Windows XP corrupt file

My mother's laptop, a Compaq C800, was left on today, and the power cord was disconnected. The battery ran down and the computer shut off. Now it refuses to load. The computer complains about C:\Windows\system\config\default being corrupt, then instantly restarts.

I need some assistance.

 

Have you tried any of the F keys? Try F8 or F2 at boot up and see what happens.

 

The missing/corrupt error for any of the ...\config\... files can be very difficult to recover from. First, try booting in safe mode or use the last known good configuration option; you can get these and other boot choices by pressing F8 right after the PC logo screnn when you first power up. If neither of choices work, boot to your XP install disc (I'm assuming you're running WinXP since you didn't mention it) and enter the recovery console by pressing "R" when prompted. Then type chkdsk C: /r and press Enter. It can take some time to finish, like over 6 hours in some cases, so be patient. If it appears to lock up, or the percentage counter goes backwards, don't worry... it hasn't locked up and the backwards counter is normal. When it finishes, type exit to restart, remove the XP disc o the PC will try to boot to the hard drive. If that didn't work, download the diagnostic for your hard drive from the manufacturer's web site. Run the extended test and if it offers you the option to repair any errors, agree to it as long as no data loss will take place. It should wanr you if data loss is a possibility. After running the test/repair, restart and hopefully it'll boot. If not, then you can try a repair install of the OS, but in these types of situations, it seldom works....

Good luck, and keep us posted!

(there's a space before and after the C: in the command above; if you forget the spaces, the command won't work and will error out)

 

Remove the main battery and put it back and then recharge.

Some batteries have auxiliary power terminals for control purposes.


If you can get it restarted turn hibernation off. Hibernation file boot problems due to users letting the battery run down overnight are all too common.

 

Yes, it's running Windows XP, I mentioned it in the topic title. I do not have an install disc, only a Compaq restore disk. And I got wrong model number. It's EVO N800c.

The only F key that works is F10. The boot choices are presented automatically because windows 'did not start normally'. They all hang with the identical error. Even Safe Mode with command prompt.

The computer already had hibernation turned off, but was in standby when the power failed.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

It is a corrupt hive, in this case DEFAULT.

However, this is OEM, so, you will need some sort of access to an ntfs aware command prompt, or something like BartPE. Or if you are feeling frisky, and have a floppy drive, you can get setup floppies from MS that have rcon on them.

Either way, its a crapshoot, as with OEMs, they like to muck around with the registry. The main difference though is that they have replaced the default backup of the system hive, and renamed it as system.bak.

Modify instructions accordingly. Do NOT replace just the default hive, which the error states is corrupted.

 

I have a Compaq Restore CD, but I'm worried that the image on it will delete the fairly extensive writing she does.

An NTFS aware Command prompt? Like DOS for NTFS? Do you have one to recommend? I'm stuck on dial-up here, so smaller is better.

The computer does not have a floppy, but will boot from the USB port.

 

I have all sorts of recommendations, but they require a pre-made CD...so...

Any XP CD will do as well...do you have one of those? You just need recovery console? I reckon ntfs for dos may work as well, I have never used it.

 

The only XP disc I have is a 64-bit version. And it won't go far enough to let me access the recovery console.

I can borrow one, but I don't know how long it would take to get it. My cousin undoubtedly has one, but he drives Semi's.

 

does your xp cd have system repair?
If so try it, it won't delete her writings.

 

No, but it certainly won't help with repairing anything either, with there being registry damage.

In fact, it will cause more harm than good.

 

I don't even think I could get in to use it, but it's turned off anyway. Waste of resources on a laptop. (Or desktop for that matter.)

 

He wasn't talking about the same thing. As for system restore...people hate on it, till something like this happens.

It just so happens that if you don't run system restore, the best you can do is get yourself back up and limping...rather than getting everything back the way it was with system restore running.

 

*shrug* I don't like it because it's a crutch. If the error is problematic enough I need System Restore, I'm better off reinstalling.

 

To each their own. I rather be able to have something I can fix, because my time is worth more than what is wasted reinstalling.

 

Alright, now I have an XP disc, but it asks for an administrator password. I've reset the password for the computer, which it says is invalid.

XP itself has no password. Is there a default password that can be used?

 

Have you tried a blank one?

 

That was the first one I tried. Followed by a disparaging comment about Steve Jobs, just in case.

 

Alright, I've so far been unable to figure out the password, and now have access to the drive via an External Enclosure through another computer. Can the drive be fixed this way?

 

Sure. Just follow the same instructions, with the modifications I mentioned.