Bootsect.dat file is corrupted, NTLDR is missing/compressed on x86 pc with WinXP Home Edition Sp3 and Ie8

First, it is okay to check this, what it means is that if for some reason you had to uninstall an update, the uninstallers would be gone and you would have to uninstall manually.

Second, sometimes if you have revo uninstall the registry items, it MIGHT get a little carried away, and may delete something important, when you do this always be sure of what you are deleting, you can check each line thru your search engine if you are not sure what that line pertains to.

Second A. ,  what is the .dll that is missing??

Second B. , have you right clicked on the file, security tab, and given yourself permission to have all rights to this file??

Third: the recovery console can do quite a bit here is a link on the recovery console commands, and also setting up the SET command to use the recovery console to it's fullest:

Jose on SET commands

Sure you can copy files to a USB drive from the Recovery Console using the SET command, but you have to set your system up beforehand while it is still functional to enable the SET command in the RC.

Also, you can't navigate to personal folders like My Documents from RC - unless you set your system up to allow the SET command in advance too, then you can navigate all over the place.

None of this will help the OP (use Hiren's or the Tech-Geek method), so it is just FYE!

If you have your system configured to allow the SET command, then from the RC, you would then issue these commands:

set AllowRemovableMedia = TRUE

set allowallpaths = TRUE

If you do not have the security policy set up to allow the SET command you will see a message like this:

The SET command is currently disabled. The SET command is only an option Recovery Console command that can only be enabled by using the the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in...

Here  are some links that tell you more about these variables and the SET command:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/235364

http://winhlp.com/node/78

There are two RC security options I like to always enable through a normal boot by adjusting the registry (default is DISabled):

From the security policy (or registry), you can also tell XP not to require a password for the RC.  This is handy for when people can't get past that part when entering RC - you can make the registry adjustment using something like Hiren's, then they won't get asked for a password.

Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon  (don't prompt me for a password):                 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312149

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/tp/recovery_console_commands.02.htm

recovery console commands.

Is the issue that you are trying to fix with the recovery console the same Family Tree problem??

Fourth, that is a normal message, and if NTLDR was missing you would not be able to boot into Windows. AND you will only get that message if you have the recovery console installed as a boot option.

Fifth, do you have this installed = Winternals Administrator's Pak 4.2

there is a microsoft knowledge base on the Install Shield getting corrupted:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935081

also this one may help also, troubleshooting the InstallShield

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888019

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http://consumerdocs.installshield.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=Q108322&sliceId=1

the above link has info and instructions on determining which version of InstallShield is needed to run this program and how to get the one necessary.

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This is a lot of info, take your time and read carefully, if you have questions, I will help you to understand. :)

Hi Elizabeth23,

Obviously the above stuff will take a while to get through, but I'll keep apraising you of my progress and any new questions that may crop up.  In that vein, I've got a few for you to chew on.

The error message that pops up whenever I try to install either the downloaded Family Tree Maker 2005 SE (Starter Edition) or the 'regular' Family Tree Maker 2005 version (from CD) is the following:

"An installation support file 'C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temp{B136E4A4-7660-4f15-9752-EF8E6BA7866D}\_IsUser.dll' could not be installed.  Access is denied".

You said: Second B. , have you right clicked on the file, security tab, and given yourself permission to have all rights to this file??

How do you do that, exactly?  I right clicked on the {B136E4A4-7660-4f15-9752-EF8E6BA7866D} folder and noticed that it was set for Read-only.  There was no security tab to select for setting permissions.  Then I right clicked the _IsUser.dll file in the folder, but there was not a security tab to select there either.

You said:  Is the issue that you are trying to fix with the recovery console the same Family Tree problem??

Well, yes, if it is applicable to use the recovery console for that.  I'll take (or try) any fix possible. 

Just note that the Family Tree problem is only one of many other weird problems I've been having.

And, interestingly, one of the other problems I have is with using this editor for my replies.  Sometimes the editor double prints entire sentences after I hit the period key.  Then I have to go back and delete the extra wording.  Really annoying.  And it just happened, again.  Oh well.

You said: Fifth, do you have this installed = Winternals Administrator's Pak 4.2

I doubt it, since I do not recognize the name, but I'll double check and download it if I don't have it.

[Edit] I don't have it and a search for it found no downloadable sites.  Do you have a link for it?

I do have "Hirens BootCD 15.2" (recommended by a website) downloaded to a folder on my desktop, but not yet installed onto a CD.  I have glanced at the contents, which is a whole bunch, but have not had time to study what's on it.  Perhaps you could instruct me on some of it's goodies for a start.

You also had asked:  are you fully patched and updated at Microsoft updates??

Yes, I am up to date with patches and updates for Windows, Java and Adobe.  I am set for automatic updates but still check for Internet Explorer 8 security updates which sometimes don't automatically load.

One last thing, just what the heck is Jose talking about in the statement from above: 

"None of this will help the OP (use Hiren's or theTech-Geek method), so it is just FYE!"?? I'm not sure what the tech jargon means.  Thanks.

OK, now I'm going back to try some of the things that you have suggested here and on your previous posts.  There is a lot to do and I really appreciate your assistance.

And like I had said previously, once I get WinXP working decently again, I wanted to consider the possibility of multibooting my harddrive with Windows 7 (not interested in Win 8) which I will still have to find and purchase via Amazon or eBay.  Which 'type' of Win 7 should I be looking for, anyway? 

Full retail??  I would be moving the Win 7 that I buy now to a new computer as a multiboot with another preinstalled windows version in the future.

Thanks

Vernon

http://ftm.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5323/kw/manually%20uninstall%202005/session/L3RpbWUvMTM5MzYyMzMxMy9zaWQvV3luNTI1T2w%3D

saw your other question here.  one way to search the registry, which I find easier, is to click on the EDIT button, choose find, then type in FamilyTreeMaker, (just like that, no spaces, as regedit uses capital letters to indicate spaces.), then click find next, delete any thing that comes up with that.

each time something is found, and you delete, then go to edit button and choose find next and it will keep searching until it prompts you that regedit can find no other listing.

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http://gen.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2486

step by step troubleshooting for FTM.

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You said: Second B. , have you right clicked on the file, security tab, and given yourself permission to have all rights to this file??

do you have xp home or xp pro??

if home security tab will only show in safe mode

if pro, to see security tab, go to Folder Options (in the control panel), view tab, scroll down to "Use simple file sharing" and insure that there is NO checkmark in this box, , then click apply, then ok, and reboot pc.

Then, you will click on the security tab and add your user name to the permissions, and click all the boxes for full control, then click apply, and first, uncheck the read only box and say yes to all folders.

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recovery console may not be any help for this problem.

I am not having that problem on this website, are you sure that your pc is clean??

you might want to go here for malware removal, as even if cleaned some parts may be left over

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/forum/37-virus-spyware-malware-removal/

be aware that it may take a couple of days for someone to help you, and be sure to read the pinned articles, and if you do this then I would wait to further troubleshoot your problem as it is not too good to be doing two different instructions at the same time. :)

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Winternals Administrator's Pak 4.2

do not download unless this is something you want and need, it was just a check to see if this was the cause.

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"None of this will help the OP (use Hiren's or theTech-Geek method), so it is just FYE!"?

My mistake I should have edited that out. It was in reference to something else in a different thread and has no bearing, other that the fact that SET must be activated before the recovery console can be used to copy to and from removable media.

Hiren's has lots of tools on their cd, but mostly you will just need mini xp, however there are some tools that are helpful in checking drives and other stuff on hiren's home page, you can see all the tools listed and what they do.

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

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I would get the professional version of win7, just remember that if you dual boot, xp has to be installed first, there are several sites that explain this, just google how to dual boot xp and win7.

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will check in tomorrow, :)

Hi, Elizabeth23,

(1)  In regards to the problem of installing or reinstalling Family Tree Maker 2005 or 2005 SE version, I logged on in Safe Mode, found the .dll file mentioned in the error message that displays and changed the security settings for ALL user profiles on my pc to Full access for each one if it wasn't already set as such. 

I did the same thing for the folder that the .dll file was located in just to cover all the bases.  I also unchecked the Read-Only button and saved the changes.

Nothing has changed at all, I still get the same error message as before.

(2)  To help clear up some confusion on my part about restoring the system, just exactly what is the difference between using original WinXP program discs or newly created bootable WinXP Recovery Console disk versus using the self-created Gateway "Recovery Disks"?  

And why do so many people say don't use the manufacturer's recovery discs created by the user at the time of first startup of the machine?

Is it simply a matter of convenience or does it have to do with additional options being made available?

Also, you had mentioned above that I could reinstall the Recovery Console onto the pc, assuming that it was corrupted.  The article above spoke about uninstalling the Recovery Console but did not go into reinstalling it onto the PC. 

Please also note that I do have drive D:\ which is a smaller "Recovery Partition".

What I would really like to do is to "fix" WinXP without having to lose and reload all my installed programs and, of course, my data files.  Is this even possible??

I'll get back to you with any further progress or problems.

Also note that, as before, the editor here is still having a problem with duplicating entire sentences or sections. 

Can anything be done about this?  This has only cropped up recently.  I have never had this problem before and I don't have any known malware.  Everything reports nothing found.  IE8 has been totally reset several times.

Thanks

Vernon