Warning low disk space mystery

[Lottiemansion]

Hi & yes.

If you are unwilling to use the recovery console? Then I would suggest that the best way forward on this is to re-install XP on to the partition.

I would also suggest you wipe the current XP partition & install it as if it was "Spare space". OK?

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Hi

More than willing to try the recovery console. I'll try absolutely anything to avoid a re-install. I was just curious as to how I would do it when I can't get the XP disk to get past that blue screen error.

Thanks

 

[Lottiemansion]

OK,

You need to be able to get into the setup from the CD & be able to use a "Floppy disk" for the recovery console.

You say you can't! Therefore we have a no win sinario "Chicken & egg" here!

So, I think you are getting to the point of a fresh install of the XP system!

Did you "Slip stream" onto the Windows SP3 CD & do you still have it? If so, you just need to wipe the XP drive (Delete partition) & do the install onto that space, as all the drivers are still there on the CD?

 

[townsbg]

I suggest that you use a XP disk that has not been slip streamed. As I stated those can create bad disks.

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Hi

Yes I did a slip stream whatever that is but I can't remember what I did to get past that initial blue screen There was a problem etc. Isn't that likely to return even after I wipe the XP partition?

Can you refresh my memory on how to cure that problem.

Thanks

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

Look here & see if it is of any use to rebuild the boot section?


How to dual-boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first)

You will be able to skip a few sections!

 

[townsbg]

Hi

Yes I did a slip stream whatever that is but I can't remember what I did to get past that initial blue screen There was a problem etc. Isn't that likely to return even after I wipe the XP partition?

Can you refresh my memory on how to cure that problem.

Thanks

Do you have a disk that has not been slip streamed? In other words, a disk that you didn't use nlight to customize and create? As I've stated that program has been known to create bad disks with the possibility of creating bad installations.

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Hi again

Yes I have a non slip streamed XP installation disk bu that just gets the 0*0000007B blue screen as previously stated. The good news is that I found the CD that I obviously burnt last time which has the result of using NLite to slip stream the drivers.

I boot from this and hey presto get to the XP set up screen where I select repair start up etc. Only problem is that it then prompts me for admin password which I can't remember!!! I tried a few which were wrong and then gave up. I've googled this and realise that there are free progs which reset this for you but knowing my luck you have to get into XP to reset and it'll be chicken and egg again.

As said previously "unbelievable".

Thanks

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Hi

Does anyone know the best method to recover or delete the password without paying a fortune. I've disabled user access control in Vista but the XP disk still prompt me to type the administrator password when I select the XP partition to repair. This is infuriating, it was only a year ago but I have can't remember being asked to create a password let alone remember what it was. I've tried every conceivable option including defaults but no joy. Is it possible/probable that XP would have asked me to create an admin passsord when installing the dual boot from disk in these circumstances?

Appreciate your advice.

Simon

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

When the system was installed it would have given you the option to set a password, you have a choice & might not have set one?

There are standard methods for resetting the password available for a working system & as you have stated when it is not, but the bootable Cd's & floppy disks etc. type of activity will not be discussed, openly, on the forum.

The only recommendation you will get here, is to wipe & re-install! Sorry.

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Thanksyou.

I appreciate where you are coming from. My frustration just got the better of me.

Feel tantalisingly close to solving this nightmare to then be faced with yet another barrier.

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

Try using EasyBCD in the Vista system to first remove the cureent dual boot & then to re=set it back up.

That might work? Give it a go & message back. OK?

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Hi

I used my XP disk but rather than go straight into the Recovery Console by selecting R I chose install and then repair at a later stage. This requires XP key etc and proceeds installing devices etc until 23 minutes left and then hangs every time. If I then chose XP from the boot manager the system keeps trying to complete the earlier process, prompts you for CD and then hangs with 23 minutes to go!

Have also tried EasyBCD to repair and return to original boot configuration but no good. Am now resigned to clean install as every other attempt to retrieve XP has failed dismally. I also note that someone earlier in the thread was critical about NLite-associated with bad burns etc. While that may be the case I couldn't get my XP disk to install the first time without NLite! The disk I have is legit and includes SP3. However, it kept giving me the blue screen error as my XPS420 is designed for Vista. Quite happy to try an alternative to get the disk to run without NLite.

Thanks

 

[townsbg]

Is the XP disk straight from Microsoft or is it from another manufacturer? If it is from another manufacturer (other than dell) it can't be used on your computer. As for the system being designed for Vista, that shouldn't matter as long as there are XP drivers.

An alternative to installing it on your system would be to use a virtual machine using either vmware, microsoft virtual PC, or virtualbox. If you use Vmware first you'll have to download a trial of the workstation, use that to create the virtual machine, and then install vmware player after uninstalling the workstation.

 

[Simon Sudbury]

The disk is from Microsoft. I think I'll install with NLite again as I'm used to that. Just out of interest NLite asks you to load SP3, drivers components etc. Can I just ignore the SP3 bit as the disk comes with SP3?

Many thanks

 

[townsbg]

If you are trying to set up another disk then you'll have to reconfigure it. If your retail disk is bad then I wouldn't be too hopeful that a new slip streamed disk would help.

 

[Simon Sudbury]

I don't see how it could be bad when it installed fine and worked flawlessly for 12 months. Only having problems cos I naively increased XP partition and the rest is history..................

Thanks

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

Have deleted the dual boot & wiped the XP drive space & then tried doing a fresh install on the unformated disk space?

Please post back!

 

[Simon Sudbury]

Hi there.

Some progress in trying to get the XP repair facility to work. I tried the NLite start up disk again and it duly stuck at 23 minutes to go. This time I left it and checked some time later. It gave an error message about missing a file called nhelper or something so I just cancelled that and got to the XP desk top with another message saying that something called "Tray App Disk" was missing. It asked me to insert CD/floppy but as the Nlite was in the CD drive already I guess it was missing.

The gist is that I can now get to the XP desk top but seem to be missing some critical file. When I reboot and chose XP from boot manager it gets to the desktop and you get a Windows installer dialog box and then this request for Tray App disk. All my progs are there but I have no internet.

Is there anything I can do from this point to complete the repair rather than reinstall?

Many thanks

PS Am i right in thinking that the Tray Apps message relates to my HP all in one printer?

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

Look here for a solution to the nhelper.exe issue: -

nhelper problem - MSFN Forum