Major problems with my computer starting up (or the lack of)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aaron Davis
  • Start date Start date
A

Aaron Davis

Ok... here it is from the beginning. About a week ago, I
was trying to install a new DVD Write in to my computer.
I got it all hocked up, loaded the drivers, and it said it
needed to restart, so naturally I restarted my computer.
It restarted and it did a few more things in Windows, and
then said it had to restart again. So I restarted once
again. This is where the problem begins. It tried to
start up again and then said it couldn't because of the
problem with "\windows\system32\config\system". Then I
panicked! I have Dell machine (with NTFS installed), and
so I called their tech support. The person told me to
type in "chkdsk /r". I did this and after a while I
restarted the computer and again went into the Windows XP
CD. I did not have anything that said I could restore the
computer, so the person said I was going to have to
reformat my hard drive. I told the person that this was
not an option since I am currently working on my master's
degree and I have stuff on it for my classes, on this
computer. So eventually I found this newsgroup and read
what the people had to say about how to resolve this
problem. I eventually was able to resolve the problem and
everything was going pretty well, besides having to
reinstall almost everything because of obvious problems
that occurred after I got my system back up and running.
I had read that PowerDVD was also a bad program (it came
with the drive), so I also uninstalled it. A couple a
days ago, I was removing Norton files because I was going
to reinstall these files. When Windows started up after
this crash, Norton wasn't running correctly. After I had
checked Norton's web site, I began to manually remove
these files from the "regedit". I got all the way done
and then I restarted the computer to have the changes take
effect. Well guess what happened again? It gave me the
same error message again about "\windows\system32
\config\system" was corrupted! So I went through the same
process that I found on this newsgroup and copied the
System, Software, Sam, Security, and Default files over
the previous copy from the "Repair" directory. It didn't
work! I have tried multiple things, but to no avail. It
started out that I would have to insert the Windows XP CD
and start the computer up, then it would go through all
the loading and then I would hit "R" and it would take me
to the "Recovery Console". I hit "1" for the drive and
then typed in the Administrative password. I did the
exact same thing that I had previously done (copy the
files into the "Config" directory). I restart my computer
again, and Windows started up, but then went to a blue
screen and was complaining about "Software" file. So I
when back into the "Recovery Console" and again copied
the "Software" file. I restarted it again, and then it
said that the "System" file was corrupt. Again, I copied
the file and restarted the computer. Again it said that
the "System" files was corrupt. I kept getting in
the "Recovery Console" and then all of a sudden, my "C:\"
drive became my "F:\" drive and my Zip drive became
my "C:\" drive! Plus it has stopped asking me for the
Administrator's password and right now, I can not get into
even the Windows directory. I did nothing except what
people had written on this sight to do (about copy the
files into the "Config" directory). So, the big question
is how do I get my system back up in running? If I need
to get another drive to put into my system instead of
the "bad" hard drive, I will do this. If I do need to get
another hard drive, will I be able to connect the "bad"
hard drive after I get it back up and running so I do not
lose anything? I am almost finished with this semester
(about a week and a half) and reformatting is the very
LAST option I want to do! Please help me! And thank you
for all your help in advance!

Aaron Davis
 
I forgot to also ask this question, but is there any way
for me to be able to get into my hard drive even though it
is NTFS in DOS (or something like it)? Thanks again.

Aaron Davis
 
Hi, try a repair installation using this method described here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341&Product=winxp
Chris C

--
System:
ABit NF7-S
Athlon XP 2500+ FSB200x11
Cooler Master Aero 7+
1 x 512 Kingston PC3200 DDR
1 x 80g Matrox ATA133 7200rpm on SATA using ABit adaptor
1 x 20GB WD ATA100 on SATA using adaptor
CDR
LG Burner
ATI 9800XT
SoundBlaster Audigy Player 1394
CT Inspire 5.1 5300
Onboard LAN (Enabled)
Lian Li PC65 case & window
Blue Cold Cathode Tube
550 Watt PSU
 
Chris,

I tried to do what you said, but when I inserted the CD
and then I chose the partition for my Windows XP, it did
not have an R as an option. I don't know what to do. I
even tried hitting F8 when it starts up, but I did
nothing. Have you got anymore ideas what I could try?
Anyone else got any ideas?

Aaron Davis
 
Hi, did you boot to the CD?
Chris C

--
System:
ABit NF7-S
Athlon XP 2500+ FSB200x11
Cooler Master Aero 7+
1 x 512 Kingston PC3200 DDR
1 x 80g Matrox ATA133 7200rpm on SATA using ABit adaptor
1 x 20GB WD ATA100 on SATA using adaptor
CDR
LG Burner
ATI 9800XT
SoundBlaster Audigy Player 1394
CT Inspire 5.1 5300
Onboard LAN (Enabled)
Lian Li PC65 case & window
Blue Cold Cathode Tube
550 Watt PSU
 
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