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schoolmom123

51 Posts

41438

January 31st, 2008 00:00

windows won't start

I posted a reply to hawkeye's message regarding:
"I have an Inspireon laptop that get the following message at boot up: Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM."
(then, it goes on to tell me I can attempt to fix it with the windows setup, original cd, but it didn't come with one)
I am getting that same message and don't know what to do. 
I decided to start my own message, to keep track of your instructions.
 
Please help.........awaiting instructions.
Stefanie

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

January 31st, 2008 03:00

Schoolmom123,
 
Well, you said you can follow instructions.  Here they are:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/
 
I just used them today to fix a Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop whose registry was corrupted by some pretty serious malware.  Print them out.  As long as you're only going to run the Recovery Console and not attempt a reinstall of XP, you can use any Windows XP with the same version (Home or Professional) and Service Pack as shown on the Microsoft Product Key label on your computer.
 
 
Hope this info helps.
 
Tony

schoolmom123

51 Posts

January 31st, 2008 12:00

Thanks!  I will give it a try.  I read the instructions and think I can do it.
I have some questions first (remember, I am a novice).
 
1. Can I assume that Windows XP is installed in the C:\Windows folder?  It says the procedure assumes it and I have no idea how to check it with the computer in this state.
 
2. Can I use a Windows XP Home disc that is 3 years older than the laptop I am trying to fix?  If this might cause a problem I will request other ones from dell.
 
3. What made this happen and how to I prevent it?
 
Thanks again!
 

Gonzobob

11 Posts

January 31st, 2008 12:00

I would also suggest running hard disk diagnostics.  In my experience when system files start getting corrupted a fair percentage of the time it's a first sign that something may be going wrong with the HDD.  While corrupt files can occur for other reasons including malware I find checking the HW first can save me a lot of time.

schoolmom123

51 Posts

January 31st, 2008 12:00

Once I run through the fix instructions and have windows back, should I just use the hard disk scan option in windows or is there a better (free) scan that I can do?
 
I still have no idea what caused this, but there were signs it was coming.....in the middle of browsing the internet, a blue screen would appear that said window had to shut down because of a corrupt file.  When I turned the laptop back on it did some kind of disk check, still with a blue DOS screen.  Then windows came back like there was no problem.
Does this sound like Malware?
 

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

January 31st, 2008 18:00

Schoolmom123,
 
Due to the frequency of BSODs (Blue Screen(s) of Death), I would say it's a tossup.  It could be malware causing the BSODs or it could be that your hard drive is beginning to go south.  You can download HDTune_254.exe  here:  http://www.hdtune.com/download.html.  It's a pretty decent little program that will quickly tell you if your hard drive has developed bad sectors.  Scandisk and chkdsk are basic disk and file integrity scanners. 
 
While you can use the 3-year old Windows CD to get to the Recovery Console, it needs to be the same version (Home or Pro) and Service Pack (1, 1a or 2) as your system if you need to do a repair install of Windows or run the System File Checker (SFC).   I would suggest again that you contact Dell regarding backup discs for your system. 
 
Normally, Windows installs in the C:\Windows subdirectory.  Certain versions install in the C:\Winnt subdirectory.  It will be one or the other.
 
As to what made this happen and how to prevent it, I would offer a couple of suggestions.  First, you should keep your antivirus, antispyware and firewall programs up to date.  Second, avoid moving the laptop around while it's running.  I know it's called a laptop, but don't take the nomenclature too literally.  Avoid bouncing that baby around while it's running, and be aware of where the ventilation grills are located.  Overheating kills many a laptop motherboard and hard drive.  I just installed a new hard drive in a Toshiba laptop.  The old one suffered thermal failure.  Judging by the owner's desk, it wasn't hard to figure out that the system couldn't breathe with all those napkins and Post-It (tm) notes underneath it.  It literally sat "down" in a pile of papers on his desk.  It helpss if you purchase one of those cans of compressed air and blow out the cooling fan vents ever so often.
 
Hope this info helps.  Let us know how you fare.
 
Tony 


Message Edited by tgsmith on 01-31-2008 03:56 PM

schoolmom123

51 Posts

January 31st, 2008 19:00

Hi Tony,
I requested the windows xp cd from dell to be sure I have the correct one.  I will wait until it arrives to do anything.  I'm confused about why I can't get the drivers on cd.  I guess I will cross that bridge when it comes.
 
While reading your post, I realized there may have been an overheating problem.  My husband would sit in his fat-boy lazy chair in front of the tv with the laptop on his lap.  After the first BSOD, we actually talked about how it may be getting too hot and he started holding it differently, so to not cover the vent.  But the BSODs kept coming (happened maybe 5 times).
 
I will try your suggestions before anything else, but if it has overheated, what do you predict will happen?  Am I looking at replacing something other than software?  That may be over my head.....or do you think I can do it myself?  (I can follow instructions, remember).
 
For now, I will wait for the cd and I will check back in with you when I attempt to fix it.
 
I appreciate your support.
Stefanie

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

January 31st, 2008 23:00

Stefanie,
 
While inadequate ventilation can slow down your computer and potentially cause some form of thermal failure, I still think your basic problem is malware.  Your laptop has thermal monitoring circuits that will completely shut it down if serious overheating occurs.  Same is true of your hard drive.    S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Report Technology) drives are the rule in modern computers.  
 
When you get your CDs, you'll get your system back up.  If a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) occurs be sure to write down the bugcheck code.  For example:  STOP: 0x0000007E, could mean your sound card driver is corrupt, a Windows update was incorrectly applied, or you simply experienced an electronic hiccup.
 
Let us know when you get your CDs.  If you have any problems getting your laptop back up, let us know.  There's more than one way to skin a cat.
 
Tony
 
 

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 5th, 2008 19:00

Hi Tony!  I got the CDs today.

Here's what happened so far.....

 

I turned on the laptop, put the cd in, my instructions said to restart, so I turned it off, then on again. 

The written instructions say to press R at the "Welcome to Setup" screen and the instructions on the laptop say to press R at the first screen.  So, I pressed the R when I saw the first screen (this is the one with the large blue DELL and in the top right corner it says F2 SETUP and F12 BOOT MENU)

Then.....I heard the cd doing something.....

Quickly it flashed a message saying: Loading PBR.....Done.

Then it goes right back to the original message telling me window could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt \WINDOW\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM 

 

I repeated the whole thing 3 times to make sure I could explain everything correctly.

 

is this bad?  now what? Please advise.

Stefanie

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 5th, 2008 21:00

OK, thanks.

I got to the Recovery Console command prompt and typed the following per instructions:

md tmp

copy c:\windows\system32\config\system

[then it told me copied, then I typed..]

c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

[and it told me it did not recognize the command]

I tried it again and it told me the same thing.

 

what should I do?  I hope your shift just started.

:)

tgsmith

2.9K Posts

February 5th, 2008 21:00

Stefanie,

 

Everything's normal.  You've just got to get the procedure right.  Insert Dell Reinstallation CD for Windows XP in the CD-ROM drive.  Restart the computer.  While the Dell logo is on the screen, press F12.  A boot menu should pop up.  Use the arrow keys to highlight your CD/DVD drive as the boot device.  Press Enter.  If you see a message "Press any key to boot from CD...", the press any key.  The Windows Setup begins.  At the Windows Setup screen, press "R" to enter the Recovery Console.  A prompt will pop up asking you to select the Windows installation you wish to log onto.  Usually there's just one, so you press the numeral "1".  Then you will be asked for the administrative password.  Usually it's blank, so just press Enter.  That should bring you to the command prompt.  At that point, you follow the written instructions you downloaded for repairing your system.

 

Tony

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 5th, 2008 22:00

ok, never mind.  when I copied and printed the instructions, I changed the font to bigger and split the lines up.

false alarm.

I'll keep you posted.

:)

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 5th, 2008 22:00

I tried typing c:\winnt instead of c:\windows and it told me access denied.

I don't know if I was on the right track with that one, but I will stop trying things until you tell me what to do.

Thanks!

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 5th, 2008 22:00

New issue, sorry Tony.

I typed this:

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

Everything went well until I started the next line (see below).  I was going to type the following, but after the first line it told me the system cannot fine the file specified.  Is it hiding?


copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 6th, 2008 00:00

After the C:\windows>

I typed:

CD\windows\repair

and it told me command not recognized.

I did it twice to be sure.

 

:)  awaiting instructions

 

 

schoolmom123

51 Posts

February 6th, 2008 00:00

I took a break from it and went back.  I tried the line:

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

and it still does not find the specified file.

 

I continued and entered the rest of the lines.

Now, I am thinking the very first thing I did, when I pressed enter too early, I may have messed this up.  I am not sure how to continue.  If this line had worked, I was supposed to enter EXIT and it would restart.

 

Let me know what I can do at this point.

Thanks.

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