Help PC was working ok untill i updted Drivers for the graphics , machine crashed and i now have message when i Boot up saying win 32 driver mising , load restore disc and start Repair , Only prob is i can not even get the restore disc to start up . Is there any way i can get back to the machine running my xp start page or is it a complete rebuild . Thanks

sounds like you need a proper XP disk, then do a repair using the recovery console.

The computer will boot to a command prompt, then type: chkdsk and after about 10 mins, type exit and the computer should restart fine.

Dont use the recovery disk that come with your computer, typically these will destroy the computer and all the files on it and leave it like it came from the shop.

Have you tried booting into Safe mode and rolling back the graphics drivers?

Can you give me an idea how i do this i nto safe mode , i do not have an XP Disc , only the original restore type . dont want to reset anything and make it worse , the only message i kep getting is WIN32 MISSING , RELOAD RESTORE DISC , BUT THAT DOES NOT EVEN WORK . hELP

when the system is booting as soon as the bios is done start hitting F8 and instead of the windows logo and a progress bar you should get a menu. from this select either VGA mode or safe mode.

Safe mode will boot up with a very basic generic graphics card which should (depending on how deep the problem is) allow you to get into device manager to roll back the driver you installed.

In theory you won't need any CD's todo this.

You'll need a full XP disk if the safemode trick wont work.

If you use an OEM disk, you'll loose everything!

OR, you could try Linux Knopix (sp?) and using another machine, copy a good version of the effected win32 file.

You'll need a full XP disk if the safemode trick wont work.

If you use an OEM disk, you'll loose everything!

OR, you could try Linux Knopix (sp?) and using another machine, copy a good version of the effected win32 file.

Linux won't work.

The NTFS is read only as it's a closed specification and so writing to it is extremely risky.

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Originally Posted by gadgetman

You'll need a full XP disk if the safemode trick wont work.

If you use an OEM disk, you'll loose everything!

OR, you could try Linux Knopix (sp?) and using another machine, copy a good version of the effected win32 file.

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From my old NT4 days (havent used it since) you could find a copy of NTFSDOS and copy a working copy of the file onto your PC or you can get some recovery CD's (i'll have a think of the name of the last one I used) which you can boot from to try and recover files in a similar way to NTFSDOS

have you tried restoring system back to before you updated the drivers worth a try

If I can find enough floppies (and indeed my copy of Win98), I could make you a set of boot disks. In fact, you could probably download them...???

Linux won't work.

The NTFS is read only as it's a closed specification and so writing to it is extremely risky.

Everyone on the .net forums does it with borked drivers and missing/corrupted files.

:confused:

Thanks for the input from all , as always a site that is full of helpfull individuals , hacve tried the Safe boot , but i with lmited knowhow am getting lost , also it appears the DVD driver is not starting up , so could not even reload the restore disc if i have to . Have a person with more knowledge , who i can contact in a week back from hols , so i am going to let it sit there untill more brains can get there hands on the kit , save all the data from Hard Drive and then try some sort of fix . Leason learnt should of backed up HD months ago , and leave iffy downloads to those who know what they are doing, but again Thanks for all the Input . This site is worth more than just £12 freedom .

If you can get in on safe mode, the use system restore to last good position - which should be before the updates

Thanks , can get to menu and ask for Safe Mode , but from then on it just goes back to message win 32 missing / corrupted , should i switv off at Safe Mode and then switch it back on , or should safe mode take me direct to the xp screen .

Safe mode should take you straight into XP (albeit weird looking) without rebooting. If you are still getting the error, then you will need to do a repair install of XP over the top of the current install (will not lose anything). BUT do not use the pc recovery media or software to do this as it WILL wipe the whole machine. You need an XP cd with the same version on it as you have (eg. XP Hone).

1) boot from cd.

2) press enter (do not press R here) as if you are going to install xp,

3) the setup program will find your existing install and ask if you want to repair it. Press R.

4) the setup program will then delete a load of files (dont worry) and will go through the setup process, enter info as required including the product key.

5) after about 1hr the pc should be back to working again.

safe mode will take you in to the menu,on the menu press the start button to show your programs on all programs it brings up another list of programs in that list go to accessories then goto to system tools then goto system restore then follow instructions from there and restore to last known good configuration