the password is recognised, yet login stops

"Paul Randall" <paulr901@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:OcwMIJcSKHA.4048@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> This reminds me of a couple of years ago when I was rude to you, thinking
> you had something to do with some of my posts not showing up in OE.
>
> -Paul Randall<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
Wow, the memory you have! Anyway, after reading your post of two years ago
once more, I would not call it "rude". We had a disagreement, that's all.
Getting a peer review is one of the benefits of newsgroups. Sometimes the
discussion gets a little heated, in particular when two experts clash. So
what!

 

"Paul Randall" <paulr901@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:#faexvUSKHA.5488@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Maybe your OE read option for limiting the number of headers being read
> accidently got checked.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

This options is pre-set to 300.
Does the number of headers mean number of subjects or number of messages?
Anyway this should not be relevant in this particular case for now, without
changing this option, I can see a lot of new messages but still cannot the
that one of Pegasus. Unless OE selects these 300 messages at random, without
taking into account chronology and logic of discussion.
I have beed using OE for years to read NGs, and dissapearing messages or the
whole threads is systematic. I thought it was the result of moderation,
thought could not fihure out what was wrong with those messages.

 

"Pegasus [MVP]"
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** Your questions suggest that you have limited experience when it
> *** comes to in-depth Windows maintenance. There is no shame in
> *** this - your have strong skills in other areas - but it makes it<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
doubtful<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** that we'll succeed with this method. Instead there is a substantial
> *** risk that we do irreversible damage to the Win2000 registry.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Very limited indeed. Yet so far I see no rocket science in executing the
steps you specified. Also no need not worry about damaging my reg for I was
about to clean re-install w2k anyway just before you replied that it is
repairable.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My regedit shows only MyComputer and 5 HKEY entries to XP register<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
> > There is Import option there which allows me to navigate my X drive -<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
by<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
> > OPEN do u mean that I need to import it first?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> *** No, I meant "Load Hive".<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

As I said, I have no "Load Hive" option in my registry. I searched MS site
for "Load a hive into the registry" (
):
1. Open Registry Editor.
2. In the registry tree (on the left), click either the HKEY_USERS or
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE keys.
3. On the File menu, click Load Hive.

Thing is that in my Registry not only "Load Hive" is missing, but File menu
is missing. I have Regisry, Edit, View, Favorites, Help (does not help too).
Neither of these have "Load Hive" inside


please send a note to<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** pegasus_fnlATyahooDOTcom so that I can explain the process.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
Thank you for offering that, I am sending you a message, but I think we
first try to resolve the problem here for it might be inteesting for other
people

 

"aa" <aa@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:O$fDpswSKHA.1792@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]"
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> *** Your questions suggest that you have limited experience when it
>> *** comes to in-depth Windows maintenance. There is no shame in
>> *** this - your have strong skills in other areas - but it makes it<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> doubtful<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> *** that we'll succeed with this method. Instead there is a substantial
>> *** risk that we do irreversible damage to the Win2000 registry.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> Very limited indeed. Yet so far I see no rocket science in executing the
> steps you specified. Also no need not worry about damaging my reg for I
> was
> about to clean re-install w2k anyway just before you replied that it is
> repairable.
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
> > My regedit shows only MyComputer and 5 HKEY entries to XP register<!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
>> > There is Import option there which allows me to navigate my X drive -<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> by<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
>> > OPEN do u mean that I need to import it first?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>> *** No, I meant "Load Hive".<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> As I said, I have no "Load Hive" option in my registry. I searched MS
> site
> for "Load a hive into the registry" (
> ):
> 1. Open Registry Editor.
> 2. In the registry tree (on the left), click either the HKEY_USERS or
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE keys.
> 3. On the File menu, click Load Hive.
>
> Thing is that in my Registry not only "Load Hive" is missing, but File
> menu
> is missing. I have Regisry, Edit, View, Favorites, Help (does not help
> too).
> Neither of these have "Load Hive" inside<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Things are getting from bad to worse. Your initial problem relates to your
inability of logging on to Windows 2000 after resizing your partitions with
PQ Magic. This is usually caused by an unintended change of the System drive
letter. You now report that regedit.exe under Windows XP lacks the "File"
pull-down menu. I suggest you take a screen shot of the regedit screen with
the PrtSc key, paste it into mspaint.exe, save it as a .jpg file, then
attach it to your reply or upload it to one of the many free file storage
services so that respondents can see what you see. If you are correct then I
think you have some serious problems with malware or viruses.

 

"Pegasus [MVP]"<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I suggest you take a screen shot of the regedit screen<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Sorry, Pegasus, for misleading you a bit - when replying I was at another
computer and open Regedit there.
On the sick computer we are talking about Regedit has File-->Load hives, but
they are grey.
The screenshot you asked for is here


This is a Russian version and the Load Hive is the third line in File menu

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:uMQ15OxSKHA.3540@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Things are getting from bad to worse. Your initial problem relates to your
> inability of logging on to Windows 2000 after resizing your partitions<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
with<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> PQ Magic. This is usually caused by an unintended change of the System<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
drive<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> letter.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
Indeed, when I resized the partition, and rebooted the computer, the
partition dissapered and opening Partition Magic again I saw that no letter
was assigned to this partition. So I assigned the letter which PM offered,
and now I see that I should have selected the original letter. Thing was
that if I remember correctly,
the disk letter shown from XP were different from disk letters shown on w2k.

Anyway, seemingly the most natural solution would be to change back the
drive letters using Partition Magic - why this is not possible?

 

aa wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> "Pegasus [MVP]"<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> I suggest you take a screen shot of the regedit screen<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> Sorry, Pegasus, for misleading you a bit - when replying I was at another
> computer and open Regedit there.
> On the sick computer we are talking about Regedit has File-->Load hives, but
> they are grey.
> The screenshot you asked for is here
>
>
> This is a Russian version and the Load Hive is the third line in File menu<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

You *must* click on and highlight the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_USERS
key to be able use the Load Hive feature, the Load Hive option is only
enabled when one of these keys is selected.

John

PS. I don't know what is going on with this thread but I couldn't reply
(crosspost) to both the Windows 2000 and the XP groups, I had to remove
the crosspost to XP to be able to post.

 

"aa" <aa@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:eLw4fvxSKHA.4020@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:uMQ15OxSKHA.3540@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> Things are getting from bad to worse. Your initial problem relates to
>> your
>> inability of logging on to Windows 2000 after resizing your partitions<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> with<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> PQ Magic. This is usually caused by an unintended change of the System<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> drive<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> letter.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> Indeed, when I resized the partition, and rebooted the computer, the
> partition dissapered and opening Partition Magic again I saw that no
> letter
> was assigned to this partition. So I assigned the letter which PM offered,
> and now I see that I should have selected the original letter. Thing was
> that if I remember correctly,
> the disk letter shown from XP were different from disk letters shown on
> w2k.
>
> Anyway, seemingly the most natural solution would be to change back the
> drive letters using Partition Magic - why this is not possible?
><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I recommend you ask your Windows-savvy friend to do this for you:
1. Launch Windows XP
2. Run regedit.exe.
3. Navigate to HKLM.
4. Click File/Load Hive.
5. Enter the location of the Win2000 "System" file, e.g.
X:\WinNT\System32\config\system
and click Open.
6. Enter a name when prompted, e.g. Win2000 and click OK.
7. Open HKLM in the Win2000 hive, then navigate to
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
8. On the right half of the screen, rename \DosDevices\X: to \DosDevices\C:
with a right-click of your mouse. "X:" can be any drive letter you see. If
the
first rename does not work then you must reverse the rename, then rename
another drive letter to C:.
9. When finished, click the Win2000 key, then File / Unload Hive.
10. Boot into Win2000.

Warning: There is a serious risk of the following happening:
- You might permanently damage your Win2000 registry.
- You might inadvertently modify the WinXP registry, which will prevent it
from booting.
If you lack experience in registry editing then you *must* ask an
experienced person to assist you. I cannot accept any responsibility for he
consequences of your actions.

 

"John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:OjA67RzSKHA.220@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> You *must* click on and highlight the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_USERS
> key to be able use the Load Hive feature, the Load Hive option is only
> enabled when one of these keys is selected.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Thank you, John, it worked this way

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:e6aArSzSKHA.4360@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I recommend you ask your Windows-savvy friend to do this for you:<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Pegasus, of all my friends I am the savviest.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> - You might permanently damage your Win2000 registry.
> - You might inadvertently modify the WinXP registry, which will prevent it
> from booting.
> If you lack experience in registry editing then you *must* ask an
> experienced person to assist you. I cannot accept any responsibility for<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
he<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> consequences of your actions.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

As I said I am about to clean reinstall w2k. And to delete XP for good
because this XP cane preinstalled with this computer and did not work
properly from the start. So both OS are of little value for me. Of value are
my data and they are on a separate disk for I never used that Microsoft's
My Documents to store anything, thank God!
I also appreciate that not being at my computer you can only guess? but I
think this is a correct guess of yours and before formatting the disk I will
try to use the chance you offered. On my own risk of course. Even if things
will go wrong, I will be thankful to you for your time.

Thank you for adding more details to the Instruction - I was just about to
ask what should I enter when prompted for a name at step 6

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:e6aArSzSKHA.4360@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> 1. Launch Windows XP
> 2. Run regedit.exe.
> 3. Navigate to HKLM.
> 4. Click File/Load Hive.
> 5. Enter the location of the Win2000 "System" file, e.g.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
X:\WinNT\System32\config\system and click Open.<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> 6. Enter a name when prompted, e.g. Win2000 and click OK.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Done except the name was entered as "w2k"
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> 7. Open HKLM in the Win2000 hive, then navigate to<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

After Step 6 entry "w2k" was added to XP's HKLM and under this entry there
is no HKLM\SYSTEM\
Instead I have w2k\MountedDevices (see
) is it OK?

<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> 8. On the right half of the screen, rename DosDevicesX: to<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
\DosDevices\C: with a right-click of your mouse. "X:" can be any drive
letter you see.

Under w2k\MountedDevices I have 7 entries DosDevices from A to H.
XP's WindowsExplorer shows the following letters (see
):
A - floppy
C - partition with XP
D - CD drive
E - partition with w2k
F - logical partition with data

I understand one of those seven entries should be renamed to E
Can you guess which one, or the only way is to try and see?
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> If the first rename does not work then you must reverse the rename, then<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
rename another drive letter to C:.

How shal I see if it works or not without attempting to boot into w2k?

 

"aa" <aa@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:%23edV8n1SKHA.1232@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:e6aArSzSKHA.4360@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> 1. Launch Windows XP
>> 2. Run regedit.exe.
>> 3. Navigate to HKLM.
>> 4. Click File/Load Hive.
>> 5. Enter the location of the Win2000 "System" file, e.g.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> X:WinNTSystem32configsystem and click Open.<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> 6. Enter a name when prompted, e.g. Win2000 and click OK.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> Done except the name was entered as "w2k"
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> 7. Open HKLM in the Win2000 hive, then navigate to<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> HKLMSYSTEMMountedDevices
>
> After Step 6 entry "w2k" was added to XP's HKLM and under this entry there
> is no HKLMSYSTEM
> Instead I have w2kMountedDevices (see
> ) is it OK?
>
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> 8. On the right half of the screen, rename DosDevicesX: to<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> DosDevicesC: with a right-click of your mouse. "X:" can be any drive
> letter you see.
>
> Under w2kMountedDevices I have 7 entries DosDevices from A to H.
> XP's WindowsExplorer shows the following letters (see
> ):
> A - floppy
> C - partition with XP
> D - CD drive
> E - partition with w2k
> F - logical partition with data
>
> I understand one of those seven entries should be renamed to E
> Can you guess which one, or the only way is to try and see?
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> If the first rename does not work then you must reverse the rename,
>> then<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> rename another drive letter to C:.
>
> How shal I see if it works or not without attempting to boot into w2k?
>
><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Since you're about to re-install Win2000, there seems to be little point in
persisting with the registry hack.

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:OORBoB2SKHA.1280@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Since you're about to re-install Win2000, there seems to be little point<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
in persisting with the registry hack.

I said I WAS about to reinstall it to relieve you from worries. Of course,
if there is a chance I can restore w2k, I will use it. Even if I fail, I
will get precious knowledge and experience.
Please will you attend the points raised in my previous message

 

"aa" <aa@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:%23C%23NtJ2SKHA.4692@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:OORBoB2SKHA.1280@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> Since you're about to re-install Win2000, there seems to be little point<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> in persisting with the registry hack.
>
> I said I WAS about to reinstall it to relieve you from worries.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** You said "I am about to clean reinstall w2k" which in the English
*** language implies that you will do it within a very short time.
*** Doing so may relieve *you* from worries. It can't relieve *me*
*** from worries. While I'm happy to assist you, my help does not
*** go as far as worrying about your machine.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Pegasus, of all my friends I am the savviest.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** It's time to look for a few new friends . . .
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Of course, if there is a chance I can restore w2k, I will use it.
> Even if I fail, I will get precious knowledge and experience.
> Please will you attend the points raised in my previous message
>
> After Step 6 entry "w2k" was added to XP's HKLM and under this entry there
> is no HKLMSYSTEM
> Instead I have w2kMountedDevices (see
> ) is it OK?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** Yes, this is correct.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Under w2kMountedDevices I have 7 entries DosDevices from A to H.
> XP's WindowsExplorer shows the following letters (see
> ):
> A - floppy
> C - partition with XP
> D - CD drive
> E - partition with w2k
> F - logical partition with data<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** The above assignments are your guesses. You don't really know
*** if they are correct. It is possible that all drive letters have moved.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I understand one of those seven entries should be renamed to E
> Can you guess which one, or the only way is to try and see?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

*** You should rename C: to X:, then rename D: to C: and check if
*** this solves your problem. If it does not, rename C: back to D:, then
*** rename E: to C:, then G: to E:. This is what I mean with "trial and
*** error".
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> How shal I see if it works or not without attempting to boot into w2k?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** You can't - you must attempt to boot into Win2000.
*** It would also be a good idea to create a backup copy of the
*** System file, just in case things go worse rather than better.

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:u69lLP4SKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
Thanks, Pegasus, for the most detailed reply.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>*** You said "I am about to clean reinstall w2k" which in the English<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
language implies that you will do it within a very short time.

Thank you for a bit of English lesson, Pegasus - I'm always happy to learn.
Yet how do you define "very short time" in English?
Depending on context, a year may be a very short time while a second could
be too long

<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> While I'm happy to assist you, my help does not *** go as far as worrying<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
about your machine.

This is exactly what I hope to find here - thank you again.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** It's time to look for a few new friends . . .<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I am old-fashioned and do not replace friends just because I cannot extract
use of them. I would rather replace Windows ;-)
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
> > XP's WindowsExplorer shows the following letters (see
> > ):
> > A - floppy
> > C - partition with XP
> > D - CD drive
> > E - partition with w2k
> > F - logical partition with data<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> *** The above assignments are your guesses. You don't really know
> *** if they are correct. It is possible that all drive letters have moved.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

This is not MY guess, this is how XP's WindowsExplorer guesses them. Do you
mean that w2k might have it differently? If so, then we have another unknown
variable in the equiation - we do not know what X is. From
I thought X=E. Now I see that
this might not be the case. So the operation you describe below may have to
be repeated for different value of X like X=D, X=E and X=F ?
If I boot into w2k from ERD disk - will it show the disks letters the same
way w2k sees them?
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** You should rename C: to X:, then rename D: to C: and check if
> *** this solves your problem. If it does not, rename C: back to D:, then
> *** rename E: to C:, then G: to E:. This is what I mean with "trial and
> *** error".<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
So there is no way to determine which entry is relevant to userinit.exe ?
Are there other system files which, like userinit.exe depend on disk letter?
I mean I can sort out userinit.exe by changing D to C but something else
will stop working because of changing C to X.
If I assume X=E, I rename, C to E and D to C then I will have two entries
with the same letter E - is this acceptable, or I have to rename other
entries to avoid duplications?
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** It would also be a good idea to create a backup copy of the System<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
file, just in case things go worse rather than better.

As I mentioned, this WinExplorer refuses settings to see hidden and system
files so I cannot copy it from Win Explorer. Can I do it from RegEdit?

 

"aa" <aa@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:OyjMQK9SKHA.3540@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:u69lLP4SKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Thanks, Pegasus, for the most detailed reply.
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>>*** You said "I am about to clean reinstall w2k" which in the English<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> language implies that you will do it within a very short time.
>
> Thank you for a bit of English lesson, Pegasus - I'm always happy to
> learn.
> Yet how do you define "very short time" in English?
> Depending on context, a year may be a very short time while a second could
> be too long<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ Indeed!
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> While I'm happy to assist you, my help does not *** go as far as
>> worrying<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> about your machine.
>
> This is exactly what I hope to find here - thank you again.
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> *** It's time to look for a few new friends . . .<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> I am old-fashioned and do not replace friends just because I cannot
> extract
> use of them. I would rather replace Windows ;-)
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
>> > XP's WindowsExplorer shows the following letters (see
>> > ):
>> > A - floppy
>> > C - partition with XP
>> > D - CD drive
>> > E - partition with w2k
>> > F - logical partition with data<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>> *** The above assignments are your guesses. You don't really know
>> *** if they are correct. It is possible that all drive letters have
>> moved.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> This is not MY guess, this is how XP's WindowsExplorer guesses them. Do
> you
> mean that w2k might have it differently?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ I am referring to the drive letters as your Win2000 installation sees
~~~ them. They are likely to be different from what WinXP reports.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> If so, then we have another unknown
> variable in the equiation - we do not know what X is. From
> I thought X=E. Now I see
> that
> this might not be the case. So the operation you describe below may have
> to
> be repeated for different value of X like X=D, X=E and X=F ?
> If I boot into w2k from ERD disk - will it show the disks letters the same
> way w2k sees them?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ No, it won't. I know of two ways to show the true Win2000
~~~ drive letters:
~~~ a) By booting into Win2000.
~~~ By launching a Command Processor with psexec.exe, using
~~~ a networked machine.
~~~ There is a third way that may or may not work - see below.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> *** You should rename C: to X:, then rename D: to C: and check if
>> *** this solves your problem. If it does not, rename C: back to D:, then
>> *** rename E: to C:, then G: to E:. This is what I mean with "trial and
>> *** error".<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> So there is no way to determine which entry is relevant to userinit.exe ?
> Are there other system files which, like userinit.exe depend on disk
> letter?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ It's actually not just userinit.exe but the whole Win2000 installation
~~~ that is affected.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I mean I can sort out userinit.exe by changing D to C but something else
> will stop working because of changing C to X.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ Yes, Windows will be unstable. You may be able to log into
~~~ Windows by copying userinit.exe to ?:\WinNT\system32 where
~~~ ?: represents each and every partition you have on your hard disk.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> If I assume X=E, I rename, C to E and D to C then I will have two entries
> with the same letter E - is this acceptable, or I have to rename other
> entries to avoid duplications?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ No, regedit won't tolerate duplicated values.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> *** It would also be a good idea to create a backup copy of the System<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> file, just in case things go worse rather than better.
>
> As I mentioned, this WinExplorer refuses settings to see hidden and
> system
> files so I cannot copy it from Win Explorer. Can I do it from RegEdit?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
~~~ It's time to start working at the Command Prompt (which you start
~~~ by clicking Start / Run, then type the letters cmd, then click OK).
~~~ The following command will create a backup copy in less time than
~~~ it takes to read these instructions:
~~~ copy X:\WinNT\System32\config\System c:\System

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:Oe3f5R9SKHA.764@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> ~~~ I know of two ways to show the true Win2000 drive letters:
> ~~~ a) By booting into Win2000.
> ~~~ By launching a Command Processor with psexec.exe, using a<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
networked machine.

Both are not practical in my case

<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> ~~~ It's actually not just userinit.exe but the whole Win2000 installation<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
that is affected.

So userinit.exe is just the beginning and if I do not change the letter
correctly, other things would not work.
But I guess that all the Win2000 installation is sitting under a single
drive letter, therefore if I find the right letter for userinit.exe, it
will sort out all other things.
If so, it should not matter how I change the letters for the remaining 6
DosDevices keys as long as there is no duplication in letters - is this
correct?
This should not affect XP-installation, should it?

BTW, on this machine I have floppy, CD, three partitions - why the register
shows 7 DosDevices ?

 

"aa" <aa@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:unTkwt9SKHA.4692@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:Oe3f5R9SKHA.764@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> ~~~ I know of two ways to show the true Win2000 drive letters:
>> ~~~ a) By booting into Win2000.
>> ~~~ By launching a Command Processor with psexec.exe, using a<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> networked machine.
>
> Both are not practical in my case<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** I know - that's why you should explore the third option. If
*** it works then you get two benefits:
*** 1. You will *know* what the incorrect drive letter is.
*** 2. You can use the simple registry hack method that I gave
*** to Sid Elbow earlier in this long thread.
*** If it does not work then there is no damage.<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> ~~~ It's actually not just userinit.exe but the whole Win2000
>> installation<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> that is affected.
>
> So userinit.exe is just the beginning and if I do not change the letter
> correctly, other things would not work.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** Windows would be unstable.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> But I guess that all the Win2000 installation is sitting under a single
> drive letter, therefore if I find the right letter for userinit.exe, it
> will sort out all other things.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** Yes.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> If so, it should not matter how I change the letters for the remaining 6
> DosDevices keys as long as there is no duplication in letters - is this
> correct?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** Yes.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> This should not affect XP-installation, should it?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** Of course not - as long as you restrict your registry
*** hacks to the Win2000 hive.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> BTW, on this machine I have floppy, CD, three partitions - why the
> register
> shows 7 DosDevices ?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
*** It is normal for this registry key to show more drives than
*** you have current devices.

 

"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:OEeToA$SKHA.504@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

Thanks, Now I am equipped with theory to proceed.
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> *** I know - that's why you should explore the third option.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
I will explore
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro--><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
> > This should not affect XP-installation, should it?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
> *** Of course not - as long as you restrict your registry hacks to the<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
Win2000 hive.

I understand that disk drive letters on one OS have nothing to do with disk
drive letters on another OS on the same computer.
Yet I wonder how come resizing partitions with Partition Magic on XP
affected w2k so badly.

 

aa wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> "Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:u69lLP4SKHA.508@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Thanks, Pegasus, for the most detailed reply.
>
> <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>>*** You said "I am about to clean reinstall w2k" which in the English<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> language implies that you will do it within a very short time.
>
> Thank you for a bit of English lesson, Pegasus - I'm always happy to learn.
> Yet how do you define "very short time" in English?
> Depending on context, a year may be a very short time while a second could
> be too long
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I think you are looking for "Soon" or "near future", as in "I will be
reinstalling W2K soon."