Help Help Help - System Crash?

Terrysdelight

Hi, just typed a blooming long document, saved it. Closed laptop down and restarted it now I have the follwing message:-

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file bvy starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at eh first screen to start repair.



Please what does this mean - has something bad happened?

Thanks
Terri

fwor

Terrysdelight wrote: »

Please what does this mean - has something bad happened?

Yes, it generally means that the PC will not boot in its current state, and is often seen when a hard disk is in the process of failing.

Do you have a Windows installation CD/DVD to attempt a repair?

If not, there are steps that you can take to get the document you typed off so that you can work on it on another PC, if that's your priority.

Terrysdelight

Yes, at the moment, this is my priority. Do you know how I can get the document off?

Thank you

fwor

Are you confident that you know how to boot the PC from a bootable CD?

If so, the quickest method IMO (because it does not involve any dismantling of the laptop) is to download one of the Linux LiveCDs - Ubuntu is a good choice because it has very good hardware compatibility - boot the laptop from that and see if the HDD is still viable and accessible.

If it is, you plug in a pendrive and transfer your document to that.

Obviously you will need another PC to create the bootable CD, but I guess you must have as you are still on here...

Terrysdelight

Hi

No confidence in booting it. I can't down load anything either becuase it won't boot up. I do have another laptop - my son's which am using now. My hardware is covered by dell for next 9 months so if it is hard drive failing - I guess this is covered? Will try Dell in the morning.

Thanks for trying to help.
Terri

Donnie

Which Operating System are you using?

andy2004

1. how did you close it down? did you see turn off button, i'm assuming as its 9months old and a dell that its either vista or windows 7.

could be a harddrive problem, but it could also be an infection. when was the last time you ran a malware / antivirus scanner on it.
would also be a operating system problem, i had a laptop that wouldnt boot given to me the other day to fix, no virus, no spyware, it was a hidden file created by windows, and a simple chkdsk /F fixed that problem.

personally i would download hirens boot cd 10.6 freeware, burn the cd image and then boot into mini xp directly from the disc, attach a flashdrive and copy the file you want onto it. the using the command prompt type chkdsk c: /F as its a NTFS system. /F just means fix any errors, also on the cd are some other hard drive utilities.

Terrysdelight

Donnie wrote: »

Which Operating System are you using?

Hi

The system I'm using is Windows XP. Laptop is 4 years old.

Terrysdelight

andy2004 wrote: »

1. how did you close it down? did you see turn off button, i'm assuming as its 9months old and a dell that its either vista or windows 7.

could be a harddrive problem, but it could also be an infection. when was the last time you ran a malware / antivirus scanner on it.
would also be a operating system problem, i had a laptop that wouldnt boot given to me the other day to fix, no virus, no spyware, it was a hidden file created by windows, and a simple chkdsk /F fixed that problem.

personally i would download hirens boot cd 10.6 freeware, burn the cd image and then boot into mini xp directly from the disc, attach a flashdrive and copy the file you want onto it. the using the command prompt type chkdsk c: /F as its a NTFS system. /F just means fix any errors, also on the cd are some other hard drive utilities.

I did a proper shutdown, closing all applications first and usual log off (am wondering if I switched off the power before it had totally closed down).

Haven't run virus checker/malware for about 6 weeks

I do need to get to the documents which I typed. But more importantly I am terrified of losing the photo's on my laptop (all of my son) if I do burn the CD and then boot into the mini xp directly from the disc.

I guess if I download/burn etc - do I put the disk into the damaged laptop and will I then get prompted on what to do?

tronator

Terrysdelight wrote: »

Hi, just typed a blooming long document, saved it. Closed laptop down and restarted it now I have the follwing message:-

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file bvy starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at eh first screen to start repair.



Please what does this mean - has something bad happened?

Thanks
Terri

Read this thread. The solution is in the link to Microsoft in post 10.