Replacing Corrupt File

[SJohnson]

While installing a software program, the system needed to
reboot to complete installation. When it rebooted I got
the following eror. "System cannot start, the file SYSTEM
32\PCI.SYS is missing or corrupt." You can fix this by
using the repair option from the original installation CD.

Any help on how to do this. I can reboot and logon onto
the operating system using the repair option but have no
idea where the particular file is or how to copy it to the
harddrive. Can this file be copied from another XP
system?

[purplehaz]

Repair install:
Boot from the XP cd, and when prompted hit enter to begin setup. Press F8 to
accept the license agreement. It will then search and find your existing XP
install. Select it, and choose R for repair. Back up any important data
files in case something goes wrong.



SJohnson wrote:
> While installing a software program, the system needed to
> reboot to complete installation. When it rebooted I got
> the following eror. "System cannot start, the file SYSTEM
> 32\PCI.SYS is missing or corrupt." You can fix this by
> using the repair option from the original installation CD.
>
> Any help on how to do this. I can reboot and logon onto
> the operating system using the repair option but have no
> idea where the particular file is or how to copy it to the
> harddrive. Can this file be copied from another XP
> system?

[Alex Nichol]

SJohnson wrote:

>
>Any help on how to do this. I can reboot and logon onto
>the operating system using the repair option but have no
>idea where the particular file is or how to copy it to the
>harddrive. Can this file be copied from another XP
>system?

It could - but it will be on a regular XP CD in the i386 folder, or if
this is a pre-installed system, there will probably be an i386 folder
around and it will be in that (either way in compressed form, as pci.sy_

If you installed SP1 there should be a later version in the
Windows\ServicePackFiles folder - not compressed.

So - Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot the XP CD and,
instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair. Assume any password
requested is blank, and TAB over.

Use (if you have SP1)
COPY C:\Windows\ServicePackFIles\i386\pci.sys
C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\pci.sys

(That is one line that will probably wrap at the space)

or if the CD - assuming it is letter E: say -
EXPAND E:\i386\pci.sy_ C:\Windows\system32\drivers\pci.sys

or similarly if you are getting it from the i386 folder on hard disk

--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)