[fargaud]

Hi,

I am facing a problem with my Dell Dimension 9200 (Dell DXP061 / BIOS version: 2.5.0), running Windows XP Home Edition SP2.

A couple of days ago, I got a bunch of anti-virus messages popping left and right. I turned off my machine and rebooted in safe mode to archive some personal files. When I rebooted my machine, it would not start. I kept getting 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 Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."
--------------------------------------

I do not have the Setup CD-ROM. I have ordered the Dell OEM CD for my system and it should arrive in a few days. In the meantime, I tried using another Dell OEM CD (Windows XP Home Edition SP1.a) from a colleague. When I booted from the CD, the "Windows Setup" ran for a few minutes, loading a bunch of files/drivers. I then saw a "Setup is Starting Windows" message appearing briefly, after which I got the following error:

--------------------------------------
(Blue Screen of Death)

"A Problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
[...]

Technical Information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D663C,0XC0000034,0x00000000,0x00000000)
--------------------------------------

After changing some setup in the BIOS (SATA Operation, from "RAID On" to "RAID Autodetect / ATA", I was able to access a screen option where I could either "Setup Windows XP" or "Repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console". In the "Recovery Console" mode, I enter the Windows installation I want to log onto and immediately get the following error:

--------------------------------------
(Blue Screen of Death)

A Problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

REGISTRY_ERROR

[...]

*** STOP: 0x00000051 (0x00000003,0x00000003,0x00000000,0xE16A7000)
--------------------------------------

I get the same error when I select the "Setup Windows XP" option.

My questions:

(1) Am I likely to see a similar error when I try repairing my Windows XP with the Dell OEM CD tailored made for my system?

(2) Is there anything else I should do/try?

(3) If I have to reinstall my OS (which I consider a last resort solution), how would I need to proceed?

Thanks in advance.

Fargaud

[Advertisements]

Hi,
I had a similar error as yours,the repair option will not work even if you use the Windows OEM CD,I ran chkdsk /r through the recovery console,and luckily the error was fixed and was able to boot into windows,but once inside windows i got 2 or 3 BSOD errors,Im plannin to take a backup of my important files and format the C drive.If anbody has a better solution,it would be helpful to me also.will keep track of this thread.Hope this helps a bit.

[abraham2006]

Hi,
I had a similar error as yours,the repair option will not work even if you use the Windows OEM CD,I ran chkdsk /r through the recovery console,and luckily the error was fixed and was able to boot into windows,but once inside windows i got 2 or 3 BSOD errors,Im plannin to take a backup of my important files and format the C drive.If anbody has a better solution,it would be helpful to me also.will keep track of this thread.Hope this helps a bit.

[fargaud]

Thanks! Lucky you could get to the Recovery Console... I can't even reach this point.

[abraham2006]

Hi,
Lets wait and see,so someone comes up with a solution.Actually i used my windows xp cd to get into the recovery console..

[fargaud]

I was able to repair my Windows XP but am getting a different error now. FYI, I had to wait for the Windows XP CD SP 2 OEM from Dell, as any other CDs (Windows XP SP1a, Windows XP Professional...) where throwing some system error during boot.

Following up in a different thread:
http://www.geekstogo...XP-t270322.html