JAUHARI

Last day I got a problem with my laptop. I could not run any windows command prompt, such as ping, nslookup and tracert. I restarted it and gave no solution, the problem was still remain.

I found this page on Google. It told me that Windows can not resolve the %SystemRoot% Environment Variable that can be checked by running “path” command. It returned:

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;

To solution for this problem was founded here where the step by step is instructed below.

1. Go to: Start > Run > Regedit
2. Check: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
   Make sure that the registry key holding the path is of Reg_Expand_SZ type rather Reg_SZ type
3. If the holding key is Reg_SZ change it into Reg_Expand_SZ by:
   • Double Click “Path” and copy it’s Data Value “…%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%; …” to avoid to rewrite it again
   • Delete the “Path”
   • Create New > Expandable String Value
   • Give “Path” as the name, double click it, and Paste the value copied in the previous step to the “Value Data” field
4. Close the Regedit window and restart the laptop

Once the Windows is finish from loading, the command prompt works again.

Any comments or suggestions? Just as usual. Write it in the form below.

I just installed a new PC (with Windows) and wanted to backup the C (System) drive using Norton Ghost 2003. Don’t ask me why I am still using the old version instead of the new one, since this is the only one I have in my hand. The installation was just fine as well as the backup setting, then it asked me to reboot the PC. OK. Click and reboot..

After the blank screen, the ghost process notified me that there was an error and can not continue the task. It asked me to run “ghreboot“. No doubt, I run it and nothing happened.

Norton Ghost help on the web returned me nothing, except that the problem is caused by a virtual partition created by Norton Ghost as an active partition. I contacted my old friend asking for this problem and gave me a direction.  He said that Norton Ghost 2003 is not compatible with SATA devices.

Here is how to solve the problem if you face it.

1. Boot from any bootable CD from where you can run fdisk
2. After it give you a command prompt, run: fdisk
3. Choose to display partition and you will see a partition labeled : –VPGHOST–
4. Delete this partition
5. Activate your Bootable Partition
6. Exit fdisk
7. Reboot

Voila. You should notice your Windows loading screen. Then you can install the new version of Norton Ghost

Warning:  Use it at your own risk. I used Windows XP and Windows 98 for the Boot CD.