make the image, but it ended up being as easy to re-install XP and all of the "necessities" (Firefox, Tbird, Picasa, Skype, VLC and of course Irfanview

).

 

[NJC]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: Voltmaster

I suspect this because your still using XP.... So there is a good chance your HDD is old.



+1

This would be my thought as well.


I have 4 operating systems and a heap of partitions on 3 disks:

WDC 320GB - XP
WDC 640GB - Ubuntu, NTFS shared files, backup et al
WDC 1TB - Ubuntu, NTFS shared files et al

They all pass SMART tests, but both 320 and 640 drives have >20K hrs. My experience with WDC drives (limited to about 6 drives) is that they fail fairly quickly, or seem to last a long time.

 

[1 FMF]

what kind of computer? is it a dell?
do you have a windows xp re-installation cd ?

 

[Subdued]

XP does install out of the box with bnetwork drivers. Probably just not your drivers.