Get a corrupt system file when starting the computer..

Question

Hi

I got a old Dell computer (XPS/Dimension 400/9150) planning on buying a new one pretty soon.. but i wanna save all things i got on this one first.

So this happened today. When starting up i get this message "Windows could not start because the following fileis missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM" and asks me to insert windows setup cd-rom and press "r" when the disc loads. So i go to the boot menu using F12 and start from the windows cd. I select repair when the cd is finished loading and in the dos window that shows next i type 1 and hit enter, then a blue screen shows up saying "problem detected etc.. Bad_Pool_Caller try reboot and press F8 to go to advanced startup and choose safe mode" so i do that, but when choosing safe mode the first error message shows up

again " file is corrupt or missing etc.." also tried to choose the option start from the last good configuration. Technical information Stop: 0x000000C2

ty for any answer

osprey4 · Answer

Hi Roszchak,

While all of these are software errors, they could be a hint of an underlying hard drive problem. Let me suggest you run the Dell diagnostics and test your hard drive to rule out any bad sectors. To do this, you should boot to your Dell resource disc. Run both the fast and extended hard drive tests. If an error is indicated, then stop using the drive.

If the drive comes up clean, then I'd suggest you head over to the operating system forum for more help.

roszchak · Answer

Hi

thanks for answering. I did run the diagnostic test from the resource cd (did only the fast one) and it didnt report any error, gonna try the extended

too. But im starting to think maybe i should do a new install of the windows xp, havent done it since i bought the computer nearly 5 years ago, and

i read that you dont have to lose the files if you just reinstall and not formated.

RoHe · Answer

The registry is corrupted. :emotion-6:

After you do the extended hard drive tests, go to How to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry. Read the section about "Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

.Ron

roszchak · Answer

im gonna use the harddrive as an external drive. I have never done it before but is this the right thing to buy ?

http://www.cableworld.se/pc-kablar/sata-kabel/usb-2.0-till-sataide-adapter.asp?gclid=CP-y_5j2zaQCFQyGDgod40TR6A

also.. at the moment i only got a macbook working so will the harddrive work on the macbook?

shesagordie · Answer

roszchak

The USB 2.0 SATA/IDE adapter will work fine to attach a hard drive temporarily to a working computer, to recover the files and folders, but if you wish to use the hard drive as an external drive, it's better to use a powered, USB 2.0, SATA enclosure, similar to THIS

Bev.

roszchak · Answer

sry meant this one sata 3.5 http://www.kjell.com/content/templates/shop_main_details.aspx?item=91721&path=97000000,119000000,149500000,151020000

roszchak · Answer

thanks for the reply :) . Im gonna buy this one tomorrow http://www.kjell.com/?item=91169&path=97000000,119000000,149500000,151020000 hope it will work on my mac.. ive heard diffrent answers on that.

shesagordie · Answer

roszchak  The 3.5' enclosure shown HERE will be fine. Sorry, don't know if it will work a Mac. Bev.

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Get a corrupt system file when starting the computer..

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