First BSOD and now this

Hi, my current problem is whenever I try to boot up my laptop, I get the following message:

Code:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

Basically, I can't boot up in any mode. Help please?

 

sounds like you corrupt some system files. what other issues have you had?

 

I'm assuming Windows XP? Home? Pro? SP2? SP3? Maybe Vista?

If it's WinXP, check out this article.

 

Correct. Before I was just getting the BSOD with this error

Code:

STOP: c000218 {Registry File Failure}
The registry cannot load the hive (file):
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\DEFAULT
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance.

I'm no longer getting BSOD upon bootup.

And, I'm no longer getting

Code:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

The error message I get now, as I boot almost entirely to the desktop, but I'm prompted with this error message:

Code:

lsass.exe - Application Error
The application failed to initialize properly (0xc015000f). Click on OK to terminate the application

By the way, I'm not sure if the it's isass.exe or Lsass.exe. I know one of them is considered a variant of sasser type trojan/worm, and the other is I think related to services.exe type deal and is not considered a trojan.

When I press OK, It just leaves me on a blank black screen with only my cursor available to move around. There are no icons, ctrl-alt-delete doesn't work, nothing else seems to work.

Now, whenever I boot into Recovery Console, as I was able to do previously to solve my first 2 problems, now it's telling me that my Administrator password is incorrect. I was able to leave this blank and press ENTER, but this no longer is the case. After 3 times of entering the "wrong" password, I'm only left with the option to restart my computer. I can't seem to find much information on solutions to this problem. Any help is appreciated.

 

I'm pretty sure it's pro with sp3.

 

OK, it sounds like you wacked your OS. there is a way to repair it with out losing your files. Your Registry is corrupt and one way to repair it involves a little time and the ability to reinstall some of your apps. First your use your install cd like you are going to reinstall windows. go past the first screen that asks you if want repair your installation and go to the install screen. there it will find your current installation and asks you again if you want to repair it or do a clean install. answer repair and then it just replace you system files. What it then does is delete your windows directory and reinstalls Windows only. Becareful how you answer cus you don't want to wipe your drive and lose everything. after you get back into windows you wil have to run all the updates and repair some of your apps. Try that if you think you can not wipe your drive.
Let me know if have any questions

 

Recovery Console available on XP install disk as well, sounds like you have it installed as a boot option:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
chkdsk c:/r for starters I would imagine

 

Yes as bugballou said, start off with chkdsk /r ... before doing anything else id start with this procedure;

chkdsk c: /r
fixmbr
fixboot
bootcfg /rebuild

it might work it might not ... can only try ...

after this try booting to safe mode, put your original CD in the drive and go to CMD and type sfc /scannow and let it run.

 

Hi, well I tried your advice but first let me say that I only see 1 screen with Repair as an option. And that's the very first blue screen after I press any key for the "Press any key to boot to disc...".

It says:
Windows XP Professional Setup
Welcome to Setup.

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft(R)
Windows(r) XP to run on your computer.

• To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER.

• To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

• To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

Then on the bottom of the screen is a gray bar with:
ENTER=continue R=Repair F3=Quit
--------------
I selected Continue
----
I am now prompted with: Windows XP Licensing Agreement / END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

I select F8 I agree

---
Next screen is entitled: Windows XP Professional Setup

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartioned space on this computer.

Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select an item in the list.

• To set up Windows XP on the selected item, press ENTER.

• To create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C.

• To delete the selected partition, press D.

Then it shows the partitions, C: D: F:

Enter=Install D=Delete Partition F3=Quit
-------------
Let me know if you need more, I'm not seeing more than 1 screen with the option to Repair that doesn't take me directly to Recovery Console (MS-DOS type screen).

 

Hi, I am not able to type anything in the Recovery Console now due to having an incorrect password even though one was never set. And I'm not able to boot up to desktop in safe-mode either. Where did you want me to type that?

 

I am booting from CD-DVD with teh windows xp professional install disc inside.

 

I just found another error, this time when attempting to boot in safe mode + ms dos command prompt.

It boots all the way to desktop and a error message comes up saying:

Code:

services.exe - Application Error

The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000006). Click on OK to terminate the application

I select OK and I'm prompted with:

Code:

lsass.exe - Application Error

The application failed to initialize properly (0xc015000f). Click on OK to terminate the application

I select OK and I get prompted with previous services.exe error message
I select OK and I get prompted with previous lsass.exe error message

Then I'm left with an all black screen with only the mouse cursor visible.
-------
I've only seen this happen one other time when I tried booting into safe mode, Usually it only shows the lsass.exe error 1 time.

 

Hmmm ... starting to sound a little funny ... perhaps do a clr cmos, reset BIOS optimized defaults and try using recovery again ... if that doesn't work ... are you familiar with .torrents?? If you are, download an XP Pro disc (FOR RECOVERY AND REPAIR PURPOSES ONLY) and use it ...

 

when you get the screen that gives you three optionns select install XP, that will then search your drive for previos versions and find your current install. Then it will ask you if want to repair or reinstall windows( i am not sure of the exact wording) but one of the option should be repair the current installation. that is what you want.