BSOD THEN \windows\system 32\config\system missing or corrupt

[gilera]

Suddenly whilst doing nothing on pc apart from downloading on a p2p site this occured . The message says to run XP cd and carry out repair. Made sure boot order was correct but cannot get past the error screen. The cd is being looked at boot by evidence of the flashing green light. Any ideas please?

[EzyStvy]

Look in the BIOS - Boot Sequence and make sure the cd drive is First in the boot order.

Blow the dust out of the drive and make sure the cd doesn't have dirt on it.

[gilera]

I ckecked correct boot order prior to trying to run repair, cd was working ok prior to crash.

[glc]

Most often that exact error is caused by a failing hard drive. System specs, please.

[gilera]

Windows XP home SP3
2MB ram
ST3160021A hard drive
3.00GIG intel pentium
gigabyte tech board 81PEE1000 1 x
OEM computer by AIRIS in Spain.

Is it worth me disconnecting the hard drive and see if it boots to disk?

[glc]

Yes, and if it does, the failed hard drive is affecting the CD drive. Make sure the hard drive and the CD drive are on different channels, do not run them in master/slave on the same cable. If you can get it to boot to the CD with the hard drive installed, download SeaTools for DOS and make the bootable CD to run diagnostics.

[gilera]

With hard disk unplugged i get: Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter.
plugging hard disk in whilst in this state, it remains the same and repeats when enter is pushed.
I can hear hard disk run up and the arm search. I assume this is death of the hard drive.
I backed up computer a couple of weeks ago using the XP backup onto my external hard drive. Will i be able to transfer this across to new hard drive?

[EzyStvy]

Did you do this:

Originally Posted by EzyStvy Blow the dust out of the drive and make sure the cd doesn't have dirt on it.

If you did - try a different cd drive.

[glc]

You are going to be dead in the water till you can get it to boot from a CD.

[gilera]

Hi GLC, Something weird going on here. I fitted my hard drive to my Sons identical computer. It booted up normal and worked 100%. All programmes working. Any further suggestions where i can look for the problem creating the message on my computer. Obviously the XP disk is a red herring in this situation.

[shadowpr]

Have you tried a different cable?

[glc]

I can't look into your computer from here, so you need to tell me how your drives are cabled and jumpered.

[gilera]

Thanks for advice GLC, have found problem. I run with 2 Kingston 1GB ram boards. Pulled one and System ran perfectly. Replace and ran on other board system booted up to where i was getting the warning, no warning but screen remained at blank black. So i know know it had nothing to do with hard drive and can be caused by bad RAM.