\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

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\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM; That problem again...
Topic Started: May 25 2009, 11:40 PM (287 Views)
cvn-tv-dip	May 25 2009, 11:40 PM Post #1
Retired Soliloquist Posts: 2,915 Group: Members Member #54,295 Joined: May 14, 2005 I'm Browsing With Firefox 3	A problem similar to one I had a year and a half ago is now occurring on my friend's laptop. Quote: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair. Basically Windows wouldn't start because this one file is missing or corrupt. For reference, my friend has two hard disks in her laptop; C: Approximately 148GB, with about 120GB used and about 28GB free -> Windows XP installed and corrupt D: Approximately 1GB, with about 300MB used and about 700MB free I knew what I had to do, or so I thought. First I tried using GParted to partition C drive into two - a 20GB partition with nothing inside for installing XP, and a 128GB partition containing the files. However, there's an icon next to the C drive (looks like ). Right-clicking on this icon shows that there are some errors with it. The D drive is not problematic like this. I also noticed that while the D drive showed info on how much space was used and how much was left, the C drive could not. And when I try to resize the C drive (this separates some of the free space and makes it available for a new partition), it wouldn't let me. For those curious on what all this means, try making your own ISO-image GParted CD and then running it (independently of XP). It's a useful program. Then I tried using an XP CD (I had SP1 and SP2) to either reinstall Windows or repair (Recovery Console), the latter that I don't really know how to work. There's a problem, though. When I try either one, something roughly meaning this message comes up: Translated message Windows Setup CD could not find a usable hard drive. Check to see if hard drive is on, the hardware is properly connected... (I don't know what the rest means exactly) Although I don't completely understand this message, I diagnosed the problem as not just some file missing (as important as it may be), but something's really wrong with this drive, and that's why none of these CD programs could read/recognize the C drive. This is strange, because when I encountered the problem back in November 2007, I could at least format/reinstall XP. Maybe it's because I had two drives, each big enough (9+ GB) to hold XP, but I doubt that it's simply this. In summary, I can't seem to do anything with this corrupted drive. I want to know: * What keeps causing this? * Is there a way to connect the laptop to some external hard drive and install Windows there, and access the files by running Windows there? Edited by cvn-tv-dip, May 25 2009, 11:41 PM.



Matthew	May 26 2009, 08:58 AM Post #2
Member Posts: 5,169 Group: Members Member #18,161 Joined: May 4, 2004	I don't know what's going on with Windows not being able to boot (lolwindows), but the part where you mentioned GParted not being able to partition your C: drive makes it sound like that hard drive could be dying. I had a similar problem to this happen on an old computer years ago (when trying to re-install Windows it kept failing, trying to partition to install Linux kept failing, etc.), turns out the hard drive had to be replaced because it was failing. Have you tried running some form of disk check on the C: drive? Either in Windows or off a Linux live CD? Also, i'd recommending backing up anything important from the C: drive while you still can.



Tony	May 26 2009, 11:43 AM Post #3
Katorga-12 Posts: 6,956 Group: Global Support Team Member #32,550 Joined: October 15, 2004	The issue with Windows may relate to the registry. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545



cvn-tv-dip	May 26 2009, 02:39 PM Post #4
Retired Soliloquist Posts: 2,915 Group: Members Member #54,295 Joined: May 14, 2005 I'm Browsing With Firefox 3	Quote: Also, i'd recommending backing up anything important from the C: drive while you still can. But how would I do that without a working Windows? I tried recovery console as Tony said, but Windows Setup CD couldn't do anything because C drive is apparently not readable for some reason. Quote: Have you tried running some form of disk check on the C: drive? Either in Windows or off a Linux live CD? How would I do that, though? If the drive is not working, then I don't know how that would work. Currently we can't access Windows at all on her laptop. I was thinking about adding the C drive to a different computer with Windows in it, to try to work with that, but that seems hard to do with a laptop.



Matthew	May 26 2009, 04:34 PM Post #5
Member Posts: 5,169 Group: Members Member #18,161 Joined: May 4, 2004	Edit: Nevermind. Edited by Matthew, May 26 2009, 04:58 PM.



FearKiller	May 26 2009, 04:48 PM Post #6
www.fearkiller.net Posts: 1,209 Group: Members Member #1,769 Joined: May 21, 2003 I'm Browsing With Firefox 3	cvn-tv-dip May 26 2009, 02:39 PM Quote: Also, i'd recommending backing up anything important from the C: drive while you still can. But how would I do that without a working Windows? I tried recovery console as Tony said, but Windows Setup CD couldn't do anything because C drive is apparently not readable for some reason. Quote: Have you tried running some form of disk check on the C: drive? Either in Windows or off a Linux live CD? How would I do that, though? If the drive is not working, then I don't know how that would work. Currently we can't access Windows at all on her laptop. I was thinking about adding the C drive to a different computer with Windows in it, to try to work with that, but that seems hard to do with a laptop. Your problem is in fact an issue with the registry. Since you are not able to access Windows from the Windows CD, the fix for this error will be rather difficult if it is still possible. Is your HDD a SATA or IDE drive? Some SATA drives require the third party drivers in order to be recognized by the Windows installation CD. See if there is anything on the manufacturer's web site regarding HDD drivers. Your hard drive could also be bad. Especially since a third party boot disk was not able to access it for partitioning. Do you hear any clicking noises at all as the hard drive spins? Recovering data can be done in several ways. There are SATA-to-USB and IDE-to-USB connectors for this purpose. Which allow you to turn your internal hard drive into a somewhat external hard drive. Running a live install of Linux off the CD is also possible to recover data from a Window's partition. You can slave the drive in another computer, but as you said, this is difficult with a laptop HDD. If the HDD is not able to be read by any method you use to access it, try running a "chkdsk /r" on the drive. The best way in your case would be to hook up with one of those SATA/IDE-to-USB connectors and perform the chkdsk on the drive via the command prompt. If chkdsk is out of the question, there is the old trick of freezing the hard drive. Put the hard drive in a zip lock bag. Try to get as much air as possible out of the bag and stick it in the freezer over night. Take it out and place it back into the laptop. Boot up and recover data like you've never recovered data before. EDIT: Don't forget to make sure the HDD is properly connected. We don't want the easy stuff being the end result after we already tried all the hard stuff. Edited by FearKiller, May 26 2009, 04:54 PM.



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