Reformatting!

Background:
After frustrating but minor problems with a temp file, I
foolishly deleted far more than I should have, including
temporary files that I now realise were probably
important.
Then Windows wouldn't start properly, even in safe mode.
(There's an invalid page fault in Shell32.dll, among other
things.) System restore won't work because it doesn't get
past loading up Windows. ScanDisk, run from DOS, kept
finding things wrong, and fixing them, but it still won't
let me reinstall Windows from the boot disk and CD-ROM
because it says there are still errors on the hard disk.
Two questions:
Are there any options apart from reformatting the hard
disk?
Will anything bad happen if I reformat the hard disk?
Thank you.
Tim

Shane
Thu Jul 15 12:05:01 CDT 2004


"Tim" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2d9b301c46a8a$3785e750$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> Background:
> After frustrating but minor problems with a temp file, I
> foolishly deleted far more than I should have, including
> temporary files that I now realise were probably
> important.
> Then Windows wouldn't start properly, even in safe mode.
> (There's an invalid page fault in Shell32.dll, among other
> things.) System restore won't work because it doesn't get

From the DOS boot, edit C:\Windows\System.ini. Change shell=explorer.exe to
shell=rstrui.exe (or shell=msconfig.exe from which SR may be run). Reboot
and SR will run (if it or the system is not too damaged).

> past loading up Windows. ScanDisk, run from DOS, kept
> finding things wrong, and fixing them, but it still won't
> let me reinstall Windows from the boot disk and CD-ROM
> because it says there are still errors on the hard disk.
> Two questions:
> Are there any options apart from reformatting the hard
> disk?

Setup has a few switches.

setup /is

will skip the hd scan.

But I'd recommend (first, anyway) running a boot disk containing the
diagnostic program from your hd manufacturer. Let it run all night if need
be.

> Will anything bad happen if I reformat the hard disk?

Since you'll be losing everything on it anyway by doing so, even if your hd
is on the way out you've got nothing to lose.

Shane

Noel
Thu Jul 15 15:16:37 CDT 2004

Shane
I just tried this on my production system, and was presented with a 'problem
loading rstrui.exe - reinstall Windows' error.
changing the line to
shell=c:\windows\system\restore\rstrui.exe
cured the error

You may want to consider using the full path rather than just the filename
--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Shane" <arthursixpence@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2lnrptFeu1lsU1@uni-berlin.de...
> From the DOS boot, edit C:\Windows\System.ini. Change shell=explorer.exe
to
> shell=rstrui.exe (or shell=msconfig.exe from which SR may be run). Reboot
> and SR will run (if it or the system is not too damaged).
>

Shane
Thu Jul 15 15:26:39 CDT 2004

Ta, Noel. Been a while since I ran that. On reflection I think I'd rather
suggest shell=msconfig.exe, as the button is right there but all the Startup
options are also handy. I suppose one can also use the file extraction
option.


Shane


"Noel Paton" <NoelDPspamless@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:%237aghiqaEHA.2844@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Shane
> I just tried this on my production system, and was presented with a
'problem
> loading rstrui.exe - reinstall Windows' error.
> changing the line to
> shell=c:\windows\system\restore\rstrui.exe
> cured the error
>
> You may want to consider using the full path rather than just the filename
> --
> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)
>
> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
> http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>
> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
>
> "Shane" <arthursixpence@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:2lnrptFeu1lsU1@uni-berlin.de...
> > From the DOS boot, edit C:\Windows\System.ini. Change shell=explorer.exe
> to
> > shell=rstrui.exe (or shell=msconfig.exe from which SR may be run).
Reboot
> > and SR will run (if it or the system is not too damaged).
> >
>
>