Need urgent help ! computer wont boot at all.

i can not boot my pc at all and i need to use it for business. i am at work right now. my pc will not boot in reg or safe it keeps saying windows could not start the following file is missing or corrupt /windows/system32/config/system it says somethig about using the microsoft cd but i never got one with my pc. the pc is an hp with xp

Hi,
Sorry to hear of the problems with your non booting computer.
The standard repair sequence is to try and get into safe mode and select "last good…" however if you have tried this and still cannot access safe mode then you will either need a Windows XP disk (same stlye and version as your existing system or a set of boot floppies (downloadable from Microsoft or from here.

http://techtips4u.com/downloads/

This will enable you hopefully to get into Recovery console. If you dont have a bootable floppy drive then you must get the Microsoft WindowsXP System cd the only alternative that I know of is to use the HP recovery disc (if available) some of these do a complete format and reinstall and some don't so do be sure before you start.

If you can get into the Recovery Console then you stand a good chance of being able to repair your system.
Post back when you have tried.
Regards
paws

i can get into the recovery console to type in those commands. what do i type ?

Hi, Well done on getting into the Recovery Console. At the blue screen select r for repair you should then end up at a Dos prompt, if you do then check to see if you are in the Windows Directory. then type chkdsk /r (note the space between the k and the forward slash is essential) This command will attempt to repair things and might take an hour or so to run. When it's finished type at the Dos prompt exit the box will close and your machine should reboot If this does the trick then rejoice! Regards paws

ok my power supply went bad after the pc crashed, i got it running yesterday and did that thing you told me. at the end it said somethind errors were repaird but when i rebooted the same message came up again. anything else i can do ? i am trying to get my hands on an xp cd

ttt… got xp cd and keep reintalling xp and now i have like 4 versions and everytime i try to get in it says instalation did not complete try again

ok so now i am at a clean slate nothing on this set of xp. but i have like 4 versions when it boots it says choose 1 and there is windows xp 4 times and then recovery console. i still cant figure out how to repair the last version of xp which had all of my stuff on it. i would also like to know how to get rid of the xtra versions. thanks

anyone ???

Hi v6rs97,

Hi Paws. I got a PM from v6rs97, asking me to look in on this thread.
When you are back online, I'll happily step back so that you can continue with your line of repair.

v6rs97,
You mention that you are using this machine for business.
Does that imply that you have valuable documents, files, and media that you wish to SAVE?

What steps have you taken so far to backup your important files?

If you can get your machine to boot into Windows, then concentrate on backing up your data (SAVE and burn to CD)

If you're unable to get the machine to boot into Windows, you might consider a bootable Linux.

obtain a linux live cd you can access that hd and copy all your files to media or external hd device, there always good to have, especially if you want to learn about another os

http://www.novell.com/products/suselinux/d…rrors_isos.html

suse linux "live" dvd, choose a mirror nearest you

download the iso and burn it as image to a dvd


a live dvd doesnt need to be installed on your hard drive, simply put it in your dvd rom and restart making sure the dvd drive is set to boot first, the os will run from your dvd rom

This will allow you to "see" and "save" your valuable files.

bartpe will do the same

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Best Regards

Thanks for the reply dough. the main problem i have now is my orig version of xp had the problem with the corrupt file and now i have another version on here which interm is blank and i have no product key so it will run out. i really need to try to either get a key or fix my old version. should i download that linux and try to get into windows ?

I have no idea what you mean by this part of your sentence in your last post:

I have another version on here which interm is blank

I have no idea what you mean by this part of your sentence in a prior post:

ok so now i am at a clean slate nothing on this set of xp.

Yes.
At this point I think your best bet is to use the Linux or BartPE to gain access to your to Documents.
You will not be "trying to get into Windows".

Either the Linux or BartPE are fully functional Operating Systems that Run from your DVD Drive.
You must change the Boot Order in BIOS so that the machine looks first to the DVD Drive.

Use the machine's indicated keyboard command to access BIOS/Setup (usually F2 or Del or F10 key pressed as the machine it booting)

Once in BIOS look for IDE Boot Order or a list of Disks to boot from.
It is probably set to the following order:
Floppy
Hard Drive
Optical Drive

Chang it to:
Optical Drive
Floppy
Hard Drive

Put your Linux or BartPE into the Optical Drive
Turn-off your machine
Turn your machine back on and it will Boot from the CD.

From there you should be able to access the file structure and begin burning files to CD or external Hard Drive.
_____________________________

Do you have access to another Computer?
I'm wondering why you have not considered simply removing your Hard Drive, and installing it in the Slave configured postition on the IDE ribbon cable of another computer running XP.
From there you could use the Windows operating system of the Known-Good computer to transfer and save your important documents.

Once you have your Documents Saved and safe, you can put the Hard Drive back into it's original machine, Reformat the presently corrupted Hard Drive and install XP.

Apparently you have the Product Identification Key from the Microsoft sticker on the outside of your Computer's case. You can install XP back onto that machine after reformatting by using the XP CD that you currently have access to, and then using the machine's own original Product Identification Key numbers from the sticker.

With XP reinstalled and running, you can reconstruct your machine as you previously had it, or however you wish to set it up.

At this point, it is your choice and may depend on what resources you have available.

If you have access to another known-good machine to install the compromised Hard Drive into as Slave, you may be able to avoid any hassle you might experience in trying to learn about the use of Linux or BartPE. Either choice will work. It's up to you

Best Regards

what i meant by that sent is that when i boot windows where you select u know xp or recovery console i have like 3 windows xp's to choose from, 1 of which is corrupt. i re-installed xp which added the top versions on that black screen which interm i mean they do not have any of my old files on them. does that linux or partbe have to be burned to a dvd b/c all i have is a cd burner

i will try that, i do have another pc. so you say put it in a slave side ? also with the key the cd i used was not the one provided when i bought the pc, i borrowed the cd from someone. when i put in the key on the side of my pc it didnt work. i really appreciate the help dough. how can i get rid of the corrupted version of xp when i am finished transfering files ? thanks again

Any Retail or OEM XP installation CD should work to install XP with the use of your Machines Product Identification Key numbers from the sticker. BartPe and Linux Suse are downloadable as .iso images that can be burned to CD. The CD is then a bootable operating system. Yes install your problematic Hard Drive into a "known-good" computer at Slave. the Slave position is the "middle" connector on the IDE ribbon. You must "change the Jumper Pins" so that the problematic Hard Drive is set a "Slave" or "Cable Select". I don't know which will work best in your "known-good" computer. Try Slave. If that doen't allow the "known-good" machine to "recognize" the Hard Drive, then try "Cable Select". One of those settings should work. Once you get your important documents, files and media saved and backed up to CD, you can use the XP installation CD to Reformat the problematic Hard Drive. That will wipe out anything and everything on that Hard Drive. Then you can perform a fresh installation of XP with the disk you have borrowed, and the numbers from your Case. Don't know if I've responded to all of your questions, but I wish you well, and will check in on your progress later today. Best Regards

i just got in. i have the drive on this pc i am using now. problem is i cant find my files that were in like my documents and my pictures etc. are these retrieveable ?