Double Argh

[quartet-man]

My work computer (XP) froze upon boot up yesterday. I had to power down by holding down the power button until it shut off. When I rebooted I got the following message:

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 set up CD-rom. Select "R" at the first screen to start repair.

I wasn't able to get that to work. The hard drive diagnostics seem to indicate it is fine. I will have to give additional info later, but really need to get this going without losing my data. Most of my data is in MyDocuments, but I also have stuff on the desktop and perhaps other folders under C. I can't recall that, but there is some data elsewhere for programs. I could figure that out perhaps. I also want to keep my Outlook Email. What can I do?

If it comes down to it, would installing XP on another hard drive allow me to access this one and retrieve my data? Thanks a lot.

[Spools]

If you have another drive, then yes installing XP on the other drive and then adding your original drive back in would allow you to access all of your data.

It might not be a bad idea too. That way you can use the original drive as a backup for your files

[quartet-man]

I have a secondary drive already in use. I can't recall how many I am allowed to have. I would prefer getting this going as is if I can and then backing up the files again afterwards unless I am risking the data in the solutions to fix it. Maybe it is time to just get another drive and do that if I have to.

Does anyone have a way to restore my computer as is?

[quartet-man]

By the way, what if I got an enclosure for the SATA drive and plugged that into a laptop with XP on it? That way I could back up data from it and reinstall XP on the same drive. I want to get another hard drive sometime, but hate to get the big 1TB or 1.5 TB and install XP on it because I would want to use the smaller drive for my boot drive and the larger for data only.

[glc]

By the way, what if I got an enclosure for the SATA drive and plugged that into a laptop with XP on it? That way I could back up data from it and reinstall XP on the same drive.

That's the best way. Get one of these for your toolkit:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020&cat=HDD

[quartet-man]

I got the kit and that is cool. Now I am running into a problem with it saying access denied when I try to access my documents. I presume it is because of permission with the fact I have a password. What can I do? I have the password, I just don't know if that is it or how to use it in this case.

Also, would I just be able to copy the Windows\system32\config\ system from the other computer and paste to this one instead of having to reinstall everything?

[quartet-man]

By the way, how do I get access to the stuff that had been on my desktop on this drive as well as how do I get my Outlook emails? Thanks.

[mickzer]

By the way, how do I get access to the stuff that had been on my desktop on this drive as well as how do I get my Outlook emails? Thanks.


Try this:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421


mickzer.

[quartet-man]

Thanks, I will give it a shot and report back either way.

[quartet-man]

So far so good. I am sure I will get the fun of doing it again when I get Windows reinstalled, but still a much better sceario than losing thousands of files. Thanks everyone for your help. Now I just need to find out where my emails are stored, but I am looking.

[quartet-man]

Can someone tell me where the location of my emails are in Outlook? I know where to find them in Outlook Express in Windows 98SE. Are these emails as hard to archive or transfer as they are in Outlook Express?

[glc]

Nope, everything is in one file - outlook.pst. Mail folders, contacts, calendars, the works.

[quartet-man]

Thanks. Would the thing I mention about replacing the missing or corrupt file be worth pursuing, or would it not work due to the registry? I would prefer to get this hard drive working (I intend to back up stuff first either way. )

[glc]

Do a Google search on that exact error - there are a few articles that address it. Unfortunately, it's often a precursor to a hard drive failure.

[quartet-man]

I have looked into the error a little. I tried some of the solutions before posting here initially. Thanks for the headsup regarding the hard drive. I might just get another. I need to find out more about ghosting a drive and what to use, that might be something I should do. Any recommendations? How well does that work with recovery in case of a major problem?

[glc]

Acronis True Image is the best software for imaging a drive in my opinion. It can do a "bare metal" restore from a bootdisk in case of hard drive failure.

[quartet-man]

Originally Posted by glc Acronis True Image is the best software for imaging a drive in my opinion. It can do a "bare metal" restore from a bootdisk in case of hard drive failure.

Thanks, It sounds like something I should look into.