After Updates, Corrupted "System" file won't boot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clint Marshall
  • Start date Start date
C

Clint Marshall

Rebuilt a Win2k system starting with reformatting the hard drive. Set
up the OS, installed all hardware specific drivers; everything worked fine.
Installed all service packs and patches up through SP4; still all was
fine. Made a new Emergency rescue disk.
Installed 20 plus patches (at once) that were suddenly needed after
installing SP4 and was told to reboot.
On the reboot, before Win2k could try to start, I got a message saying
that my ntoskrnl.exe file was corrupted and I should try to use the "Repair"
process to fix or replace it. I struggled with this for over an hour and
then gave up and reformatted the drive and reinstalled the OS.
After getting to the same point, though loading software in a slightly
different order, the same problem recurred, this time saying that
winnt\system32\config\system was corrupted. I've struggled to get the
system working and tried replacing "system" with every other version of
system that I could find (one from another machine, several saved in a
restore directory and with extensions in the config directory). These other
system files either cause the computer to hang as soon as the windows status
bar starts to fill in along the bottom of the screen during the boot
process, or, in one case, let the computer boot completely until the windows
splash screen comes on, then reboots the PC as if I pressed the reset
button.

- What is this "system" file?

- How can I replace/rebuild it so the machine will work? I've got a lot
of time invested that I don't want to lose!

- Any other workaround ideas?

- Has anyone seen this sort of problem? If I rebuild the machine again,
how can I be sure this won't recur?

Thank you!

-Clint Marshall

epox MB
AMT Duron 1000 processor
640 MB RAM
60 GB hard drive
Elsa Gladiac video card
 
I have a simular problem. My win2k pro will not accept any
service packs without the system files going to hell. I've
reinstalled, reformated etc, but it seems that ANY update
will screw it up. For example, I just installed simcity
deluxe, which installed directx 8.1, (up from 8.0) and now
my machine won't load again... only this time it won't
tell me why. If anyone knows the answer please help. Or
should I look at getting xp pro instead? (wait might get
more headaches from that one....)...

Dan M.
Windows 2000 Pro (60GB)
duel boot with Windows ME (20GB)
AMD Duron 750 (don't laugh)
512mb ram
 
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