repair file to boot from original XP installation CD

[Woodwood]

On trying to start my old Compaq Presario S5160uk, it past POST but won't boot into Windows because it says something like

"system32/DRIVERS/pci.sys  is corrupted or absent.  You may try to repair this file from your original Win XP Installation CD"

Having been purchased with HP's own pre-installed WinXP, of course I do not have an 'original Win XP Installation CD '

What do I do ?

Further information:

I have earler back-ups of this file (I think); can I just replace it ? or doesthe file evolve over time ?

I do not want to use the recovery procedure because that would result in the loss of programs (software) which are no longer available, and the need and time involved in moving my data  backwards and forwards.

Woodwood

23.January.2017

Compaq Presario S5160uk - Celeron 2.7GHz - 2GB RAM - Nvidia Graphics card GS7800 IIRC  Windows XP Home (32 bit)

[TheOldMan]

The nice thing about WinXP is that you can do what is called a repair install that leaves all the application software in place and fixes the problems.  In order to do that, you need an install disk for WinXP of the version you already have installed.

I used to have one of those for HP/Compaq, but itis  probably is too old for me to find now.   If you can use another PC, make a Linux Live CD and boot the problem PC to that, then look at the hard drive for the i386 folder, or use a backup of the harddrive, as you noted.  The worst case is you will need to do the repair install with a real WinXP disk or just give up.

[Woodwood]

Thanks for your answer, Old Man.

I want to clarify a number of details in your answer (make the implicit for someone who knows what thay are talking about explicit for someone who doesn't)

"The version WinXP you have" - meaning Home 32 bit SP3 etc ?  My system was originally supplied with SP1 but I've installed SP2 over that and SP3 over that.  So an original installation disk may not be appropriate ?  Anyway, as I have said, I do not have an original installation disk for that computer.  I do have an installation disk from a copy I purchased relatively recently now I think of it....do the serial numbers have to match ?

I can make Linux live CD (I have Linux bootable USB Flash drive already but I do not think that model will boot from USB...I would like to be corrected)

I can boot into XP (I think) from a back up drive put in as the slave disk, or from CD with stripped down ver. of XP (XP-P I think it's called) or Linux CD  then I don't understand what you're getting at in what you say next.  How do "repair" the seemingly damaged file from the position of booting up and looking at the i386 folder ?  Is enough not to "repair" the file, but simply replace it with the one having the same name from the back-up disk (copy over) ?

Depends on whether my optical drives are still working

Woodwood

23.January.2017

[TheOldMan]

Ok, I am sorry if the answer was unclear.  The version you have does mean if there is WinXP with SP3 installed ,the install media must also be that BUT there are more than just WinXP there are different versions in the what I will call the Home version.  They did not call it that but they had OEM version,  retail version,  WinXP Pro, Etc.  It was more difficult to find what you had.  The install media would tell you if was the wrong version and not install with the key you might have.  If you are looking to replace that pesky file "system32/DRIVERS/pci.sys" it might work from either the disk you have or a backup.

The older motherboards would not boot from USB, and I suspect that one to be old enough, so a Linux Live CD will be needed.  You can try to make the repair by using " a back up drive put in as the slave disk, or from CD with stripped down ver. of XP (XP-P I think it's called) " whatever it takes, at this point.  On many full install WinXP, if the folders are inspected, there will be a i386 folder.  If you look in there, it might contain that file - system32/DRIVERS/pci.sys.  Of course it will just be pci.sys  because it will be in a different folder.  If the PC will boot in any of those mentioned OS's and you can look around for that file, and then  replace the supposedly corrupt file, then give it a try.  From  what I read, that might not fix the problem, however.

There was also a way to fix things by using the Repair or Recovery console, I do not remeber which it was.  Most OEM installs did no have that protion installed, so you might not have it.

If I remember correctly, there was a way to make an install disk from the i386 folder, if the install you have has that folder.  It has been so long ago, I do not have the procedure.  You might find it if you look with Google or try MyDigitalLife forums.

I hope that is somewhat clear.  Please ask for more info.  I am here.

[Woodwood]

Thank you again, Old Man.  I understand the position you are in - it was so  long ago that you cannot remember all the details.  I appreciate your trying to help.

Your latest post in this thread is indeed helpful.

I think that a WinXP Home SP3 original install disk is a rare thing !

I believe I have on my machine an OEM version of XP, as with all pre-installed systems.

At least an attempt to repair with the wrong version of the OS will be impossible, because the machine will flag it.

My OS and back ups do have the i386 folder, so I shall try to look up making some kind of CD from that.

I have not tried the recovery, I assumed that that would only return the HD to the state it was in when it was shipped from the factory, so I have never explored that.  I was under the impression that HP did not offer a recovery "console", only a procedure for returning the system to factory-shipped state.

Thanks again.

I will post some results in a while when I have assembled (i.e., found) some of the necessary stuff.

Woodwood

24.January.2017

[TheOldMan]

The Recovery console I referred to was a WinXP thing.  Most OEM's did not include that.  I was able to add it to the WinXP I had by using the approriate steps.  But I do not remember how to do it.  The procedure might still be availble if searched, but it required a real WinXP install disk to enable the Recovery console.  Found this:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-install-the-windows-xp-recovery-console/

[Woodwood]

I'll check that: Bleeping computer is usually very helpful

meanwhile, I've booted up the computer into 'Mini XP'

the directory c:\stem32 doesn't exist (the message I get when it failed to boot implied tat was where the offending file was located.

However the directory C:\i386\system32 does exist 🙂  but the directory C:\I386\system32\DRIVERS is absent ...unless it is a hidden file 😞  If that directory is missing it's no wonder the PC can't find it when it tries to boot.

I found this link

http://www.tomjepson.co.uk/fix-missingcorrupt-system-file-in-windows-xp-without-recovery-cd/

but it seems to cover another file/set of files which might be missing (the system file ?) -  someone else might find it useful though.

I've yet to locate my back ups or my copy of XP on CD

Woodwood

24.January.2017

[Woodwood]

The link to the bleeping computer page directs you to an article which gives instructions telling you how to install the WinXP recovery console.  Unfortunately, it requires you have your XP installation disk...so back to square one 🙂

Woodwood

24.January.2017

[TheOldMan]

Yes, that is the problem.  Does that PC have a Recovery Partition?

I found the article about creating an install disk from the OEM install

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

See if you can make it from the i386 folder and do a repair install with the new disk.  Run the routine from one of the backups if  you can.

PS: you will need to slipstrean SP3 into the disk, too.

[Woodwood]

Yes ! my systems do have a recovery partition - never used it so could be damaged ?  hope not.

 The article you linked to seems just job, althogh it'd too long to remember as I go along.  I'll have to use my laptop to fidplay the article.

It tells you how to 'slipsteam' SP1 and SP2 but doesn't get to SP3 !

Also it assumes that the computer you're creating the CD for is working !!

If I study the article more carefully maybe I can see my way through.

Thank you !

Woodwoood

24.January.2017