Computer won't boot.

[OzBomber]

Windows XP 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 CDROM
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.


I get this message whenever I boot my computer. It has been fine, except it crashes occasionally. And now mum thinks that I've downloaded a virus or something. And she's having a go at me. I don't think I've done anything wrong as I download my programs from download.com or one of those sites that are checked for spyware on them. I download torrents, but only from diwana mostly.

Does anyone have any idea?

 

[VanBerlo=God]

corrupted = fudged hard drive.

go and plug the harddrive into another computer and backup, then reinstall windows.
its your best bet.

 

[OzBomber]

corrupted = fudged hard drive.

go and plug the harddrive into another computer and backup, then reinstall windows.
its your best bet.

What do you mean plug the harddrive into another computer? If it's not working on the home computer, then why will it work on another?

 

[HBK619]

What do you mean plug the harddrive into another computer? If it's not working on the home computer, then why will it work on another?

He means plug it into another computer and save all your files to it, then reinstall Windows on your computer.

 

[VanBerlo=God]

What do you mean plug the harddrive into another computer? If it's not working on the home computer, then why will it work on another?

because you are booting from that hard drive, whereas if you put it in another computer, you won't be booting from it, and will have access to all your files.

you need to write down every program you use that you need to backup data from, and find out where they are saved to on the hard drive.

**** i hate windows.

 

[spitlizard]

Try this sean. Do as it says & type R. It will then take you to a command prompt. Enter the admin user name then type in..?help
This will give you the menu with options.

There should be a few options. Try the fixmbr or fixboot I think it is.

 

[VanBerlo=God]

Try this sean. Do as it says & type R. It will then take you to a command prompt. Enter the admin user name then type in..?help
This will give you the menu with options.

There should be a few options. Try the fixmbr or fixboot I think it is.

nothing wrong with boot or mbr

if it was boot or mbr, the system wouldn't load.
odds on the hard drive is corrupted, and he needs a new one.
otherwise a virus has got in there and started having fun, in which case either magnet or full wipe/format will fix the problem

 

[spitlizard]

nothing wrong with boot or mbr

if it was boot or mbr, the system wouldn't load.
odds on the hard drive is corrupted, and he needs a new one.
otherwise a virus has got in there and started having fun, in which case either magnet or full wipe/format will fix the problem

I'm guessing your in IT VB!!
It's basic helpdesk, eliminate the obvious and narrow down the possibilities.
I also think it may be a HDD issue or a sector problem but getting them to perform the simple stuff first may fix the problem easily; it has for me on quite a few occasions.
Again....I'm guessing your in IT

 

[OzBomber]

I dont think it's a virus. last time I checked I didn't have one. I'm not too good with hard drives. So is the hardrive the thing which has all the CD tray and on/off button?

 

[OzBomber]

Try this sean. Do as it says & type R. It will then take you to a command prompt. Enter the admin user name then type in..?help
This will give you the menu with options.

There should be a few options. Try the fixmbr or fixboot I think it is.

I pressed R and it just restarted kinda and did exactly the same thing.

I don't wanna get everything wiped as I have a whole lot of cricket videos that need burning!!!

 

[HBK619]

I dont think it's a virus. last time I checked I didn't have one. I'm not too good with hard drives. So is the hardrive the thing which has all the CD tray and on/off button?

Yes, yes it is.

BTW what grade are you in dude?

Anyone who has or uses a computer should know what a Hard Drive is, seriously.

 

[Jafa]

Mate - take it to a computer shop.

 

[spitlizard]

I pressed R and it just restarted kinda and did exactly the same thing.

I don't wanna get everything wiped as I have a whole lot of cricket videos that need burning!!!

Well if your not too comfortable with it, sean, it is probably best you get someone to look at it. There are a lot of different ways to sort the prob but not if your not so sure with computers....

I would get someone to look at it so you don't end up losing your files.

 

[Jafa]

However - this is what I would do.

Grab a copy of Ubuntu.
Grab a USB drive from Hardly normal and make sure it was formated FAT32.
Boot into the Ubuntu live disk.
Copy the entire Windows partition to the USB drive.
Reinstall windows.
Reinstate the data.

 

[rizzo]

exact same thing happened to me today.

Lucky i had Norton 360 which kept my backup after i re installed windows.

The only thing im missing is my ****ing modem drivers

 

[OzBomber]

Yes, yes it is.

BTW what grade are you in dude?

Anyone who has or uses a computer should know what a Hard Drive is, seriously.

Yeah, I'm in year 9. It's embarrassing I know. I know heaps about computers when they're working, but not the stuff about em, and how to fix em.

What I'm worried about is that if mum takes it to a computer guy, he might see the videos and dob me in. Cos I got underbelly...
Guess that's karma.

 

[OzBomber]

exact same thing happened to me today.

Lucky i had Norton 360 which kept my backup after i re installed windows.

The only thing im missing is my ****ing modem drivers

Lucky bitch. I dunno if my Trend Micro backs it up.

 

[HBK619]

Yeah, I'm in year 9. It's embarrassing I know. I know heaps about computers when they're working, but not the stuff about em, and how to fix em.

The thing you look at with a screen on it is called a monitor as well, in case you didn't know.

What I'm worried about is that if mum takes it to a computer guy, he might see the videos and dob me in. Cos I got underbelly...
Guess that's karma.

How are you on this website?

Are you using your broken computer?

Does it have a burner?

If yes to both then burn all your files to disc and then go to a computer shop and get it fixed.

Also wouldn't think Underbelly would be the only videos you wouldn't want others to see, hmm?

 

[OzBomber]

The thing you look at with a screen on it is called a monitor as well, in case you didn't know.


How are you on this website?

Are you using your broken computer?

Does it have a burner?

If yes to both then burn all your files to disc and then go to a computer shop and get it fixed.

Also wouldn't think Underbelly would be the only videos you wouldn't want others to see, hmm?

Lol, yes I know that.

I am on my laptop.

No I am not. If I was using the broken computer then I wouldn't have posted this thread cos the computer would be working!

Yes it does have a burner.

Eh, you talkin about pr0n? No, I do not have any pr0n.

 

[Jafa]

The thing you look at with a screen on it is called a monitor as well, in case you didn't know.


How are you on this website?

Are you using your broken computer?

Does it have a burner?

If yes to both then burn all your files to disc and then go to a computer shop and get it fixed.

Also wouldn't think Underbelly would be the only videos you wouldn't want others to see, hmm?

I remember a little while back rebuilding a server for one of my customers. I had 20 users worth of data to back up so i`m copying their data across to a backup drive. I`m half watching the data go across and notice some really interesting file names. This guys pr0n was superb.

 

[TurboHead]

Mummy thinks you have been porning...... and dont say you don't have pr0n... everyone has pr0n.

If the HD wont boot - use another computer, if you can get yours to boot then buy another HD and plug that in and re-install xp on it.... then copy files off old HD before it completely dies.

 

[Jafa]

It may not be the drive, Could simply be a corrupted file system.

Winders can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

 

[OzBomber]

Sorry if this sounds weird, but how would I copy the files off the old HD to another computer.

Anyway, mum wouldn't wanna buy a new HD. She'd just wanna get it fixed.

 

[Jafa]

You would open the case, take the hard drive out and put it into a different machine (unfortunately not the laptop). Normally you would connect it to the second ide channel or a spare SATA slot.

Seriously though - take it to a shop.

 

[TurboHead]

Also - some of you might not be aware - about 12 months ago I found that you could buy external HD cases with USB connection for about $30. I grabbed one of these and a cheap second hand HD to use as a backup.