OMG im so freaking screwed

TheSovereign · Post by **TheSovereign** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:00 am

psst just break the password ahem .... ---> http://www.redlinechicago.com/utility

Busby · Post by **Busby** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:52 am

Breaking the password won't help because he still can't get Windows to boot properly. There is a way that you can do a system restore on the previous Windows installation. Hit me up on AIM for that.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:23 pm

If it's a failed SP2 install, it's not a REAL password issue. Failed SP2 installs often won't allow you to access the it via the recovery console. It asks you for an admin password even though there isn't one.

The repair install is really the only hope. Try it again, make sure you repair the CORRECT windows installation, and this time remove all your cards except the vid card in addition to unplugging all USB, printer and COM port peripherals. You might get lucky.

I stongly recommend you make a Ghost image of your boot paritition once you do get it fixed so that you don't have to go through this again though.

rndmtask · Post by **rndmtask** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:44 pm

Are these files you need encrypted? I don't see how if they aren't you can't access them. You could also try using something like knoppix to boot into linux real fast and mount the ntfs filesystem, it'll ignore the permissions and then burn your files to a cd. If they are encrypted good luck, you'll have to recover your original installation I know of no other way.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:59 pm

They don't have to be encrypted - in NTFS you need a password to access any files in a personal folder, even if accessing the drive from the recovery console or another operating system. That's what makes NTFS secure.

HOWEVER, in my experience when this admin password issue happens after a failed SP2 install, it does not prevent you from copying the files. It just prevents you from using logging into the recovery console as admin.

He should be able to connect that drive as a spare in another WinXP or Win2K computer, and copy the files from his documents folder. I just did one the other day and had no problem. Couldn't salvage the old install, but I copied all the data files.

pseizure2000 · Post by **pseizure2000** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 12:15 am

Well I've manage to boot up to the login screen however a new problem has arisin. This is all based on the thing that started it all.

The whole reason I tried to install SP2 was because I had installed some new hardware and Windows decided to ask me to reactivate in 3 days or be screwed. Well even though I have a 100% legit XP, for some freaking reason my "Activate Windows" program fails to launch. Someone suggested installing SP2 to perhaps revive the program. Bad idea.

Now this problem has come back and won't even let me login. It asks me to Activate Windows in order to login but the program to activate Windows is broken.

A great piece of crap you are Microsoft.

Any ideas?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 7:20 am

QUESTIONS:

- You've already done a repair install as mentioned above I assume? If not, do so. May fix the activation (a repair install also re-triggers activation).

- Assuming you've done a repair install, you can't bring up the activation window at all? What happens when you try to?

- Can you get into windows at all via safe mode, or does the activation deadline stop you?

rndmtask · Post by **rndmtask** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 9:12 pm

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
They don't have to be encrypted - in NTFS you need a password to access any files in a personal folder, even if accessing the drive from the recovery console or another operating system. That's what makes NTFS secure.

I just mounted my ntfs XP partition in linux to make sure I was right, I can read every file on the thing no problem. I think the fastest and easiest thing if you just want to recover files and start from scratch is to use Knoppix and burn the files to cd or copy them over the network. Problem with that is you need a good computer to burn Knoppix. I don't use windows much so I don't know of any other good way.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:11 pm

Do you have a password on your user account AND the Admin account on the XP box?

Not entirely sure - you MAY be able to read secure files in and NTFS partition from Linux - I'm no Linux user so I don't know (and the irony would be splendid) but somehow I think MS would make it a bit harder than that.

pseizure2000 · Post by **pseizure2000** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:43 pm

Actually I used an outside program to run Windows System Restore on the old installation partition.

I doubt that safe mode would circumvent the activation prompt.

Perhaps a repair install would work now? I wouldn't have to reinstall a bunch of programs right, just the patches, hardware drivers, and all the settings and stuff?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:15 am

Oh heck yes, if you haven't done a repair yet, do so. Should replace all the system files which should hopefully fix activation.

You won't lose any apps or data, but you need to install SPs and updates.

pseizure2000 · Post by **pseizure2000** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:57 pm

Arg....I can't believe it failed again. Same story. Ran the windows repair setup, and it reboots at the windows logo boot screen. Oy vey.

rndmtask · Post by **rndmtask** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:44 pm

Does safe mode work, what if you do the step by step boot, does it point to what exactly fails. Press F8 at boot to get the menu of choices.

Penguin, yes I have an admin password and a second account I can read everything, if I had encrypted the files I wouldn't be able to, and if you have encrypted files I think reinstalling windows over itself will delete your key to decrypte them, not sure about a repair install. The whole encryption point doesn't matter if your using XP home.

This is why you have to physically secure your servers, anyone who gets them can read the data easily. Unless its encrypted even then its do-able in certain situations.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:00 pm

Interesting rndmtask. Have to remember that. Might be useful.

pseizure2000 · Post by **pseizure2000** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:48 pm

None of the F8 boot choices work.

It fails about 2 seconds after the boot screen pops up. Might elements of the failed sp2 installation have caused this?