Windows XP won't load - error msg is:

Question

Windows would not load because, it said, that the c:\windows\system32\config\system file was bad.  Copied new file there from c:\windows\repair.  Now windows will not complete the loading process with the following message:   WHEN TRYING TO UPDATE A PASSWORD, THIS RETURN STATUS INDICATES THAT THE VALUE PROVIDED AS THE CURRENT PASSWORD IS INCOCCRECT.   Nobody is trying to update a password.  A password is not being used.   Would appreciate someone deciphering this message.   Thanks   Robert

Flooby · Answer

Is that the complete (albeit misspelled) content of the error message, or are you leaving something out?  For instance, is this message preceded by something along the line of: 'System error lsass.exe:'?  Also, have you installed Service Pack 2?

rhwrightjr · Answer

Error message flashed on the screen only momentarily. But, you are correct, the error message does mention Isass.exe.  Also, SP2 has been installed.

Flooby · Answer

See this: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?s=dd729f5855685676deb004648267db32&showtopic=4276&pid=37667&st=0&#entry37667   The results aren't especially encouraging, particularly if you have the expected OEM version of Windows installed by Dell via Sysprep.  If you're unable to perform a System Restore to a point prior to when the problem started, you may be better off reinstalling Windows.  Note that the patch mentioned as being available from Microsoft for similar messages will not apply in this instance, and should not be applied.

rhwrightjr · Answer

Thanks for your help.  I am already in the planning stage to reinstall Windows. Robert

jjbuckaroo · Answer

You might want to run a few diagnostics on your system before you go through all that or end up installing it only to have it fail again. The config file it was missing is a big chunk of your registry which can definitely be due to a failing hard drive. Not sure what kind of system you have but you can run a quick test on the hard drive on most systems by pressing ctrl-alt-d at the dell screen that first comes up when you power on. You can also boot up to the drivers and utilties cd that shipped out with the system and run full diagnostics.

rhwrightjr · Answer

Good suggestion. Nothing to lose by checking it out. I'll run every test that Dell utilities will allow. The aggravation of these failures is that one never knows why the failure happened. Overall, XP is a good system, certainly a big improvement over the DOS based systems. But XP, like its predecessors, fails to give the user the help that one needs to do repairs. I have found the Restore program to be of little use, and the same for the XP Recovery Console. If the computer can tell the user that so and so file is missing or corrupt, why can't it be programmed to go through the process of renaming the old file and copying a new one. In the end, the answer too frequently is to reinstall, and, for most users, this is a huge problem. I maintain two XP systems on my computer on two partitions. This provides me with the means to work on one from the other. But then there comes a problem like this one, where there is no known solution other than reinstall. I have done enough reinstalls that I have the procedure down pat. However, as anyone who has done reinstalls knows, it takes a lot of time and a considerable amount of wear and tear on the liver.

Thanks to all for your suggestions and information. I have found the DELL forum to be a very useful place.

Windows General

Windows XP won't load - error msg is:

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