Removing an XP hotfix with the recovery console

[Nick[Blarg]]

I've got a machine here with the dreaded STOP: c000021a error message and I've done some researched and it seems to be caused by KB890859. This page, http://windowsxp.mvps.org/spuninst.htm tells me how to remove the update using the Recovery Console BUT the update isn't in the C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB890859$\ folder, its in that new $hf_mig$ folder in KB890859. There is no spuninst folder in there for me to run to get rid of the update, theres only an .exe called spuninst.exe.

So basically how do I run an .exe from the recovery console? The machine won't even boot into Safe Mode so I can't run it that way.

[Francis]

Is there no spuninst.txt (or any of the files relevant to the hotfix) in the folder you are looking at? Is there nothing but the exe?
Don't have an XP SP2 machine to hand, but thought the hf_mig folder was in addition to ntuninstall, one for uninstalls and the other for keeping the most up to date file versions available, should anything try to overwrite them.

edit - From here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=824994
When a security update, critical update, update, update rollup, driver, or feature pack installs GDR version files, the hotfix files are also copied to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder. This supports migration to the appropriate files if you later install a hotfix or service pack that includes earlier versions of these files.
It's the use of "also" which made me think the other folder should still be there?

[Nick[Blarg]]

Nope the other \Windows\$NtUninstallKB890859$\ folder isn't there. I don't suppose anyone with this folder on their PC could dump it on some webspace for me could they?

[Dan]

I'll install it under Virtual PC and see if I can get that folder you need.

[Nick[Blarg]]

Cheers Dan! :D

[Dan]

Found it here

C:\WINDOWS\$hf_mig$\KB890859

Uploading now to my webspace, will post a link when it's done.

[Dan]

http://www.zen82603.zen.co.uk/xp_temp/

[Nick[Blarg]]

Thanks muchly for your efforts but in the end I just had to format it :(

Oh well, at least the PC's running smooth and fast now :)

Cheers again Dan, much appreciated.