Help! XP Death - wont boot; System32\drivers\ntfs.sys is 'missing or corrupt'

Get this error message when trying to boot: File missing or corrupt as follows: System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys

The error message helpfully tells me i can try and repair from a setup disc. If I boot from the setup disc I can select 'R' to repair but i then get asked for an administrator password. Wasnt aware I had one? Anyway if I enter past it I just get a command line. Completely stuck at this point; (safe mode has exactly the same error message, so does selecting from last known good configuration.

Totally sick now; this is only a couple of weeks after having to do a full reinstall and then spending weeks trying to get the reloaded version to work properly. Really want to avoid a full OS reinstall if possible.

I am on Win XP on a Dell Optiplex desktop. The OS is loaded from an original genuine Win XP disc which I still have with its product key.

Please help!

 

Hi,

Get back to your command prompt and try the command chkdsk c: /r
After it runs try to boot normally. If still no go then try Last Known again.

 

Hi; thanks for this; apologies I know nothing about commands, but: chkdsk(SPACE)c:/r (ENTER) doesnt work, command not recognised.
chkdsk(ENTER) does lots of checking / recovery and says 'one or more faults found in the volume' but then rebooting as normal either Last Known, normal or safe, all gets back the original error msg about corrupted or missing System32 file. Any ideas? Can I do anything with this without a reinstall? I really dont want a reinstall....

 

The syntax is:

chkdsk (space) c: (space) /r

In XP recovery console a chkdsk(space) /r will work since your prompt starts with C:\> anyway so the c: in the command is implied.

Edit: just so you understand the /r means repair errors. Running chkdsk without the /r just finds errors but doesn't attempt to fix them. So it sounds like you have errors so now we just need to run chkdsk with the /r switch.

 

Thanks; tried that and the chkdsk /r spent a very long time checking / recovering; about 30 minutes, thought it was working but afterwards, rebooted again as normal but same error msg; also same problem/msg using Last Known

 

How old is your HD? It is possible that you have a failing HD. Since this is a relatively fresh install and is having corruption problems that could indicate that the HD is the culprit rather than just random corruption.

That said run the chkdsk /r again to see if it finds anymore errors. Then try Normal, LKGConfig and lastly Safe Mode. The ntfs.sys file is one of the most basic files needed to boot Windows so if it remains corrupted, you have a problem that I am not sure how to solve.

 

Thanks; I will try that. I was beginning to wonder about the PC / HD itself; its an old one, ex corporate, 'refurb' supposedly, I might have to send it back and get another one because this is now 2 unfixable corruption issues in 3 months and maybe not worth the bother... thx anyway I'll let u know how I get on

 

If you run into a brick wall with XP it may be a possibility to run the HD manufacturer's diagnostic on the drive to see if it finds errors with the drive itself during the long/extended test. Then a low-level format to do its best to refurbish the drive then a new install. But it will probably only be a matter of time before errors begin occurring again.

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287#hitachi

 

Thanks for your help with this; tbh I am going to give up on the PC its too much hassle, having to risk losing all data and reinstalling, (had so many problems reinstalling even was a nightmare with updates, drivers etc not working) will just get another, thanks again