My problem first started during a reboot after a Windows automatic update. "Isapnp.sys missing or corrupt." I didn't have a Windows XP cd, so had to borrow one...XP SP2 CD from a Dell. Upon running the Recovery Console, found that I couldn't get past Administrator password (which i never set up). I made a boot disk with a program that supposedly let me change/blank the password...to no avail. Since I can't get into Recovery Console I created a Bart PE cd which I was finally able to copy my driver from. That fixed the "Isapnp.sys" problem.

But now I'm stuck in a boot loop. No luck booting using "Last Known Good Configuration" or Safe Mode. I also reset the defaults in BIOS, unplugged all the USB devices, and even cleared the CMOS/took out the mobo battery - no luck. Another issue...each time I reboot I have to reinstall the SATA RAID driver via floppy because the computer doesn't recognize the hard drive. Doesn't seem to be a hardware issue because all my data is intact and I can see C: through the command prompt once the driver is reinstalled.

So a few questions:
1) The password issue is really irking me because I feel like if I can just get into the Recovery Console I can fix this boot problem. Anyone know why I can't blank the password? Could it be my XP cd version not matching my current OS version? Does the fact I have to keep reinstalling the SATA driver cause a problem somehow? http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308402 talks about a problem with this from OEM versions that should've been fixed with SP1...but the proposed fix is WAY too much work, and IF it worked would only get me into the Recovery Console which I'm not even positive would fix anything.

2) What is the best alternative option to save my data if I cannot access the Recovery Console?
- Do a repair install of XP? (I've heard it should save most of your data but somehow I don't trust that to happen)
- Or get a USB external hard drive enclosure and move the data on my hard drive to another computer, then move it back and do a complete XP reinstallation? I'm leery of moving hardware around, but how easy would this option be? Do most computers readily recognize external USB hdd's and allow me to transfer files easily (i.e. drag-and-drop)?

I'm just at my wits end and don't want to waste anymore time "fixing" this problem if it can't be fixed. Any help is appreciated.

1/10/2009 10:53:22 AM

I'm sure you've tried this, but I'll ask anyway. Did you try a blank Admin password? Many moons ago Dell shipped their boxes with XP preinstalled, you went through the initial wizards, but you were never prompted to provide an admin password. They just "conveniently" left it blank for you. Nice secuirty feature for the unaware.

1/10/2009 11:03:59 AM

yeah i tried it blank. i forgot to mention that my computer was custom-built, I am just using an XP disk distributed for a Dell. i also ran that one boot program that let me get into the computer and blank the password too...that didn't work either.

1/10/2009 11:10:22 AM

What utilities have you tried using to reset the password? I've had 100% success rate with Passware's Winkey.

On the F8 boot menu is there an option to disable automatic restart upon error? If you're bluscreening, it will halt and let you see what the hex code is.

I would probably just install windows to C:\WINXP or something similar. That way all of your old data remains intact and you can grab what you need then format everything when you're done. There's also a Live version of Windows XP floating around that gives you quite a bit of control once booted.

1/10/2009 11:15:49 AM

It's not a bluescreen...it gets through the BIOS and then as soon as the Windows XP screen appears just automatically restarts. When I try to boot into Safe Mode it hangs for a few seconds after the Mup.sys driver (from what I've read this driver doesn't cause the problem, but what is trying to load after it) and then restarts. And again, if I try to boot from cd, I have to reinstall the SATA driver every from floppy because it doesn't recognize the hard drive.

1/10/2009 3:38:51 PM

http://www.apple.com

1/11/2009 2:25:57 PM

ncsu, Same thing happened to me about 3 months back. I ended up doing the install option from windows xp cd that allows you to keep all of your settings in most of your programs. I didn't have to reinstall anything, and now I have a fairly clean copy installed.

1/11/2009 3:06:05 PM

^is that the "repair" installation? did you lose any data on your C:? and did you need a password or a product key or something to be able to do it?

[Edited on January 11, 2009 at 3:36 PM. Reason : ]

1/11/2009 3:35:35 PM

Like I said before, why don't you go through with the install but when it tells you there is already an install in C:\WINDOWS choose the option that lets you install to a different directory. Use C:\WINXP

install
boot
get data
profit

1/11/2009 3:47:38 PM

^so basically that would allow you boot from Windows installed on another directory...and doesn't overwrite any data on your C:? and this would not be the "repair" installation, but a complete reinstall?

also, does a basic hard drive have enough room for two complete instances of Windows? i am not positive how much space is on mine...it was a decent one back in 02-03...

1/11/2009 3:56:15 PM

windows xp install is like 3-4GB

yes, what you said is correct.

1/11/2009 3:57:42 PM

cool, thanks

1/11/2009 4:02:05 PM