Uninstalled a printer... now can't boot (XP Home SP2)

[KSTidmore]

I have a Compaq laptop... it has built in wireless connection. The laptop owner had been using a Linksys wireless card as well. We were re-setting up the router. We could not print to the wireless printer. I decided to remove the Linksys card, and use only the built in wireless connection. The HP 5800 printer would not print. So, I decided to uninstall the printer, then re-install it to get it to work on the built in wireless connection. I uninstalled the printer, it ask me to reboot... I did and it will now only boot up to the blue Windows XP screen.... the one before the login selection. It just stays there. Same issue if I go to Safe mode. I get to that screen, and that's as for as it will go. I have also tried "last know good configuration". I get to the same point.

Any ideas?

Clueless here....

Thanks.
KST

[DocWatson]

Have you tried reinstalling the Linksys wireless card ??

[KSTidmore]

I can't get logged in to do anything.... I've tried booting with the card in. No change. All advanced boot options take me to the blue screen.... not the 'death screen', but the one you get just before the login screen. "Windows XP" with the Windows Logo.

KST

[StuartR]

Does "All advanced boot options" include safe mode? If so then this is going to be tricky. The only other options seem to be a reinstall over the top, or an attempt to recover the situation from the Recovery Console.

StuartR

[KSTidmore]

Yes Stuart, it did...... all of the advanced options took me to that blue screen.

I have tried to reinstall Windows using the set up disk, and "repair" OS feature... not the recovery console. During 'repair installation', I get a 'catserv(?)' file error. I don't have the full error written down, but the installation continues..... Now, when I boot up, I get a black screen. Mouse works...

I plan on trying again, and writing down the complete error message. I'll wait to see what you advise...

Trying to NOT have to format and loose the data.

Thanks!
KST

[StuartR]

I suspect the best way to get your data off that disk may be to physically move it into a different PC so that you can take a copy.

Another approach is to buy a new hard drive (they're pretty cheap nowadays) and install it as drive C:, then install a new version of Windows on that drive and you can copy the data off your old one, before using it as a backup device to prevent future catastrophes!

StuartR

[KSTidmore]

Stuart...

Thanks once again for your help.

Transferring the data w/ another machine would be something I would normally do. However, this is a laptop, and I've never tried it w/ a laptop HD. Can you advise me on how I might go about doing that? Because that's exactly what i've been thinking about doing.

I have gotten the machine to come up to "Activate Windows"..... of course, non of the keys I have seem to work..... I'm thinking of calling in to activate, but... my chances of talking with someone are probably pretty slim.

The error I'm getting when I re-install the OS is: COM+ Setup Error Failed to load the library "C:Windowssystem32catserv.dll" I also get an error code of Ox8007007f

Anyway.... your thoughts on getting the data off the laptop HD would be welcome.

Thanks!
KST

[StuartR]

Sorry, I missed the bit about it being a laptop.

Best bet for recovering the data is either to boot a network enabled linux CD, such as Knoppix and use ftp to copy the data somewhere. Alternatively you could buy one of these so you can install the laptop disk in your desktop PC.

StuartR

[KSTidmore]

Excellent information Stuart...

I'm getting some different screens as I'm trying to re-install for the 4th time... If I still don't have any success... I'm gonna make that purchase you recomended. I have never lost data, and I don't want this to be the first time.

Thanks for your help! I do appreciate it!
KST