Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
4 Posts
0
22750
February 5th, 2008 03:00
Corrupt or Missing Ntfs.sys File
I have a Dell Dimension 4700 2 gbs ram (2x 512mb added on) 3 ghz processor 7600 gtx xxx 256mb graphics card 80 gb hard drive. Windows XP Pro SP 2
So I restarted my computer yesterday and was rudely smacked in the face with this problem. It is a black screen saying I have a missing or corrupt ntfs.sys file. I have the Windows XP Pro Reinstall disc and took it upon myself to try to fix it. I would rather not have to reinstall windows to fix this problem, but at the moment it is not looking that good. I looked online repair options such as repairing the partition and repairing using the recovery setup, but wasn't given the option. Basically I tried to rename the ntfs.sys file by typing:
ren C:\windows\system32\drivers\ntfs.sys ntfs.bad
The respond i receive is:
The system cannot find the file or directory specified.
I deduced that the problem was that the file had somehow gone missing for reasons unknown. I did not try to convert my hard drive or anything of that nature. I then tried to copy directly from the disc using the command:
copy d:\i386\ntfs.sys c:\windows\system32\drivers
and the response i get is:
1 files copied
So that's all good then i restart and get the problem corrupt file, pci.sys
So i attempt the same thing, but this time, I am unable to get to it because my access is denied. I am not given the option to login as admin or anything. I'm currently running a ChkDsk at the moment to see if it does anything, but it takes a bit. I plan to see if I can do a normal XP repair after this, but who knows. Any help would make me forever indebted to someone.
Thanks a lot,
Theflexmaster
mombodog
2 Intern
•
12.7K Posts
0
February 5th, 2008 03:00
It is usually one of 4 things.
1. Corrupt file system, chkdsk will usually cure it if it is not severe.
2. Failing hard drive, or dead drive.
3. Malware
4. Heavily fragmented hard drive.
artizen
130 Posts
0
February 5th, 2008 05:00
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545
mombodog
2 Intern
•
12.7K Posts
0
February 5th, 2008 11:00
artizen, not good advice, did you read the warning in the article??
"Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives."
Dell uses OEM installations.
Always refer Dell owners to this article instead of the Microsoft one you posted.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&dl=false&l=en&s=gen&docid=89C2285FB22749B5ABF7CCB9CB612D47&doclang=en
Theflexmaster
4 Posts
0
February 5th, 2008 19:00
Enter the Administrator password, if any, and press the key on the keyboard to display the C:\WINDOWS> prompt.
Except for the fact I am not able to do so. Normally i would press 1 to go to C:\WINDOWS, but now it just goes to the recovery console and has just C:\ displayed. I try to do the cd C:\Windows\system32\drivers but it says access denied. I have done a chkdsk, but all it says is that there is an problem and stops checking. I fear i might have to reinstall Windows, but i'm trying to avoid it at all costs. Any answer to this problem?
Thanks a lot,
Theflexmaster
mombodog
2 Intern
•
12.7K Posts
0
February 5th, 2008 20:00
The only thing I can suggest at this point is this software, not free, but can work miracles on recovering corrupted data on hard drives.
http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm
artizen
130 Posts
0
February 6th, 2008 07:00
I've read it and I've done it often. This is refering to the HP/paq disks and not those from Dell.
mombodog
2 Intern
•
12.7K Posts
0
February 6th, 2008 13:00
Many members have reported the problem described in the article when using this method.
It is bad advice but I am sure you be there to help them when things go wrong.
Theflexmaster
4 Posts
0
February 6th, 2008 17:00
Basically what i've decided to do is take my SATA hard drive and put it into another computer and set it up as a slave drive. Then i just took my info off of it and put it on an alternative harddrive. Now i'm just reinstalling windows and that should fix it. It's reallly annoying getting the info because i have to change privilages to the files, but oh well. I pretty much got all i needed back.
Thanks for the help guys,
Theflexmaster
artizen
130 Posts
0
February 6th, 2008 22:00