Windows XP "Disk Management" missing from Administrative Tools...
William B. (Billby)
I'm using Windows XP SRP 3 and want to connect an external hard
drive but found my 'Disk Management' missing from Administrative
Tools - Computer Management. Hence I cant create an NTFS partition
Disk Management is not in the menu tree at all.
XP Help advised me to run diskmgmt.msc Did that and got the error message:
MMC could not create the snap in.
The snap-in might not have been installed correctly.
Name: Disk Management CLSD: {DBFCA500-8C31-11D0-AA2C-00A0C92749A3}
Advice on the Web suggested I run: SFC /scannow
Did that and got the message:
Files That are require for Windows to run properly must be copied to
the DLL Cache. Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD now.
I din't have a service Pack 3 disk, only had my original Windows disk
Which I think is pre any Service pack. All updates up to SP3 have been
done-on line via the Update Service. Anyway tried running SFC /scannow
using my Original Windows disk. That took quiet a while but completed
without error or other message. System Log advised:
Windows File Protection file scan completed successfully.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
I still had no Disk Management in Computer management.
Tried to access: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Got a HTTP 404 error. The resource cannot be found.
I then created a full SP3 update Disk image and tried again but
SFC/scannow won't accept that as a valid check disk.
In desperation I re-installed SP3 completely,
got no errors but still have no Disk Management
Suggestions anyone? Or pointers where best to try searching
for a solution. I've tried Microsoft's site and other Web groups
but just get buried in irrelevant unhelpful postings.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Bill.
philo
You can try a repair install with your XP_sp3 cd
or
use a 3rd party utility such as gparted
Tim Meddick
a complete re-install of WinXP ?" - you may find that you have to live with
the error. I do have one suggestion, though, about Disk Management at
the end.
But I may be able to help with the SFC /SCANNOW error :
The SFC error is usually caused by bad or incorrect paths defined in the
registry under two keys that SFC uses to determine the location of setup
files.
Firstly, SFC requires the correct path to the ORIGINAL WinXP setup files
that were on the XP installation disk (be that XP SP1, SP2 or even a 'no
service pack' install disk).
This path should be up to, but not including the folder "i386" where these
files exist.
And the registry key[s] this path should be set is the following :
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"SourcePath"="X:\"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"SourcePath"="X:\"
...where [X:] stands for your cd-rom drive in which the XP Installation
disk is residing.
Also, there is another important path that SFC needs if ANY service packs
have been subsequently added on top of that of the original disk.
This other path defines where the Service Pack files reside (not the actual
service pack installation source disk, but the location where Windows has
made copies of the service pack installation files to).
Unless deliberately altered, or your XP installation is *not* on the [C:]
drive, this path should be defined in the registry under the following key
;
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"ServicePackSourcePath"="C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles"
..where you should find, within the above location on your system, a folder
entitled "i386" .
As long as these three registry values are set corrctly with the two valid
locations, SCF should be able to run without giving you any error messages.
But back to your original Disk Management problem : the following may be
of some help :
Error message when you try to open some MMC 3.0 snap-ins in a localized
version of Windows XP Service Pack 3: "MMC could not create the snap-in.
The snap-in might not have been installed correctly."
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957502
==
Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
"William B. (Billby)" <will...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:k-idnSVVqvR4noDT...@westnet.com.au...
William B. (Billby)
Thanks for your response Tim,
The info at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957502 looked promising.
Previously I had searched high and low through MS sites and
boards using all the main keywords and never found that item...
Anyway I downloaded and installed the hot-fix available from
there but that didn't fix my problem, I still don't have any
"Disk Management".
But I just checked the Registry keys you gave:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
> "SourcePath"="X:\"
On my system that is set to: SourcePath REG_SZ E:\I386
Which is wrong...!!!, my PC was set up by others..., my CD ROM is D:\
If I read your notes correctly I should set that key to D:\
[Not D:\I386 ?] Is that right?
As for:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
> "SourcePath"="X:\"
On my PC that is: (Value not set...)
If I correct those keys and then Run SFC /SCANNOW again
with the SP3 image CD I created, that might fix my problems?
Worth a try, have to figure out how to back up my registry first.
Registry is an area I have always left alone...
Someone responded on MS Answers and suggested using compmgmt.msc
instead of SFC /Scannow. Have you heard of that before?
That poster said SFC /Scannow would never work(?)
Anyway, cheers and thanks again,
Bill.
William B. (Billby)
> You can try a repair install with your XP_sp3 cd
Repair install... Hopefully I wont need to do that, MS say:
"Reinstalling the Windows operating system or performing an
in-place upgrade of your operating system is an extreme
troubleshooting step that you should only take if you fully
understand the ramifications and risks involved."
That Is one MS utterance I can believe :}
> or use a 3rd party utility such as gparted
I could use gparted but I also have access to a second
XP system on which Disk Management is available. I could
attach my External Drive to that and create an NTFS partition
there. Then reattach the drive to my system. It should then
be available via a USB port at least, not sure about E-SATA (?)
But really, I want my Windows to working properly...
Not too much to ask? See my answer to Tim Meddick's reponse,
that may lead to a fix(?)
Cheers,
Bill.
Lynsey Doyle
"William B. (Billby)" <will...@gmail.com> a écrit dans le message de
groupe de discussion :
k-idnSVVqvR4noDT...@westnet.com.au...
> Hi,
>
> I'm using Windows XP SRP 3 and want to connect an external hard
> drive but found my 'Disk Management' missing from Administrative
> Tools - Computer Management. Hence I cant create an NTFS partition
> Disk Management is not in the menu tree at all.
<snip>
> Suggestions anyone? Or pointers where best to try searching
> for a solution. I've tried Microsoft's site and other Web groups
> but just get buried in irrelevant unhelpful postings.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> Bill.
Check under Administration tools/services that Virtual Disk (or similar,
my system is in French) is either set to auto or at least Manual. That
might help.
philo
> Hi philo, thanks for your response.
>
>> You can try a repair install with your XP_sp3 cd
>
> Repair install... Hopefully I wont need to do that, MS say:
>
> "Reinstalling the Windows operating system or performing an
> in-place upgrade of your operating system is an extreme
> troubleshooting step that you should only take if you fully
> understand the ramifications and risks involved."
>
> That Is one MS utterance I can believe :}
>
>> or use a 3rd party utility such as gparted
>
> I could use gparted but I also have access to a second
> XP system on which Disk Management is available. I could
> attach my External Drive to that and create an NTFS partition
> there. Then reattach the drive to my system. It should then
> be available via a USB port at least, not sure about E-SATA (?)
>
eSATA should be fine
but if you have another system you can partition and format the drive\
there and just leave your present machine alone
Though you might fix it...
there is always the risk of making things worse!
William B. (Billby)
I checked services and couldn't find one that matches 'Virtual Disk' or anything near.
Any further clues?
Thanks, Bill.
William B. (Billby)
I normal use Acronis for backups which is working fine.
To backup the registry I tried to run Windows backup and got:
"This application has failed to start because NTMSAPI.dll was not found.
Re-installing the application may fix the problem."
But two identical copies of ntmsapi.dll exist in:
C:\Windows\system32\dllcache and in
C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386
So there is definitely a pathing problem...
You'd think there would be a system utility to help restore correct paths.
No, just like you can't copy text from Error Messages or Find...
Cheers, Bill.
Lynsey Doyle
> Thanks for your response.
>
> I checked services and couldn't find one that matches 'Virtual Disk'
> or anything near.
> Any further clues?
>
> Thanks, Bill.
Sorry, apparently this only concerns Windows Server and XP 64bits. But
there must be something similar in other XPs. I'll keep lloking.
Chet
> Advice on the Web suggested I run: SFC /scannow
> Did that and got the message:
> Files That are require for Windows to run properly must be copied to
> the DLL Cache. Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD
> now.
>
> I din't have a service Pack 3 disk, only had my original Windows disk
> Which I think is pre any Service pack. All updates up to SP3 have been
> done-on line via the Update Service.
If you'd like to make a Windows XP Pro SP3 installation disc so SFC
can finish properly you can do so using nLite. Since your Windows
disc is pre-service packs, you'll need to slipstream both SP2 and
SP3 into a new install disc (SP3 requires either SP1a or SP2).
nLite Requirements
http://www.nliteos.com/guide/before.html
You would also need to download the two service packs:
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT
Professionals and Developers
(file name/size: WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe/316MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=24
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT
Professionals and Developers
(file name/size: WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe/266MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=28
nLite makes the process of creating the new install disc fairly
simple and the most time consuming portion of the entire process is
downloading the two service packs.
hth
--
Chet <chet814.n...@SPAMliveNOT.com>
To reply remove SPAM NOT
William B. (Billby)
I had previously read about slipstreaming but put that on the bottom of my 'to try' list as it
looked too involved for me. Thanks for pointing me at nlite, I'll check that out.
My problems are obviously due to serious pathing errors.I have no idea why or when that happened as
I haven't had any need to use the missing functions for several years. After further checking I
found that other things didn't work, MS Backup for one (I use Acronis). Windows wasn't finding
several .msc files. They were in DLLcache but not in System32. I've tried to find out more info on
correct paths and a 'tool' to easily fix Windows XP path problems to no avail. I can't afford and
don't want to spend hours sorting out IT problems
Also as a possible consequence of my trying to reinstall SP3 with incorrect paths I have another
problem now, "right clicking" on 'my computer' and selecting 'properties' gives me a completely
different screen and far fewer options compared to a good working SP3 computer I have access to.
My 'properties' page doesn't list the System. Registered owner or Version information on the first
screen and selecting 'advanced' only gives me two choices both greyed out..., 'run with different
credentials' and 'run in separate memory space', greyed out but ticked...
It would seem to me that I may be seeing an earlier version of 'my computer'(???)
Anyway I solved my immediate disk formatting problems with a 'kludge'... I just copied the relevant
.msc files into System32. For now Disk Management and Backup are working fine from shortcuts direct
to the .msc files and I've been able to get my new external drive partitioned and formatted. How to
really fix the system pathing I have no idea, nlite may help.
Because of increasing problems I have felt pressured to change to Windows 7 but there is no upgrade
only a full new install (I can see why...) and I'm still recovering from the productivity
destruction caused by upgrading my MS Office to Office 2007.
Once again I reach the crossroads, Windows or not. After the pickle I've ended up with and the
things I have found out reading my log files and the other system repair deficiencies I found, I
suspect I'm finally going to abandon MS.
Thanks again to everyone who responded to my posts, I think I'll definitely be jumping out of
Windows this time, good luck to you all...
Cheers, Bill.
Tim Meddick
The copies in the "dllcache" folder are simply copied by the system from
their various installation sources to a specially protected "cache".
This forms part of Windows File Protection [WFP] and means that if you try
to change, replace or delete any of the protected operating system files
(for example - explorer.exe) it will be immediately restored *from* the
"dllcache".
That is why they are the same.
*NB You should not interfere with the "dllcache" directory.
==
Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
"William B. (Billby)" <will...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:kvWdnRP7yciqAILT...@westnet.com.au...
Tim Meddick
Yes, that is correct, you should set the path for both ; "SourcePath" &
"ServicePackCache" to target the containing folder only but *not* including
the actual "i386" directory in the path....
So if the setup / installation files are located in "D:\i386" - then the
"SourcePath" should indeed be set to ; "D:\"
But, I will look into your "msc" problem further, though, and will get back
to you here soon.
==
Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
"William B. (Billby)" <will...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xJydnciVI4-YP4PT...@westnet.com.au...
Etal
> Thanks for your response.
>
> I checked services and couldn't find one that matches 'Virtual
> Disk' or anything near. Any further clues?
>
The services that are [żone perhaps called 'Virtual Disk' in
french? and] needed to be set to at least "Manual" startup-type
for Disk Management to run is the "Logical Disk Manager" &
"Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service" services. Then ...
Start : Run... :
"%WinDir%\System32\DiskMgmt.msc"
>
> Lynsey Doyle wrote:
>
>> "William B. (Billby)" a écrit:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm using Windows XP SRP 3 and want to connect an external
>>> hard drive but found my 'Disk Management' missing from
>>> Administrative Tools - Computer Management. Hence I cant
>>> create an NTFS partition Disk Management is not in the
>>> menu tree at all.
>> <snip>
>>
>>> Suggestions anyone? Or pointers where best to try
>>> searching for a solution. I've tried Microsoft's site and
>>> other Web groups but just get buried in irrelevant
>>> unhelpful postings.
>>>
>>
>> Check under Administration tools/services that Virtual Disk
>> (or similar, my system is in French) is either set to auto
>> or at least Manual. That might help.
>>
--
Nah-ah. I'm staying out of this. ... Now, here's my opinion.
Etal
> A further development...
>
> I normal use Acronis for backups which is working fine. To
> backup the registry I tried to run Windows backup and got:
>
> "This application has failed to start because NTMSAPI.dll was
> not found. Re-installing the application may fix the problem."
>
>
> But two identical copies of ntmsapi.dll exist in:
> C:\Windows\system32\dllcache and in
> C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386
>
Those are inactive backup locations for the file.
You should have the active copy of the file at:
C:\Windows\System32\ntmsapi.dll
( %WinDir%\System32\ntmsapi.dll )
> So there is definitely a pathing problem...
>
> You'd think there would be a system utility to help restore
> correct paths. No, just like you can't copy text from Error
> Messages or Find...
>
If [ntmsapi.dll] actually is missing from the System32\ folder
create a copy of it there using the highest versioned one from
one of the above places where you do have copies of the file.