Need a Computer Expert

I know this isn't really on topic, but it's a technology question for computer experts.

My mom is (with no disrespect at all) a total dingbat when it comes to computers. She screwed up Windows XP so she installed another copy of Windows XP on her computer. Now she has two on one computer.

I am at a loss for words. The problem is that all my daughters baby pictures are on the other copy, and I can't get to them to burn them. So my issue is, does anyone on here know what I can do to get to the files?

When I boot up the first copy it tells me that "winlogon.exe has generated errors and will close" Then it completely reboots. I have tried using an emergency start-up disk, I have tried "last known good configuration" I have tried safe mode. I have tried everything.

NEED SOME HELP SMART PEOPLE!

When you do a restore it formats the hard drive so sorry to say it but bye bye pictures.

If the pictures are very important and you feel you need to recovery them then there are companies that do data recovery after a format has been performed.

There are also software programs that do this.

Do a google for data recovery.

[edit on 22-11-2004 by evecasino]

I doubt that it necessarily formats the hard drive. It is a possibiliy though. "Restore to last known configuration" has more to do with the set of drivers currently running on the system, and other such things, again, I believe there was no reformat.

Was there more than one partition on the disk?

lol reformat, drivers, partitians. You are speaking another language to me. I have no idea.

I don't know if this will work, but you could boot from the XP CD and run
repair.

Whenever I do a restore with XP it formats the drive and warns of all data that will be lost. Restores to factory default.

Slave the hard drive to another computer and pull the files from the hard drive, reformat reload windows, reload picture files,, sounds good

Not saying it would work, but some times if your are re-installing over top existing XP, it doesn't reformat, you could try to see if you have any system restore points....If not, sorry.

Originally posted by Sauron
Slave the hard drive to another computer and pull the files from the hard drive, reformat reload windows, reload picture files,, sounds good

OK, could you pretend that you are talking to a 5 year old? LOl seriously I am stupid when it comes to this stuff. So the simpler you make it the better I will be able to understand it.

Originally posted by Sauron
Slave the hard drive to another computer and pull the files from the hard drive, reformat reload windows, reload picture files,, sounds good

He said mom already reinstalled XP. It doesn't copy over whats there. It formats the drive then reinstalls.

But I would do as suggested and slave the drive just to be sure maybe she did'nt complete it and just wiped out the master boot record.

OK, could you pretend that you are talking to a 5 year old? LOl seriously I am stupid when it comes to this stuff. So the simpler you make it the better I will be able to understand it.

Go brush your teeth and get ready for bed. It's already 8:50 PM

[edit on 22-11-2004 by evecasino]

Originally posted by evecasino

OK, could you pretend that you are talking to a 5 year old? LOl seriously I am stupid when it comes to this stuff. So the simpler you make it the better I will be able to understand it.

Go brush your teeth and get ready for bed. It's already 8:50 PM

[edit on 22-11-2004 by evecasino]

LOL eve thank you so much for that, I seriously need that after this hair pulling frustration I am getting with this stupid machine.

Wait a sec. Do you have XP Installed Twice or Not??? Did the second install replace the first one???

In either case, you can get your data back. Most likely anyway. There are programs that will physically scan your drive and recover files even after losing partitions, formating, or whatever. I've used them and have recoved files that were from both NTFS & FAT, from 2 different installs on the same physical drive.

Try this.

Place the restore CD in the CD tray. Then restart the computer.

It will ask if you want to start from hard drive or from CD select hard drive and see what happens.

If it starts XP then go to MY COMPTER on the desktop and see if you can find the files you are looking for.

Not saying it would work, but some times if your are re-installing over top existing XP, it doesn't reformat

Nope it won't reformat cause the partition has already been formatted.

Here read this if XP starts.

support.microsoft.com...

And this if it does'nt start

support.microsoft.com...

I don't think mom formated if you said you tried to start in safe mode. It seems the registry is coo-coo.

[edit on 22-11-2004 by evecasino]

Originally posted by mOjOm
Wait a sec. Do you have XP Installed Twice or Not??? Did the second install replace the first one???

In either case, you can get your data back. Most likely anyway. There are programs that will physically scan your drive and recover files even after losing partitions, formating, or whatever. I've used them and have recoved files that were from both NTFS & FAT, from 2 different installs on the same physical drive.

YES! LOL She has two Windows XP copies on her system. I have no idea how she did it, but she did. The second install did not copy over the first one, there are just two now.

What are these programs you are talking about.... names I need names!!!

How do you know there are two?

Can you get XP started where you can see the directories. Is there a Windows and a Windows2 directory?

Try reading the links above and when you get to the command prompt type in %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

[edit on 22-11-2004 by evecasino]

Ok when I boot the computer it takes me to a screen with 2 options

Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional

The first one takes me to a copy that actually works,

The second one starts to load but then it stops and gives me "winlogon.exe has generated errors and will close, a error log has been recorded"

can't you boot to a DOS prompt then go through the DIR's and see if the picture files are still on the drive? Rather then assume they are and buy things you don't need to or slave the drive unnecessarily?