help fixing xp

Question

we have the system32/config/system error

called Dell, they sent us a reinstallation DVD; we hadn't gotten one when we bought the system 2 years ago.

Changed the boot sequence to boot from CD drive first; there's no option for booting from DVD. We have 2 drives, a regular CD and the DVD-rom and burner. It is recognizing the CD drive; but not the DVD.

Is there anyway to change which drive it's recognizing?

I have a laptop with a DVD reader/CD burner, can I make a CD copy of the installation DVD? Anything else I should try?

Calling Dell was our last resort, so we are out of options and have a dead computer if I can't get this to work.

if it means anything we have a dimension e310, added a 400g hard drive not too long ago, otherwise everything is original.

Jman30 · Answer

If the drive is a SATA drive all you have to do is remove the cables from the top drive and it will see the secondary drive as the master then it will boot from it

jenniferj5 · Answer

I ended up figuring it out.

I turned the regular CD off in the setup. So that worked.

And I get to the Windows setup thing; where' I'm supposed to press R to get to recovery.

And there's no R.

It says something about pressing F2 to get to ARI (or something) and then starts loading flies.

I'm on my 2nd time trying to do this part, last time I got this error:

C_1252.nls File Missing or Corrupt; error code 7

so I'm doing it again, not sure what to do if it happens again.

How long is it supposed to take to get to the 'R'?

PETER345 · Answer

Yes that works for a temporary setup, but you will get an error message at boot time. Peter

PETER345 · Answer

You don't say what machine you have. Normally, only the FIRST CD/DVD drive is bootable. You can make the DVD drive the master (IDE) or plug it into an lower number port if SATA. Then you should be able to boot the DVD. Note that some people have trouble boot CDs from DVD drives, though.

I presume you have XP MCE and I suspect there is too much material to make a CD (hence the DVD). You should be able to boot the DVD without trying to make a CD.

Peter

manuson · Answer

sorry to squeeze into the conver.... It would take around 4-5 mins to reach the screen to selct 'R' for recovery console... its after it displays F2 for ARI .. F6 for scsi drivers etc....

manuson · Answer

Hi Jenifer,

If you type exit in ecovery console it will exit out of recovery console and reboot like usual..

You will need to boot to the CD and get into recovery console again...

and if asked for the admin password simply press enter again...

when reached c:\windows>

type cd \ .... this will take you to c:\>

type cd system~1\_resto~1

if you get access denied then

type cd windows\system32\config

type ren system system.bak

type exit the system will restart ... boot to recover console again by choosing the "R" option and start from above steps again... (i.e cd \ and cd system~1\_resto~1)

when you reach the "c:\system~1\_resto~1>" prompt

type dir you will get a list of restore points in the directory.. scroll down by hitting enter

note the last Rp

type cd rp

type cd snapshot

type copy registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system

if you are asked to confirm over write the file press y

type copy registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software

type copy registry_machine_security c:\windows\system32\config\security

type copy registry_machine_sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam

type copy registry_user_.default c:\windows\system32\config\default

make sure to type the "." above only befoer the first default....

sit down on your keyboard and this should take care of the problem..... all the best.... lol

Message Edited by manuson on 11-01-2007 04:31 PM

jenniferj5 · Answer

Uuuummmmm, yeah. Something went wonky.

So it went to a black screen. DVD just kept spinning, I did force shutoff, after 5mins it was still doing it.

When I turned it back on it did the whole shut off wrong how do you want to start. safe mode and all that. i did last known good config. it showed the windows xp starting up thing and went back to the black screen.

jenniferj5 · Answer

and did say it in my first post, but we have a dimension e310.

sorry for so many posts.

black screen left and now it says windows is starting up.

what in the world is going on?

Message Edited by jenniferj5 on 11-01-2007 04:10 PM

jenniferj5 · Answer

Thanks =D

It worked the 2nd time, and now I have no idea what I'm doing, lol.

It asked for an administrator password, we never set one up with this computer so I just hit enter and then it gave me the C:\windows> thing.

I hope I'm on the right track.
______________________________________

well i think i broke it.

i was going to do the one where you do the CD .. thing.

decided i wanted to try another one, and just did exit.

so now it's restarting and i don't think it's recognizing anything.

jenniferj5 · Answer

thanks =D

whatever i did seems to be working for now so we're going to backup all our pictures and music. do a virus and spyware scan and then reformat the hard drive and install vista.

i still have no idea what happened; i didn't actually do anything in recovery but it did something. it's still not totally fixed, there's some .dll issues but it's enough to get our important stuff off of it.

and even though the installation DVD is stil in the thing it wasn't booting from it, it went straight to windows.

after 2 years i think we need a reformat anyway.

Windows General

help fixing xp

Was this post helpful?