DUMB User Needs Help!

[Garry2009]

Hello..new dummy member here:

(System Information: 2.80 G Celeron CPU, 1 GB Ram, running XP Pro)

I picked up a virus and got the BSoD with the error: "Bad_ System_Config_Info" on the next startup. Lots of data on this H/D that I need to recover, if at all possible. Here's my scenario as it unfolded.

1. After the crash, I ran the XP disk and selected "Repair". At the Command prompt I did CHKDSK /R which has saved me many times...but not this time.

2. From another machine I Googled the Bad_ System_Config_Info error, and found that MS says the TOSIDE.SYS file was corrupted, which resides in System32/Drivers.

NOTE: I saw other comments saying it could be a bad memory stick, but tha's isn't the case here: I plugged in another H/D, and the rest of the system works fine.

3. On the crashed machine, I went into the System32/Drivers folder and didn't see the TOSIDE.SYS file. Clever me, I thought renaming the Driver folder would "hide" the problem from Windows, and I could troubleshoot it after a startup.

4. STUPID MOVE...now on startup with the XP disk, it looks like it's gonna do a "Repair", but goes only to root [C:\ -- Not C:\Windows] and I'm locked there. I can see files and directories with DIR, but I can't get to 'em. I get get "Access Denied" when I try.

5. I tried ATTRIB but can't seem to make it unlock the access. Maybe I'm using it wrong(?), but did a HELP and followed the format...I think.

So that's my dilemma: If I can get to do anything past root, then maybe I can copy the System32/Drivers folder from a good HD and paste it here, but I can't get beyond the "Access Denied" now.

Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions how I can get past "Access Denied" from the root directory??

Thanks in advance,
Garry

[glc]

You need to do a repair reinstall.

Repair Reinstallation of Windows XP (using XP CD)

[Garry2009]

HI GLC, and thanks for the reply.

I got it fixed...someone else suggested to install it as a second drive in a system with a good Windows drive. I did that, and I was able to extract the critical files.

WHEW!

Again, thanks for the feedback.
Garry