Dead Computer

[wildwillysweed]

I went to fire up my my main computer the other day and this message came up.

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.

???????????????

This computer has EVERYTHING on it - my two websites - ALL my pictures of my dogs EVERYTHING.

I am not computer literate enough to know what if anything can be done to fix it or just write it off - I hope not. :(

Needless to say I am more than a little bit upset over this.

Is there anything that can be done to fix this and if not is there a way to recover the files on the hard drive????

Exprisoner

[sevens]

i am for sure less experience than you with pc ....but strange i did see that 3 time in 2months now ...it turn out i had some ddl files missing ...i did a restore to an earlier date and .this way i had that ddl file restore ..so so far i had just about all the problems you can imagne with my pc ..but there is allways a solution ..trust me ...i am sure you can restore your puter to an earlier date and save all your info .picture and stuff you want to save and keep .what i do is contact the support for window and they will send you some very detail instruction ..just print them and follow instruction .it had allways work for me ..i am quite sure the 1 member who is the worst with pc here on ty is .....me .but there is way ...for you to save everything from your pc just ask window and they will tell you ......wish you good luck ...and at the very worst case scenario ..turn your puter over to a member who is good with pc and they can fix it remotely ......peace and fix it asap ...lol 7..

[Small Time]

Is this WinXP or WinVista, have you tried a system restore in Windows Safe Mode?

Follow these steps to get to Safe Mode. Repeatably press your F8 key just before Widows starts.

Start
All Programs
Accessories
System Tools
System Restore

Good Luck!

ST

[The Lorax]

Hi,
1) First try to start you computer normally. I'm sure you've tried this many times already.
Computers are only machines and sometimes they just screew up.

2)Reboot your computer and right at the end of the first POST screen (That screen that comes up and tells you how much memory you have and your drives, etc), press F8.
First choose the option, 'last know good configuration'. See if that helps.

3) If that didn't help, then do that again only this time, choose safe mode, but if nothing helped by now, then that file is corrupt and the computer won't boot, but try this anyway. If it does start in safe mode, try a system restore

4) If nothing so far, insert your Windows Installiton disk into your computer and restart, when the options come up choose 'R' for repairing your current installation. Depending on what version your install disk is you might have to reinstall the service packs and you will have to install any of the automatic updates.

You could try and download a copy of the bad file from the net and insert it into the proper directory from a command prompt.

5) your only other option would be to do a complete reinsatll

Good Luck

[Moo]

mate get a mac had one for 8 years never a problem that wasn't my own mistake!
oh and whats a computer virus cause us mac crew just don't know!
moo!

[claude_zachary420]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

[wildwillysweed]

Thanks everyone I have tried suggested options and no go. I took the computer in and the hard drive is shot and so that is that.

I lost all my information that I didn't back up :( but such is life I guess.

Time to get another computer but NOT a Vista based one tho as I have heard bad things about that operating system.

I will probably try and get another hard drive somewhere and at least have it as a back up computer.

Another question?? - If I get a new hard drive I guess I have to put an operating system on it?? If so, would the disk I have for this computer work or will I have to buy another OS??

Computers can be a real pain in the you know what!!!!

Thanks again.

Exprisoner

[lriv]

You can use the OS you already have for the new hard drive.... Do you still have the "bad" hard drive? if so, you can hook it up as a "slave" drive, and use the new hard drive as the "master" drive... once you get the os installed on the new hard drive, then you can use windows explorer (my computer) to see if you are able to see what is on your "bad" hard drive... Which I'm sure you will be able to... then grab all you can off of it and put it on the new hard drive... Good luck.... and on a side note... I bet the hard drive is not a total loss....

Keep us posted! :D

[Marco Renda]

DON'T throw away your hard drive! I had the same thing happen to me and a friend who lives in the same apt building was able to retrieve all the data on the hard drive

Take Care and Peace
Marco

[Jack Burton]

Thanks everyone I have tried suggested options and no go. I took the computer in and the hard drive is shot and so that is that.

I lost all my information that I didn\'t back up :( but such is life I guess.

Time to get another computer but NOT a Vista based one tho as I have heard bad things about that operating system.

I will probably try and get another hard drive somewhere and at least have it as a back up computer.

Another question?? - If I get a new hard drive I guess I have to put an operating system on it?? If so, would the disk I have for this computer work or will I have to buy another OS??

Computers can be a real pain in the you know what!!!!

Thanks again.

Exprisoner


Yes, you should be able to use the old OS disk for your new install. Installing new hard drives are generally a breeze. Just plug it in and format it in the NTFS format, NOT Fat 32. Pop in the disk, hit install. Voila.

[wildwillysweed]

Thanks everyone for all your help it is much appreciated.

I have cheated and hooked up the old hard drive to this computer as a slave and I am able to access absolutely everything on the drive. :)

So I have made it the main drive for this computer to access and tomorrow I am going to back up EVERYTHING on disk.]

I took the chance to do this as I am not that computer literate and it worked first time out. :eek:

So now I have to get another drive for the other computer and see if I can get that one going as well.

I am so happy that ALL my data is there with NOTHING missing. :D

Again thanks for your help.

Exprisoner - One happy camper now

[Rynvillen]

You can use the OS you already have for the new hard drive.... Do you still have the "bad" hard drive? if so, you can hook it up as a "slave" drive, and use the new hard drive as the "master" drive... once you get the os installed on the new hard drive, then you can use windows explorer (my computer) to see if you are able to see what is on your "bad" hard drive... Which I'm sure you will be able to... then grab all you can off of it and put it on the new hard drive... Good luck.... and on a side note... I bet the hard drive is not a total loss....

Keep us posted! :D


BRING ME YOUR COMPUTER WHEN YOU PICK UP THE ONE I ALREADY HAVE AND I WILL DO THIS FOR YOU,IRIV & MARCO ARE RIGHT!!!!!
oops I wrote this B4 I saw your updat, GOOD JOB EXPRISONER GLAD EVERYTHING WORKED OUT!

[lriv]

Glad you were able to save all your stuff!! Good job on getting it hooked up!! :D:D

[wildwillysweed]

Yes I was able to save everything pretty well on the hard drive which is cool.

I am now using the computer that crashed as I got a used hard drive for $10.00 which is only 20 GB but it is good enough for what I need it for right now.

I can not add the old hard drive to this computer because it doesn't have a place for it or a cable to hook it up. Hmmmmm

I had to install XP on this new drive but it loaded with no problems and it worked first time out. :)

Again thanks for the help and lets hope this drive doesn't crash to.

Exprisoner