VAIO PCG-CRX616 - No XP Disk supplied, so can't run sfc utiltity

[fjcfarrar]

Laptop came with XPpro installed, with just a full VAIO recovery disk. This means that the Microsoft Utility System File Checker which checks and repairs dll's etc. cannot run because it needs an XP Disk to compare the original files with what is actually on the PC. The routine sfc/scannow cannot read this data from wherever XPpro is embedded in the recovery disk!

Where do I get a suitable disk for this purpose that Sony should clearly have originally supplied. Or alternatively, how do I extract the relevent components from the recovery disk in a useable form?

Message was edited by: fjcfarrar

Message was edited by: fjcfarrar

[Blencogo]

First please check yoiur Vaio model - you are not quoting a valid model.  Look on the screen surround.

As with most computer manufacturers, you have bought a Sony OEM copy of XP - not the full retail copy with disc.

You should not need the XP Pro installation disc.  sfc\scannow should run without needing the CD.  Windows XP  copies all the files usually found on the disc and keeps a cache (copy) of these essential files for comparison at the following two locations on your hard disc:

C:WINDOWS\System32\Dllcache

C:WINDOWS\I386

These may be hidden files.

Are you getting a message to insert the XP CD?  If so, these backups may be corrupt or the Registry may be pointing to the wrong source.

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

[fjcfarrar]

Sorry for model No typo. It is actually as above.

Situation is after full system recovery with Sony disk 4-672-048-11 and full updates for XPpro applied. It is set to show hidden files.

(1) No C:WINDOWS\System32\Dllcache exists

(2) There is no dllcache on C:WINDOWS\I386

The System Recovery partitions the Hard disk and places file 32018077fae994cdae9b78 on the root of 😧 which contains AMD64 & I386 folders. I386 contains only filterpipelineprintproc.dll, msxpsdrv, msxpsinc.ppd, xpssvs.dll, msxpsdrv, msxpsinc.gpd,mxdwdrv.dll. AMD64 has similar contents.

From this you can see that the System Recovery disk does not load caches for any of the data sfc/scannow requires.

It does contain a folder I386, but even that does not contain any quantity of dll's.

The documentation for the laptop suggests that either single-disk system recovery or a 2 disk set could have been supplied. I imagine that this early single disk recovery disk just doesn't do all it could.

Yes, I do get a message to insert XP disk. So where do I go from here?

[Blencogo]

I think the model is the PCG-GRX616MP - support page here: -

http://genesis.sony-europe.com/instranet/ccil_sony/selfservice/index.jsp?l=en_GB&m=PCG-GRX616MP

The only way forward that I can think of is to borrow a XP Installation Disc from someone.

You cannot download XP legally and buying your own version is presumably not an option.

[fjcfarrar]

Thanks for your wise words.

Cannot find where I can obtain a legal XP disk - if Microsoft still sell it, they hide it well!

This was all a means to an end - an effort to try to sort out why the PC keeps forgetting its Sound Scheme. A selected Sound Scheme just keeps losing the Navigation Start sound from the listed sounds in the scheme - but if you just select another sound scheme, then return to the original, the missing sound returns to the list and can be applied/saved again and works until it fails again.

I have determined the issue is set off by Windows Update at the install stage, and just by opening BT Broadband Desktop Help & I suspect various other Updates. The running of sfc /scannow was just a point in the investigation of this.

The sound Scheme issue is hardly the end of the world; but is worth investigating as a possible pointer to impending trouble. It is also an issue widely covered in Web Forums etc, affecting many users - but with absolutely no solutions listed.

So I would be grateful if your wisdom can suggest a solution for the Sound Scheme issue.

Message was edited by: fjcfarrar