Need Urgent Help (Fix By: 11/5 5pmEST)

[DiabloDj1]

So here's the deal
I'm running windows XP pro sp2 (sp3? maybe, if it exists, I forget..)
I did a Windows Update (mistake #1). It was just a security update for IE6.
I reboot my computer, and it will not boot up
I get it past the loading windows screen, and the background comes up, and I just get an error about the a .DLL file

For each of the following: Winlogin.exe, services.exe, savedump.exe, lsass.exe a window pops up
"C:\Windows\system32\SHLWAPI.dll is not a valid Windows image."

I cannot find my XP disc
I cannot ctrl+alt+del

If I even figured out how to use Linux to get to my files, I dont have a floppy drive to do that. I got a cd drive.. and a USB drive..

I am in the process of downloading Windows 7 upgrade. That should work with my Windows XP still right? Am I gonna lose data?

In the very least, I need to access my data by 8pm tm. 5pm ideal, I have to go to a wake, then training, then I'm home for about 15 minutes around 8pm, then I have to go to work, which I need a .doc file on my comp for...

Thanks in advanced!


-Dave

[RicheemxX]

If all you need is a single file then a live cd of knoppix (or any other live cd) would be the best bet. There isn't much involved just boot from the CD grab the file you need and you're done. Since it s a doc and you have no floppy your best bet might be to email it to yourself.

edit: a secondary option would be to slave the drive to the pc you are using now and copy over the files you need.

As for a fix I'm afraid I have no suggestions there. If you can't boot to safe mode or don't have a disk to do a repair/recovery then you are very limited on options

[DiabloDj1]

Alright thanks for your help. I recall trying to do this in the past. Dozens of OS problems so hopefully Windows 7 will fix that part... Is it a relatively easy process?

Downloading Knoppix now, will burn to a cd and try it out tm morning!

[Steve R Jones]

Win 7 WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE. You Can NOT UPGRADE XP to WIN7....Win7 will completely wipe out your drive and all data and programs.

[DiabloDj1]

shittt really?... I just downloaded the student version of win 7 for $30. That one isn't an upgrade either?

[Steve R Jones]

Sorry....

Do you have a friend or someone that has a matching XP cd you can borrow?

[DiabloDj1]

For Windows 7, I downloaded the file and extracted the setup and it came up to an expandedSetup folder.
In the folder there is a setup windows installer file, bootmgr file, autorun, and folders: boot, efi, sources, support, and upgrade.
I'm using ImgBurn
Do I:
A) Create Image file from files/folders (I'm assuming it makes a .iso for me to burn)
B) Write files/folders to disc

Thanks!


Still working on Linux. It loads, and then gets to a blank black screen where it sits eternally. Probably a bad cd. Unfortunately, only cd I had that works... (this computer has a horrible dvd burner [Toshiba DVD-ROM sd-r5002])

[Steve R Jones]

Beats me...Read the instructions on the site where you git the download..

I'm guessing you took the drive out of the machine and copied all of you important file..Good for you cause that Win 7 install is going to kill what ever is on the drive

[RicheemxX]

What Steve is saying is there is no direct upgrade from XP to W7 so in order to install W7 you'll have to do a custom install which is essentially a fresh install of the OS so it won't save or copy any of your old files from XP.

If you can't get the linux disk to work then can you pull the drive and move it to another working PC to copy the files that way?

[DiabloDj1]

I guess I'll have to do that! thanks for all the help guys...
In case someone comes to this thread with the same question about burning Windows 7, what I'm doing is downloading the files, running the first setup file you download, then make an iso of the extendedSetup folder, and there ya go. I'm personally putting it on a usb drive, or u could use a DVD