Risk of running FIXMBR

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Guest

Hello all,

I am trying to fix a corrupt registry. The error I have is:
"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

I want to try Knowledge Base article 307545. (How to recover from a
corrupted
registry that prevents Windows XP from starting). I can get to the Recovery
Console, but when I try to enter any command, I get the following message:
"Access is denied".

By reading another message titled "Currupt config 32" and the response from
Dave Patrick, I discovered that I could run a couple of commands only, one is
FIXMBR. Might this solve the problem? I haven't installed any partitions on
this computer, so can I ignore the warning I get:

"FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. This could
cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become inaccessible. If
you are not having problems accessing your drive, do not continue."

This is the text I found in the other message, for reference:

"Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer:
%systemroot% and %windir%"
 
Eric_the_Yellow said:
Hello all,

I am trying to fix a corrupt registry. The error I have is:
"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

I want to try Knowledge Base article 307545. (How to recover from a
corrupted
registry that prevents Windows XP from starting). I can get to the
Recovery Console, but when I try to enter any command, I get the
following message: "Access is denied".

By reading another message titled "Currupt config 32" and the
response from Dave Patrick, I discovered that I could run a couple of
commands only, one is FIXMBR. Might this solve the problem? I
haven't installed any partitions on this computer, so can I ignore
the warning I get:

"FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. This could
cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become
inaccessible. If you are not having problems accessing your drive, do
not continue."

This is the text I found in the other message, for reference:

"Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console
starts in the root of the startup volume without requiring a
password. You cannot access any folders, but you can carry out
commands such as chkdsk, fixboot, and fixmbr for limited disk
repairs. Once the password has been validated, you have full access
to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard disk. You can
only access the following folders on your computer: %systemroot% and
%windir%"
Click to expand...

Yes, fixmbr could cause you to lose access to the disk. Use a disk imaging
program to backup the disk first.
 
Hi Don,

That's a great article, but for some reason I don't have access to the
files on C. I tried to change the attributes of the boot.ini file but it says
"The file cannot be opened".

What is it that is presenting me from doing anything to the C drive? Also, I
can't find my original Dell Windows CD nor the XP upgrade CD. I've moved 4
times since I got the computer so I'm not too keen on looking harder for it,
especially since I might have left it at an office I no longer work at. I
have a copy of a multi-boot XP CD but my computer won't boot off of it. I've
changed the BIOS settings to look at the CD drive first, but I get the same
error as doing a regular boot from the hard drive. I'm starting to think I
have to bring it to a shop, where they should be able to do the procedure
where they slave the hard drive to another PC and repair it that way. It'll
cost me though...

Cheers,
Eric
 
Even if I have not created any partitions on my hard drive? It's got C and
that's it. I've never done anything special with it. Does Dell ship PCs with
some sort of hidden partition that contains things necessary to run the
computer?

-Eric
 
Yes Dell does hide a partition on ur computer, a very small one though.
Windows can't see it though because it's a primary partition and Windows can
only see the one that it's installed on. You can view it usimg partitioning
software. It dosen't have anything important on it as far as i know, It's
there so that anytime you reinstall windows the dell crap on your start menu
remains.

Not sure how to get your system running again but as far as accessing your C
drive. Hit F2, just after that beep on bootup, then start computer in dos
mode. "cd windows" or "cd\windows" will change your dir to windows for
example, typing C: takes you to the root, cd\ goes up a level. "dir /p" gives
the dir listing to help you navigate.
If you want to edit boot.ini, go to the right dir, then type " edit boot.ini"

Hope this helps. If you could connect your computer to a network, you could
poss access the drive and copy off the folders that you need and reformat.
If you do reinstall I recommend adding at least one partition, one for
programs inc windows and one for files, you can direct your docs and settings
to a folder on this drive too so that you loose nothing if windows becomes
corrupted.
 
I was more than a little surprised to hear the following from
Eric_the_Yellow said:
Hello all,

I am trying to fix a corrupt registry. The error I have is:
"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

I want to try Knowledge Base article 307545. (How to recover from a
corrupted
registry that prevents Windows XP from starting). I can get to the
Recovery
Console, but when I try to enter any command, I get the following message:
"Access is denied".

By reading another message titled "Currupt config 32" and the response
from
Dave Patrick, I discovered that I could run a couple of commands only, one
is
FIXMBR. Might this solve the problem? I haven't installed any partitions
on
this computer, so can I ignore the warning I get:

"FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. This could
cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become inaccessible.
If
you are not having problems accessing your drive, do not continue."

This is the text I found in the other message, for reference:

"Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console
starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk,
fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the
hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer:
%systemroot% and %windir%"
Click to expand...

Fixing your mbr will do very little for your registry imho.
 
It doesn't matter what you have done to the hard drive or how many
partitions are on it. Running fixmbr may cause problems such that you may
lose data. It is not likely to happen but it can and does occasionally
happen. Your computer already has problems. Before attempting any more
repairs which may cause even more problems backup anything you don't want to
lose.
 
You can't see the recovery partition, because it is hidden.
The partitions can be seen in Disk Management.
Windows can see other primary partitions.
The hidden partition contains your files to reinstall Windows.
--
Ron Sommer

: Yes Dell does hide a partition on ur computer, a very small one though.
: Windows can't see it though because it's a primary partition and Windows
can
: only see the one that it's installed on. You can view it usimg
partitioning
: software. It dosen't have anything important on it as far as i know, It's
: there so that anytime you reinstall windows the dell crap on your start
menu
: remains.
:
: Not sure how to get your system running again but as far as accessing your
C
: drive. Hit F2, just after that beep on bootup, then start computer in dos
: mode. "cd windows" or "cd\windows" will change your dir to windows for
: example, typing C: takes you to the root, cd\ goes up a level. "dir /p"
gives
: the dir listing to help you navigate.
: If you want to edit boot.ini, go to the right dir, then type " edit
boot.ini"
:
: Hope this helps. If you could connect your computer to a network, you
could
: poss access the drive and copy off the folders that you need and reformat.
: If you do reinstall I recommend adding at least one partition, one for
: programs inc windows and one for files, you can direct your docs and
settings
: to a folder on this drive too so that you loose nothing if windows becomes
: corrupted.
 
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