[Forever_Dumb]

I'm new here so sup everyone.

Onto topic, I have a compaq with windows home edition and I recently listened to my gf and deleted some windows service pack updates. When I did everything on my comp stopped working. I tried a system recovery since I couldn't do a restore. Now I'm getting a file c_20217 is missing when I try to reboot it and windows doesn't start up. Sometimes it makes it past that to the system recovery finish screen but, when I press finish it just stalls and does nothing. I tried doing this.

1.
Turn on the PC and press the F10 repeatedly at the first screen to start the recovery screens. If the recovery application doesn’t start, you can run the recovery from the Recovery CD or DVD discs. For more information, see HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Performing an HP System Recovery in Windows XP .
2.
If you see a welcome screen, click OK.
3.
Click Advanced Options and then press the Alt and D keys at the same time to go to a command prompt.
4.
Type: diskpart, and then press Enter.
5.
At the diskpart> prompt, type: list volume, and then press Enter.
6.
A screen should appear outlining the current drive letters in the system. Note the drive letter in the Ltr column next to the HP Pavilion, or Presario NTFS partition. You will need this information in the steps below.
Figure 1: List Volume display
7.
At the prompt, type: exit, and then press Enter.
8.
Type in the drive letter you recorded in step 6, followed by a colon, ‘:’ (without the quotes) and press Enter. (For example, C: or H: )
9.
Type the following: cd \windows\system32
10.
At the new prompt, type the following: rd /s catroot2
11.
Type Y to confirm.
12.
Restart the PC.

and still the same problem. I would try this

Fix for Recovery Issue with XP Service Pack 1*

but I don't have a floppy disk drive on this back-up comp. Is there anyway I could start the cd in the command prompt screen. Would that even work? Or any other suggestions on how to fix this would be appreciated.

I miss my comp

[oldskool]

What was your current Service Pack ? Was it SP2 ? Or SP3? I believe there is a way to get your SP2 settings back if you had SP3, or your SP2 settings back if you had SP1 (unlikely that you had SP1 I'm sure). I just am not sure how that is done.

When you installed your more recent Service Pack, the older Service Pack files are backed up in case you want to go back to it. So I was thinking that you could take advantage of that backup that was made back in time when you installed your current Service Pack.

I will try to find out some more about the Service Pack backups, and get back to you.

Originally Posted by Forever_Dumb

but I don't have a floppy disk drive on this back-up comp. Is there anyway I could start the cd in the command prompt screen. Would that even work? Or any other suggestions on how to fix this would be appreciated.

Don't know about running CD from prompt screen. Maybe start Windows in Safe Mode?

[Forever_Dumb]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Don't know about running CD from prompt screen. Maybe start Windows in Safe Mode?

Windows won't even start up in safe mode. I think it was a service pack 2 but, can't really work with that if Windows won't start at all.

[Mak213]

So why is a Windows question in the hardware area and not in the Windows area?
Do a repair install.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

Moved to right area.

[Forever_Dumb]

Originally Posted by Mak213

So why is a Windows question in the hardware area and not in the Windows area?
Do a repair install.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

Moved to right area.

Wasn't sure if the error "File missing c_20217" was a Windows issue or a system issue so, I stuck it here, sorry.

I don't have the XP Cd. My step-dad took it when he moved out on accident. I have no way of getting in contact with him so, don't think that's gonna work.

Fixed the issue after messing around with it for a little bit. Thanks to those who tried to help though.