\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM Help please.

Question

Hi Everyone,

I am clueless.
I'm new to all this so please be gentle.

I have a Dell 3000, that I bought 6 months ago.

Al I seem to get on the the black screen is this message no matter what I try.

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

You can attempt to reapair this file by starting windows set-up
using the original set up CD-ROM
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

I've tried doing the F8,with all the different options.
safe mode
Last known good configuration(your most recent settings that worked)
etc etc.

The PC came already installed with WINDOWS XP HOME.

The DISC I have with Windows XP including service pack 2 says on it,
"This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers.
But I tried it anyway and nothing happend when I put the disc in anyway.

ARRGGG someone please help.

Is it possible to buy a Reboot disc?
Could I borrow a disc off a friend?
Or is this PC well and truely gone?:smileysurprised:

DELL-Chris M · Answer

Noddyx,

Try this...

* Power the system off
* Disconnect all devices except for the following:
keyboard
mouse
monitor
speakers
* Power the computer on
* When the Dell screen appears press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard, press the F11 key, then release them both at the same time
NOTE: Only press the keys one time, if you press them more than once you will receive a keyboard error and will have to start the process over
* Click the Restore button. A caution message appears advising that all data will be lost
* Click the Confirm button. The progress window appears
When the restore is complete the message, "The system recovery process was successful." appears
* Click the Finish button
* The computer will restart

wtcnbrwndo4u · Answer

To clarify, what happened is a Windows file was somehow deleted. This file was required by Windows in order to boot. Without it, it won't boot. This will replace all Windows files to factory settings. This way, the missing file is placed back.

Noddyx · Answer

I had a choice of

Rebooting from the hard drive (Nothing happened)

Rebooting from CD ROM

Action

1.Run graphics adapter advanced diagnostics

2.Run the 32 bit dell diagnostics

3.Create SATA AHC1/RAID driver diskettet for dimension XPS Gen 3

4.Create SATA RAID driver diskettet for XPS Gen 2 systems

5.Exit ti DOS

6.Reboot the system(Did this but nothing happened)

Nothing seems to be happening oh no I'm getting depressed again

ejn63 · Answer

Call Dell. The hard drive has failed and needs to be replaced.

Noddyx · Answer

It's done a 100% now it says strike F1 to retry reboot, F2 for setup utility But nothing happened.   Do I turm it off to see if it reboots?

Noddyx · Answer

Hi,

Thankyou very much for your help.

Everything seemed to be going to plan but the Progress indicator seems to be stuck on just over 50% for the last 10-15 minutes, is this normal?

Should I leave it?

How long does it take?

Noddyx · Answer

All I'm getting now is a black screen, with a new line saying this message every 30 seconds.

strike F1 to retry reboot, F2 for setup utility

Noddyx · Answer

Oh no why me? Has it really failed?

Carl Winslow Jr · Answer

i dunno that i'd agree that the harddrive has mysteriously failed.  I can't remember that system to well, but see'n as you're using a sata drive, i'd guess that the problem is a BIOS settting to do with that drive.   Go into your BIOS and see if you can set the drive to 'combination' or similar.   If that's not an option, press CTRL + ALT + D at the Dell splash screen to run the harddrive diagnostics.  Takes about 2 minutes to complete and will tell you if the harddrive is in fact dead (which i suppose is a possibility).

wtcnbrwndo4u · Answer

Not SATA. Parallel ATA.

Noddyx · Answer

Carl, Just did Ctrl  Alt D at the flash Dell screen And the sceen comes up with 'keyboard failure' Could this be the problem, that when I strike F1 nothing happens?

Noddyx · Answer

I swopped keyboards, and the message strike F1 to try and reboot, F2 for setup utility always comes up F1 doesn't work but F2 Does.

ejn63 · Answer

Is the drive recognized in Setup, or is it listed as an unknown device?

Noddyx · Answer

Nothing in setup is listed as an unknown device.   AUTO POWER ON........DISABLED FAST BOOT....................ON OS INSTALL MODE..........OFF LIMTED CPUID VALUE.....DISABLED IDE HARD DRIVE ACOUSTICS MODE....BYPASS   I'm sure all this came about because I deleted Mcfee anti-virus programme because the trail period ran out, and I remember deleting something that said if you delete this it might effect other programmes:smileysad:

Carl Winslow Jr · Answer

hmm alright, well if you can't run the harddrive diagnostics like that, and they're not listed when you push F12 on bootup to bring up the one time boot menu, i'd boot into the 32bit diags (from that same boot menu) and just do an express test (or if you wanna get fancy a custom harddrive diags and try a couple tests.)   assuming those pass - thats just peachy.   You could simply try the image restore CTRL + F11 again incase the restore just didn't properly complete.  Lastly if you're completely stuck, since you have the OS cd, you could simply try a repair install of windows.  (the fact that you're not getting a windows error or even getting into windows is the only thing that says maybe it is the harddrive).  On that note, if you are having trouble getting into the diags one way or another, you could simply discnonect the harddrive power and data cables, and see if it properly starts up then - giving you a no operating system found.  Likewise you could try removing or disconnecting other components (especially external component) to see if any of them cause the system to boot properly.

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\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM Help please.

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