Recover XP using Linux CD

emmjay · 24. Nov 2011, 12:13 AM

I am getting BSODs on my XP/Pro system. I can not boot using any of the options. Some time ago I created a XP WINPE CD using Paragon and I have a full backup image on the C drive, but the archive file can not be found, so I can not restore.

I had heard somewhere that I can use a Linux CD to recover Windows, but I have no idea how to do that. I have Ubuntu 10.10 on a CD.

Sure could do with some suggestions.

Remah · 24. Nov 2011, 12:25 AM

If you've got a Windows XP Pro CD then you can try to repair the install using that.

4goTTen21 · 24. Nov 2011, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remah

If you've got a Windows XP Pro CD then you can try to repair the install using that.

Right. Is your first step. Also, you can try "fixboot" command, instal recovery console, etc. A good idea could be you point the failure error of bsod

Anupam · 24. Nov 2011, 07:51 AM

emmjay, I have moved the thread to this forum, because its more of a Windows problem rather than a Linux query.

You can use Linux CD, but mostly it is used to copy the files, and folders from one hard disk to another... when Windows cannot boot up. There are however some Linux discs which do contain other system tools like partitioning etc., but I don't think that's required here.

If you have an XP disc, that would be the proper way to go.

BSODs generally indicate that something is wrong with the system. So, my advice is to concentrate on solving that. When BSODs occur, they have a certain error number, which indicates what kind of problem it might be. These error messages are of these type :

0x00000001: APC_INDEX_MISMATCH

So, note down that error message, and we can help solve from there.

I hope you do have the XP disk with you.

emmjay · 24. Nov 2011, 03:57 PM

Like most users, my XP/Pro was preloaded, so I do not have an XP CD.

I have a WINPE CD which I created with Paragon. This allowed me access to the system. It found my backups on the HP external HDD but when I tried to recover the image it asked for the driver for the HDD. The drivers are on the HDD and not on a CD, so I could not honor the request. I had to abort this avenue of repair.

My next tactic was to use a W7 install CD. This allowed me to get into 'repair your system'. I opened the command prompt and ran CHKDSK /f /r as an administrator. The details came back as MBR error (makes sense as I am getting BSOD errors).

Me thinks I need to rewrite the MBR!!! Can anyone point me to a download for this (XP specific)? It would be even more helpful if it came with instructions (I can be very dangerous when it comes to repairing system problems, so a short leash is a good thing

)

4goTTen21 · 24. Nov 2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmjay

Like most users, my XP/Pro was preloaded, so I do not have an XP CD.

I have a WINPE CD which I created with Paragon. This allowed me access to the system. It found my backups on the HP external HDD but when I tried to recover the image it asked for the driver for the HDD. The drivers are on the HDD and not on a CD, so I could not honor the request. I had to abort this avenue of repair.

My next tactic was to use a W7 install CD. This allowed me to get into 'repair your system'. I opened the command prompt and ran CHKDSK /f /r as an administrator. The details came back as MBR error (makes sense as I am getting BSOD errors).

Me thinks I need to rewrite the MBR!!! Can anyone point me to a download for this (XP specific)? It would be even more helpful if it came with instructions (I can be very dangerous when it comes to repairing system problems, so a short leash is a good thing

)

If you have acces to another computer with a good bandwidth, try downloading. From there you can repair or install recovery console and use commands:

FIXMBR
FIXBOOT

and so on. Also try this : fdisk /mbr (Don't if default NTFS file system is being used)

I've found this, but not sure if it works, maybe you can just give a try and tell us:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...-Console.shtml

emmjay · 25. Nov 2011, 05:33 PM

Thank you for trying to help me on this.

My USB HDD is a storage only device (not bootable). I do not need to boot from a USB, I just want to access my backups from this device. I need a driver to make this work under Paragon and as this unit is plug and play no drivers are available for download from HP. I can see the device when I run Paragon restore but it does not recognize the archives files as backup files.

I need to do some more research.

4goTTen21 · 25. Nov 2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmjay

Thank you for trying to help me on this.

My USB HDD is a storage only device (not bootable). I do not need to boot from a USB, I just want to access my backups from this device. I need a driver to make this work under Paragon and as this unit is plug and play no drivers are available for download from HP. I can see the device when I run Paragon restore but it does not recognize the archives files as backup files.

I need to do some more research.

If your BIOS supports it, it can be booted. But what you want is a driver for a plug and play device. It's a little hard to find but, we can try. Can you point Hardware and Vendor ID ? Or FCC.

http://i39.tinypic.com/sdlcwo.png

Anupam · 25. Nov 2011, 06:22 PM

emmjay, can you tell the error message of the blue screen?

wdhpr · 26. Nov 2011, 03:45 AM

I've corrupted my MBR a few times during my early Linux days. As 4goTTen21 says you should be able to repair your MBR using the console disk which is what I have done. Later I came across Paragons rescue disk which boots to a nice easy to use GUI.

I'm a little confused about your USB HDD. It should be accessible otherwise it wouldn't be much good. I also don't understand why Paragon doesn't recognize your backup files they should be on your drive inside a folder labeled arc_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or arc_and a fifteen digit number inside that folder there should be a file with a .PBF ext. I use Paragon to backup my Linux Mint OS it works great and its saved my bacon in the past.

24. Nov 2011, 12:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
emmjay Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 226	Recover XP using Linux CD I am getting BSODs on my XP/Pro system. I can not boot using any of the options. Some time ago I created a XP WINPE CD using Paragon and I have a full backup image on the C drive, but the archive file can not be found, so I can not restore. I had heard somewhere that I can use a Linux CD to recover Windows, but I have no idea how to do that. I have Ubuntu 10.10 on a CD. Sure could do with some suggestions.

24. Nov 2011, 12:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Remah Editor Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 505	If you've got a Windows XP Pro CD then you can try to repair the install using that. __________________ Better to light a candle ... than to curse the darkness.

24. Nov 2011, 07:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	emmjay, I have moved the thread to this forum, because its more of a Windows problem rather than a Linux query. You can use Linux CD, but mostly it is used to copy the files, and folders from one hard disk to another... when Windows cannot boot up. There are however some Linux discs which do contain other system tools like partitioning etc., but I don't think that's required here. If you have an XP disc, that would be the proper way to go. BSODs generally indicate that something is wrong with the system. So, my advice is to concentrate on solving that. When BSODs occur, they have a certain error number, which indicates what kind of problem it might be. These error messages are of these type : 0x00000001: APC_INDEX_MISMATCH So, note down that error message, and we can help solve from there. I hope you do have the XP disk with you. __________________ Anupam

25. Nov 2011, 06:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	emmjay, can you tell the error message of the blue screen? __________________ Anupam

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

24. Nov 2011, 03:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
emmjay Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 226	Like most users, my XP/Pro was preloaded, so I do not have an XP CD. I have a WINPE CD which I created with Paragon. This allowed me access to the system. It found my backups on the HP external HDD but when I tried to recover the image it asked for the driver for the HDD. The drivers are on the HDD and not on a CD, so I could not honor the request. I had to abort this avenue of repair. My next tactic was to use a W7 install CD. This allowed me to get into 'repair your system'. I opened the command prompt and ran CHKDSK /f /r as an administrator. The details came back as MBR error (makes sense as I am getting BSOD errors). Me thinks I need to rewrite the MBR!!! Can anyone point me to a download for this (XP specific)? It would be even more helpful if it came with instructions (I can be very dangerous when it comes to repairing system problems, so a short leash is a good thing )

25. Nov 2011, 05:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
emmjay Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 226	Thank you for trying to help me on this. My USB HDD is a storage only device (not bootable). I do not need to boot from a USB, I just want to access my backups from this device. I need a driver to make this work under Paragon and as this unit is plug and play no drivers are available for download from HP. I can see the device when I run Paragon restore but it does not recognize the archives files as backup files. I need to do some more research.

26. Nov 2011, 03:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
wdhpr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The north Coast Posts: 1,117	I've corrupted my MBR a few times during my early Linux days. As 4goTTen21 says you should be able to repair your MBR using the console disk which is what I have done. Later I came across Paragons rescue disk which boots to a nice easy to use GUI. I'm a little confused about your USB HDD. It should be accessible otherwise it wouldn't be much good. I also don't understand why Paragon doesn't recognize your backup files they should be on your drive inside a folder labeled arc_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or arc_and a fifteen digit number inside that folder there should be a file with a .PBF ext. I use Paragon to backup my Linux Mint OS it works great and its saved my bacon in the past.