major probs

[Tregrad]

on boot up I get this screen that says....

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.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I did the repair thing but to no avail.....any thing I can do besides formating and loosing all my business files.

[mystvearn]

take the current hd, make it into a slave hd, mount it on another pc with win xp, save the files that you want first. This should be the first step, if you don't have a backup of the files.

[Lefty]

Yea installing another temporary hard drive is a good idea. That way, you can get all your files and save them onto the temporary hard drive after you have formatted it and installed the Operating System on it. Then, you could format your original hard drive and set the temporary one back to a slave if you wanted to put your files back on to your original.

If you was lucky enough like me, you could get a copy of "Partition Magic". This allows you to take a piece of your hard drive and give it a letter like D: or E: or H: or any other available letter and store all your files on that section of the hard drive. If your hard drive ever becomes unbootable again, all you have to do is reformat the C: drive, and not the drive that has all your files.

Yea I seen my share of that same error message! It's so annoying.

(Warez offer removed by moderator)

[hobey19]

did you do the repair install or the recovery console? a repair install is just like reinstalling windows, only it doesn't delete any of your files. it merely replaces all of the system files back to the original. when you get to the windows setup screen, it will ask if you would like to install windows or repair the current one. just choose repair, and it will go through the install of xp.

here are some directions for doing a repair (more detailed than mine)
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm

btw, lefty, we do not support illegal software here, you may want to take a look at the forum rules

craig

[Tregrad]

I am in the middle of doing the "repair installation" and after I hit the F8 agreeing to the terms of use as suggested in Hobey's post, I get the following message;


The following list shows the existing partitions and
unpartitioned space on this computer.

Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select an item in the list.

. To set up WINDOWS XP on the selected item, press ENTER.

. To create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C.

. To delete selected partiton, press D.


_____________________________________________________________________

Unknown Disk

(There is no disk in this drive.)

39080 MB disk at 0 at ID 0 on bus 0 on ultra, [MBR]

C: partition1 [NTFS] 39080 MB (30043 MB free)

_____________________________________________________________________


There is no "r" option available. What should I do here?

[hobey19]

did oyu hover over c: partition one?

it prolly won't become r until you hit that, because there is nothing to repair

[Lefty]

I did not say you had to SUPPORT it. I am merely trying to help the guy out. They are legit.

[Tregrad]

Yo lefty thanks for the help, but I think what Hobey is trying to convey is taht these forums arent into burning programs and having illegal "copys" of programs flying around theyre forum (as i wouldnt either). I do appreciate your desire to help and maybe you can point me to a site where i can get it or something like it.
These guys are great around here and you can get lots of help from them but they are a totally legit operation.

Again, Thanks

[hobey19]

glad to help tregrad, and yes, lefty, while you were trying to help, the mods do keep a tight ship here, as they should. as far as being legit, yes, its a legit program, but not a copy of it.

tregrad, here is the info on partition magic: http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/

craig

[Tregrad]

Originally Posted by hobey19 did oyu hover over c: partition one? it prolly won't become r until you hit that, because there is nothing to repair

what do you mean "hover over c: partition one"

I just need to know the steps to repair the missing file if you could. I am not the greates at this so a step by step (from the begining) ie. put cd in, reboot, first screen do this, etc etc. would be awesome.
Thanks for the help Hobey.

[hobey19]

yea, there should be a white bar over the top line, and you can use the up/down arrows to select the c: partition1. once you get there, the option to repair should come up. as far as just replacing the file, i know there is a way to do it, and it involves the recovery console, but i do not know how to do it, sorry

craig

[glc]

Lefty, please read the forum rules. We have a zero tolerance policy on piracy, offering to send a copy of Partition Magic, which is a commercial program, NOT shareware, is piracy and strictly prohibited here.

- Moderator -

Tregrad, here is your solution, and it does not involve a reinstall.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

[Tregrad]

MAN!!!
glc, Thanks, but your never gonna guess..........I built this thing a while ago and used a OEM version of windows Xp LOL. do they have a solution for OEM versions? I will look for one and let you know if i find it. lololololol....that just figures I guess "Murphy" is alive and kickin eh?

[glc]

OEM is fine - it has the recovery console. Just boot with it and hit R as directed in the article.

[Tregrad]

Im able to put the corrupt hard drive on my machine and take the files off of it so I think i will give the corrupt HD and slam dunk it......Michael Jordan style.....from the top of the key.

[mystvearn]

Originally Posted by Tregrad Im able to put the corrupt hard drive on my machine and take the files off of it so I think i will give the corrupt HD and slam dunk it......Michael Jordan style.....from the top of the key.

I would keep it for future use. Not sure how corrupt it is, it is still useful. Sell it on ebay

[Tregrad]

Good Idea myst,
It wont let me do anything now, it just keeps going back to that same error I got in the beginning. I would sure like to take it shooting with me tho yeah I will put it back in my wifes machine with the new HD and then take the files off it she needs and then I can maybe use it for extra storage. thanks for all the help on this matter everyone.

[glc]

When you get the files off it, zero fill it and run diags on it, if it comes up clean, format it and reuse it somewhere.

[Tregrad]

Zero fill ?
Diag?

do you mean writing zeros to it? if so do you have or know where I can down load a program that will do it faster than GW scan? I used GW scan on a hard drive I had 5 years or so ago when i got a virus and it took for EVER.

[glc]

What brand is it? Most hard drive manufacturers' free diags and/or setup utilities have a zero fill option. Yes, on large drives it can take hours.

[Tregrad]

its a Maxtor 40 gb. I got the new hard drive installed and programs installed and my network up and running.....been a long day, had I been more knowlegable maybe it wouldnt have taken so long

[mystvearn]

40gb will not be too long

[Tregrad]

so what program do i use to do it? or, could I just delete windows off of it and use it for a storage area and take all the stuff off the drive that has windows on it (hopeing it would run faster )

One problem with that though is all my ribon thingy-mo-bobbers (the things taht plug into the back of hard drives burners roms etc.) are taken up by all my devices, how can i add more so i can put the old hard drive in it. Do they make a "Y" or something like that for it?

[mystvearn]

yes, normal win xp can do it. Right click on my computer>manage>disc managment.
You will see your hd's there, just format the faulty one.

[glc]

how can i add more so i can put the old hard drive in it. Do they make a "Y" or something like that for it?

Nope. 2 drives per cable, period. If you need more IDE channels, you will need an addon controller card. To temporarily install it to do diags and a zero fill, just disconnect a drive. I disconnect all other hard drives so I don't make a mistake and wipe out the wrong drive.

To zero fill a Maxtor, you can use either Maxblast 3 or Powermax. I'd use Powermax, because that's also a diagnostics suite. Free download from Maxtor, as a floppy disk maker. Run it with a blank floppy in the drive, then boot with the floppy.