XP Pro System file corruption...

[LinkStatic]

I trying to help a friend with his PC, he's running Win XP pro corporate edition ( Upgrade only, non-bootable ). The problem is
his system wont get into windows and says that " PCI.SYS is missing or corrupted". I know that this can be easily fixed by a bootable install disk, but how can I do it with a non-bootable one?

thanks in advance guys.....

[Oni]

Make all 5 install disks, and boot w/ those.

[LinkStatic]

arent there any other way to fix this?

[BigPimp]

Use a XP CD and boot with it. Then use the repair option.

[w00p]

[thread ressurection]Well, I'm having a similar problem and I'm looking how to answer it.
This was the only thread that had the same problem that the search gave me...
I also have problems with getting PCI.sys working.
I have a very recent install of windows XP pro, and everytime I boot the following happens:
-BIOS does the POST.
-Before entering the windows loadscreen, it asks me in a DOS menu if I want to run the setup or load XP.
If I check "load windows XP pro" then everythings goes fine, but the system is a little unstable. (No OC...)
If I check "windows XP pro setup" then it goes into another DOS screen with a progress bar, says "press F6 if you need to install third party RAID or SCSI drivers" at the bottom (I don't need to, just mentioned it for orientation purposes).
Then, once the progress bar starts to fill, around 1/8th of the total, it goes to another screen saying "the file PCI.SYS is missing or corrupted, press any key to continue".
I press a key, and then all it does is add a line to the bottom of the screen "press any key to restart". After pressing another key, it reboots and repeats starting from the POST and the menu setup or load windows.

Essentially, you could say it doesn't matter since windows works, but its quite unstable with some random reboots and stuff. Especially when I install drivers, wich isn't really healthy for the registry I reckon...

[DeXter78]

Have you guys checked your ram? I would run memtest before you do anything. With bad ram the more you try to do things the worse the corruption will get. If thats not your problem check temps and ram timings.All these things can cause corruption.

[TeuffelHunden]

I also run XP Pro Corp. ed. and it came as a bootable cd. Are you sure you can't boot off of it?

[w00p]

I can boot off it, yes, but all it wants to do is check if my windows install is valid and healthy. Then it just follows the proccess of the "run windows setup" option in that black screen when I boot from my HD...

(Including the "PCI.sys is missing or corrupt" and then once you press any button twice, reboot)

[diehrd]

Can you just format and do a fresh install ?

[w00p]

Its not my PC...
And my dad won't let me format if I'd want to "just to see if that fixes it".

[diehrd]

Its not my PC...
And my dad won't let me format if I'd want to "just to see if that fixes it".

Sounds like the problem is solved..But not how you hoped..

[w00p]

errr...
Anyway, we called to our PC shop and he said that we'd probably solve it by a format and a clean install, with disk defrags as much as we can, and especially right before and after installing each servicepack... (Undeniable fact: this HD is 5 years old now)

So, basicly, I'm now actually allowed to follow your advice. :)