[herisland]

hi, i really need help in solving this problem and hopefully retain information in my computer.
My windows xp was running perfectly well this morning, and in the evening, it was unable to boot. The message given was:
"\windows\system32\config\system " and require my original xp cd to repair.

did some googling, and followed the steps. ( I do not have the xp cd for this com, the one i am using comes from my older com: xp home edition. if i am not wrong, my current com is an xp professional, is this alright? the googling i says its ok.)

anyway, the problem now is that instead of the usual C:\windows they are asking me to choose like in other forums, my com only offer my D:\windows. i have no idea how to proceed. am i on the right track?

i performed chkdsk /r and chkdsk /p, but to no avail.

help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Edited by herisland, 27 December 2010 - 12:09 PM.

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The first thing you need to do is obtain the same version of XP that is on your HDD and the second is to have your code of authenticity number ready, this may be a sticker on the case that has a series of 5 sets of 5 digits both numbers and letters like this XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
You cannot use an XP Home disk to repair an XP Pro installation they are not the same, XP Home is seen as inferior to XP Pro.
Have you tried last known good configuration?
If you know what brand of HDD you have you can try using their diagnostic tools from the attached link; http://www.tacktech....ttid=287#maxtor unfortunately if the HDD is of the Toshiba brand they do not presently provide such a facility but I have heard of others using Seatools successfully but I cannot vouch for this.

EDIT: Last known good configuration details http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

Edited by phillpower2, 27 December 2010 - 04:10 PM.

[phillpower2]

The first thing you need to do is obtain the same version of XP that is on your HDD and the second is to have your code of authenticity number ready, this may be a sticker on the case that has a series of 5 sets of 5 digits both numbers and letters like this XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
You cannot use an XP Home disk to repair an XP Pro installation they are not the same, XP Home is seen as inferior to XP Pro.
Have you tried last known good configuration?
If you know what brand of HDD you have you can try using their diagnostic tools from the attached link; http://www.tacktech....ttid=287#maxtor unfortunately if the HDD is of the Toshiba brand they do not presently provide such a facility but I have heard of others using Seatools successfully but I cannot vouch for this.

EDIT: Last known good configuration details http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

Edited by phillpower2, 27 December 2010 - 04:10 PM.

[Amlak]

hi, i really need help in solving this problem and hopefully retain information in my computer.
My windows xp was running perfectly well this morning, and in the evening, it was unable to boot. The message given was:
"\windows\system32\config\system " and require my original xp cd to repair.

did some googling, and followed the steps. ( I do not have the xp cd for this com, the one i am using comes from my older com: xp home edition. if i am not wrong, my current com is an xp professional, is this alright? the googling i says its ok.)

anyway, the problem now is that instead of the usual C:\windows they are asking me to choose like in other forums, my com only offer my D:\windows. i have no idea how to proceed. am i on the right track?

i performed chkdsk /r and chkdsk /p, but to no avail.

help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Usually, it's ok to use XP Home Edition to just simply access the Dos screen through the CD. In the DOS screen, choose the D:\Windows, then type (one at a time):

C:

copy C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system C:\HiveBackups\system.bak

copy C:\WINDOWS\repair\system C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system



You will asked if you wish to overwrite, say "yes".


If the above doesn't work because you aren't able to access the C: drive at all, then it could be a hard drive problem.

[herisland]

after typing

copy C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system C:\HiveBackups\system.bak

it says that the system cannot find the file specified.

means that its an hard drive problem? if so, is there any ways that i can still retain my documents??

[Amlak]

Skip that command and type in the last one.

No, this doesn't mean it's a hard drive problem. It looks like a corrupted Windows issue (thankfully).

[herisland]

thanks for your prompt reply.

i typed in the last command, but it says "the system cannot find the file specified" again.

[Amlak]

Do the following (one at a time):

C:

cd windows

cd repair



Any errors from typing the above?

[Amlak]

I just noticed something I may have misread from your initial post. Hang on, there's still hope for you. Just reply to my previous post first.

[herisland]

the response for both command : "the system cannot find the file or directory specified."

[Amlak]

copy D:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system D:\HiveBackups\system.bak

copy D:\WINDOWS\repair\system D:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system


Type the above two commands.

[herisland]

copy D:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system D:\HiveBackups\system.bak
"the system cannot find the file specified"

copy D:\WINDOWS\repair\system D:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system
"1 file(s) copied"

den i exited and startup again, brought me to the usual windows scene, but blackout for very long instead of the usual logging in scene.
am still waiting if anything will recover from the blackout. will update again.

Thanks again

[herisland]

waited to no avail.

Restarted it, and it offers me the safe mode option and last good configuration.

tried both but, remains at the blank screen (last good configuration) and a whole page of commands(safe mood) for a very very long time.

Shld i continue waiting?

[Amlak]

Is this an improvement from before? Or was that how it was before?

Back in the Recovery COnsole, try the following commands:

fixmbr

fixboot


Don't be afraid to type yes when asked to do so.

[herisland]

yes, its an inprovement from before.
before it was like they would show the \windows\system32\config\system msg
now it doesn;t show this msg anymore, after the screen below, it would just blank out.


anyway, i did fixmbr and fixboot, but the situation is the same.

Edited by herisland, 28 December 2010 - 05:15 AM.

[Amlak]

Try:

chkdsk /r

I know you did it once before, but that was before we fixed the initial part of the problem. Try it again.