XP can't boot, file corrupted, can't Recover :(

Hi All,

So I had my laptop in my carryon, and apparently it didn't survive travel. I can turn it on, and it goes to a DOS screen where it says:

"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."

R doesn't do anything. I end up at the Toshiba splash screen, which then goes black as it fails to load Windows.

I can hit F8 to get to Safemode and to try the "last known good configuration" mode, but neither works. Safe mode takes me to a screen with the following six lines:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows\system32\hal.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows\system32\kdcom.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows\system32\bootvid.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows\system32\config\system
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows\system32\config\system.alt (This one doesn't always appear)

I can't access Recovery Mode from the F8 screen... ideally I'd really like to retrieve a few files if possible before redoing Windows.

HELP!

 

P.S. Recovery Console doesn't appear on the OS list or advanced startup list. The computer doesn't have a disc drive, and the Recovery data is on D: (I recovered this machine a while ago).

 

So when you put in your setup cd and boot to it what happens? you press R and it restarts the computer? It should start the Recovery Console. Then it may or may not ask you to Choose a Windows install. if it does you can press 1 and Enter. If it doesnt then you should just have a C:\ prompt. at the C:\ type chkdsk(space)/R and press enter. should look like this C:\chkdsk /R

This will scan the harddrive and attempt to recover any corruptedness.

If you couldnt get to the recovery console for reason then at the fisrt screen where you would press R, Press Enter instead, Then you should see an agreement where you press F8, Next it should search for a previous installation of Windows and hopefully find one. You will then press R to run a repair on that installation. what that will do is delete and recopy all the system files. You will most likely have to re enter your product key so have it handy.

 

ok so no disc drive....

 

Unfortunately I am not able to get to a C prompt. Pressing enter in lieu of r just takes me back to the Toshiba screen. Sometimes holding down r will make a progress bar show, but it only gets maybe 10% of the way done before returning to the black screen/Toshiba screen cycle. No text or other clues accompany this bar. Continuing to hold r or letting it go don't seem to affect it's lack of completion.

 

Picture 1 (not letting me upload more than one pic at a time from y phone) but just so you have an idea.

 

I think if you just want files then you could use a linux CD/USB to get your files copied to a USB flash.

Puppy Linux is sufficient for just copying files. You can use pendrive linux as described in the guide to put Puppy on USB stick. Then boot from the USB and your various partitions will be visible as icons at the bottom left of the desktop. The ones starting with sda will be those on your HD. So sda1 or sda2 will probably contain the files you want. The ones starting with sdb, sdc etc. will indicate other devices and one will be your USB flash drive. You can copy from the correct sda drive tho the appropriate flash drive. This is a very comprehensive guide.

As far as getting to chkdsk that is a bit tricky. The recovery console does not like to run from USB. If you only care about getting your files hen you are probably best doing that and then reloading. If you want to try to save your current installation then I can only think to get something like Hirens boot CD and putting it on USB to run chkdsk.

 

The other picture...

 

I will definitely keep this method in mind if I haven't found a way in by the time I get home from vacation, since a second computer and my USB drives are there.

 

Yes, I don't see how you are going to be able to do anything without another computer to get a boot USB drive written.

It looks like a primary registry file \windows\system32\config\system is corrupt. Chkdsk /r might be able to fix it but all the options on the Advanced startup screen will fail because of that file being corrupted. I can't see any way forward without a working boot disc/USB.

 

Do you think a regular MSdos boot disk would do it? I imagine I can make one of those anywhere...

 

DOS can't see NTFS filesystem.

What does that computer have available as a boot device--a floppy drive but no CDROM? How old is it--can it even boot from USB?

 

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies. I ended up having to take the machine to a shop to have it done. They were able to bypass all of my various issues, save my data, and reload Windows.

Sadly, I lost all of my saved passwords... which should make the next few months of web browsing a major PITA, but hey, repairing the machine was cheaper than buying a new one.

Thanks again!