joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Please read this thread:

http://www.pchelpforum.com/xf/thread...orrupt.161280/

Any help will be most appreciated.

daviee

External dvd drive with XP recovery disc ?

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.

The BIOS allows me to do that, as it has "USB CD-ROM" in the boot sequence (can be moved to the top of the list).

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

It also has "USB HDD" in that list. Do you reckon that means it could boot from a powered external hard drive (rather than a USB dongle)?

If so, would it have to be formatted as FAT32 or NTFS?

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

When you boot to the screen where you can choose 'safe mode', 'normal boot', etc, do you see 'recovery console' listed?

For what it's worth, USB HDD on every PC or laptop I've ever come across means boot from any suitably prepared USB block-device (in other words, bootable USB key or traditional hard-disk will both work fine).

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

No mark. Only 5 options:

* safe mode
* safe mode with networking
* safe mode with command prompt

* boot with last known good settings that worked

* boot normally

No "recovery console" listed.

None of the above gets past the front black screen, and I get that warning about the vgaoem.fon file.


- What do mean by "bootable USB key"?

- So an external HDD with the XP HE boot - and/or indeed a repair and recovery - CD copied to it, will work?

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

A bootable USB key is basically a USB key that's had an operating system copied to or installed on it in such a way that it can boot up a PC. Specific files have to be written on the key in a specific way for that to be possible, they can't just be copied any-old-how.

For your Netbook to be able to boot from an external HDD with the files from your XP or recovery CD as it would do from that CD if it was actually loaded in a CD/DVD drive, the files would need to be placed on that HDD in that specific way, which generally involves doing something like this:
1. 'rip' the XP/recovery CD to an iso file, then
2. use a program such as unetbootin to create a bootable USB key/hdd from the iso

Not as hard in practise as it actually sounds, but probably a bit daunting if you've never done anything like it before. Also, while the above works perfectly with all manner of Linux and other non-Windows installation CDs, I'm not 100% certain it would do with Windows XP (although it wouldn't break anything if you tried it and it didn't). Lastly, you'll of course need a working PC with CD-drive to actually do any of this.

The easy option then would probably be the USB CD-drive route, but if you're patient and methodical, the bootable USB key/HDD route does have one major advantage (apart from the saved outlay of the CD-drive), which is that it'll run a LOT quicker and more reliably than from CD, once you've got the key/HDD prepared.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

- Yeah, not done that, so wouldn't know how to.

- So, as per your last paragraph; are you saying that I could copy an XP HE boot CD's contents to an external USB-connected HDD (like a Maxtor Basics, Freecom, etc. - I have access to these brands) and it'd work (without no 'special preparation')?

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

Nope, I'm saying the exact opposite. The only way you'll be able to boot off that CD is if you load it in an actual CD drive, or use it to prepare a special bootable USB key or HDD.

ScoobyNoob79

Ok, a .fon file is simply a Windows font file, so you have a font missing, pretty stupid to crash a system but hey, that's Windows!

When it says it's missing from the system what it really means is it is still on the system just not in c:\windows\fonts

To fix you'll need an XP Install disc and a USB CD drive.

To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP CD.

Insert the Windows XP CD into the USB CD drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD drive if you are prompted.

When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.

Now you should be at a command prompt saying C:\WINDOWS.

Now you want to type: copy system32\dllcache\vgaoem.fon c:\windows\fonts and then hit enter, if it asks to overwrite/replace confirm.

It should then say something like "one file(s) was copied".

Now type exit to restart the system, you can now remove the USB CD drive and should be good to go.

Scott

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Sorry Mark.

Okay Scott, I get the procedure. Thanks.

So I need to source an external USB-connectable CD drive, just to make life easier...

ScoobyNoob79

Yeah mate, always come in handy. Think I got mine from ASDA for about £20, does the job.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Totes. Will mosey on over tonight.

Thanks everyone for all your invaluable help.


I'll update this thread when I've attempted the recovery - hopefully, with good news.