Windows XP is not starting due to missing or corrupt files.

Before replacing or copying files, locate the following:

  1. File Information:

    • Names and extensions of files being replaced, missing or corrupt. Example: XPSP2RES.DL_ = filename is XPSP2RES and extension is DL_ (when expanded will be DLL).
    • The location from where file is copied. Example: Copy from C:\Windows\i386 directory or from CD\DVD Recovery disk E:\i386.
    • The location of where the file is to be copied. Example: C:\Windows, C:\Windows\System32

  2. Access to one of the following:

    • C:\Windows\i386 directory
    • System Recovery Partition (able to access when computer boots by pressing F11)
    • System Recovery CD\DVD (Medialess partition)

There are five methods for copying missing or corrupt files from the i386 directory.

Using System File Checker

Note: You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to run System File Checker.

  1. Click Start, click Run, type sfc /scannow, then click OK.
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  2. System File Checker scans the hard drive.
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  3. When finished, the Windows File Protection dialog box closes.

  4. If a status window appears, close the window to continue.

Using the System Configuration Utility

  1. From the Start menu, click Run. In the Run dialog box, type: MSConfig, then press ENTER.

  2. In the System Configuration Utility, on the General tab, click Expand File located in lower right corner.

  3. In Expand One File from Installation Source, in File to restore:, click Browse File.

  4. In the Open dialog box, in the Look in: drop-down box, click the arrow and select the C:\Windows\i386 folder.

    Note: If files do not appear, click Open, which should then make files appear.

  5. Locate and select filename.

  6. Click Open.

  7. In the Restore from: box, click the drop-down arrow, then select C:\Windows.

  8. In Save file in: box, click Browse to.

  9. In Browse for Folder, select folder where file is to be expanded, then click OK.

  10. In Expand One File from Installation Source, click Expand.

  11. In the System Configuration Utility window, click OK.

  12. If prompt to restart computer appears, click Restart.

From a Command Prompt within the Operating System

  1. Click Start, then click Run. In the Run dialog box, type: CMD, then press ENTER.

  2. At the Command prompt, type: cd\, then press ENTER.

  3. At the C:\ prompt, type: cd Windows\i386, then press ENTER.

  4. At C:\Windows\i386, type: dir filename.*, then press ENTER.

    Note: "Dir" is a DOS command, short for directory. The command "Dir" displays filename, extension, and size (in bytes) of the file. "Filename" is name of the file that you want to restore, and asterisk (*) is a wildcard placeholder which displays all filenames with their extensions. For example, typing dir XPSP2RES.* gives the following result:
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  5. Check if file name has an underscore ( _ ) in extension.
    For example: xpsp2res.dl_. If extension has an underscore, it has to be expanded.
    If it does not have an underscore, file can be copied without expansion.

  6. If file has an underscore, expand the file to the destination. At command prompt, type: Expand filename.**_ C:\Destination\filename.extension, then press ENTER.
    Example: Expand xpsp2res.dl_ C:\Windows\System32\xpsp2res.dll

  7. If file does not have an underscore, copy file to destination. At the command prompt, type: Copy filename C:\Destination, and press ENTER.
    Example: Copy atmadm C:\Windows\System32

  8. At the command prompt, type: Exit, then press ENTER.

  9. Restart the computer.

Using the Recovery Partition

  1. As the computer starts, at the Press F11 to start recovery prompt, press F11 to start recovery.

  2. On the System Recovery Menu screen, hold down the ALT key and press the D key.

  3. At the Command prompt, type: Set, then press ENTER.

    Note: The SET command is used to determine which drive letter is used by the recovery partition. This is necessary so files can be copied to and from correct location.

  4. Look through the results, and find the line that says USERPART = drive_letter:, where drive_letter can be any letter between D and Z. In most cases, the drive letter is D.

  5. Write down drive letter.

  6. At the Command prompt, type the drive letter noted followed by a colon (:). For example, type D:, then press ENTER.

  7. At the Command prompt, type: CD Windows\i386, then press ENTER.

  8. At the Drive_letter\Windows\i386 prompt, type: dir filename.*, then press ENTER.

    Note: "Dir" is a DOS command, short for directory. The command "Dir" displays filename, extension, and size (in bytes) of the file. "Filename" is name of the file that you want to restore, and asterisk (*) is a wildcard placeholder which displays all filenames with their extensions. For example, typing dir XPSP2RES.* gives the following result:
    View Picture

  9. Check if file name has an underscore ( _ ) in extension.
    For example: xpsp2res.dl_. If extension has an underscore, it has to be expanded.
    If it does not have an underscore, file can be copied without expansion.

  10. If file has an underscore, expand the file to the destination. At command prompt, type: Expand filename.**_ C:\Destination\filename.extension, then press ENTER.
    Example: Expand xpsp2res.dl_ C:\Windows\System32\xpsp2res.dll

  11. If file does not have an underscore, copy file to destination. At the command prompt, type: Copy filename C:\Destination, and press ENTER.
    Example: Copy atmadm C:\Windows\System32

  12. At the command prompt, type: Exit, then press ENTER.

  13. Once back at the menu, click Quit. Restart the computer.

Using the Gateway Operating System Recovery CD\DVD

  1. Insert the Operating System Recovery CD\DVD into the optical drive.

  2. Restart the computer.

  3. As computer starts, press the R key to boot into Gateway System Recovery and display options.

  4. On the Gateway System Recovery Options screen, press R again for Standard Gateway System Recovery options.

  5. At the System Recovery Menu screen, hold down the ALT key and press the D key.

  6. At the Command prompt, type: Set, then press ENTER.

    Note: The SET command is used to determine which drive letter is used by Recovery Partition. This is necessary so files can be copied to and from correct location.

  7. Look through the results, and find the line that says USERPART = drive_letter:, where drive_letter can be any letter between D and Z. In most cases, drive letter is D.

  8. Write down drive letter.

  9. Since you started to the Recovery CD\DVD, the command prompt is drive_letter\i386\system32.

  10. At the optical drive letter prompt, type: cd.. (cd dot dot - no spaces), then press ENTER. The prompt is now drive_letter\i386.

    Note: CD is the DOS command for Change Directory. When used with the two periods (cd..) the directory goes up one directory.

  11. At the drive_letter\i386 prompt, type: dir filename.*, then press ENTER.

    Note: "Dir" is a DOS command, short for directory. When used in this instance, it displays filename, extension, and size (in bytes) of the file. "Filename" is name of the file that you want to restore, and "*" is a wildcard placeholder that when used in this instance displays all filenames with their extensions. For example, typing dir XPSP2RES.* gives the following result::
    View Picture

  12. Check if file name has an underscore ( _ ) in extension.
    For example: xpsp2res.dl_. If extension has an underscore, it has to be expanded.
    If it does not have an underscore, file can be copied without expansion.

  13. If file has an underscore, expand the file to the destination. At command prompt, type: Expand filename.**_ C:\Destination\filename.extension, then press ENTER.
    Example: Expand xpsp2res.dl_ C:\Windows\System32\xpsp2res.dll

  14. If file does not have an underscore, copy file to destination. At the command prompt, type: Copy filename C:\Destination, and press ENTER.
    Example: Copy atmadm C:\Windows\System32

  15. At the command prompt, type: Exit.

    Note: Do not remove the CD from the optical drive yet.

  16. Once back at the menu, click Quit. Remove the CD. The computer restarts.

If following the above procedures did not resolve your problem, please contact Gateway through one of the following methods: