Error On Startup >:(

[bob1234]

I get the following error message when I boot up my computer: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: c:\windows\system32\config\system". I've searched google and I've tried the doing the following to no avail:

-Booting up w/ WinXP Install CD and selecting Repair option.... after it reboots and continues the process I get a blue screen error "BAD_POOL_CALLER".

-I've tried booting in Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration... I get the same error (the first one i posted)

-Tried "bootcfg /rebuild", "fixboot", "chkdsk /r /p", and "expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll" in recovery console

-Tried http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545 , however I cannot get to Part Two because I cannot boot in WinXP

Any help would be appreciated.

Dell Dimension 8400
Intel 3.0 GHz w/ HT
1GB SDRAM
160 GB HD
ATI x300SE
WinXP Home SP2

 

[mechBgon]

This symptom may indicate a virus infection. Yeah I know, you never etc etc.

1) Rescue anything you care about You apparently have a second computer. If it has Windows2000 or WindowsXP, then it can read the NTFS file system and rescue stuff off your 8300's hard drive.

I just typed up detailed info on what needs to be done to rescue stuff, so I'll refer you to this thread for that.


2) Decide whether to nuke & pave, or try tactical strikes first While your 8300's drive is in the other computer, scan it for viruses using several different brands of scanners. Try the Kaspersky, TrendMicro and Panda online scanners listed on this page, and bring snacks, 'cause they'll take a while :Q It may also be a good idea to scan the drive for known spyware using the free Microsoft AntiSpyware beta software.

If any viruses are detected, you should delete them. Afterwards, you could try an in-place upgrade, Method 2 of WinXP, which is Microsoft-talk for a repair-mode install. It's different than the Repair option.

If you decide to nuke & pave, follow the routine starting on this page to ensure you don't get a worm infection along the way. Begin Windows Setup from the WinXP CD-ROM, delete all existing partitions, then exit from Windows Setup by pressing the F3 key twice. Now begin Windows Setup a second time, and follow through. This ensures that your bootup isn't interrupted by a silly screen offering two installations of Windows to choose from.


People generally like to stand and fight, but often it ends up taking less time to just cave in and reinstall Windows. Anyway, hope that helps, and welcome to the Forums

 

[DennyD]

What you need to do is after the first part of the MS article 307545, when the machine is starting back up, is start tapping F8 for safe mode. Check out http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=34&threadid=1617115 for a simplified translation to the article.
- Dennis

 

[bob1234]

Well I managed to fix it. I was just going to gut everything and install a clean a copy of windows but good thing I didn't. Here's what I did. I decided to install a new copy in a different folder "c:\windows2". This enabled me to get into WinXp and as a result I had access to my old windows directory. This allowed me to follow through with the succeeding steps on http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545 and now my PC up and running as before. I guess it won't hurt to keep the new clean copy of winxp on the computer so I'll keep it just in case.

Thanks for all the help guys, especially mechBgon, you guys rock!

 

[SilverTrine]

Do what mechbgon says thats all good advice. If after you reinstall windows you still get crashes its a hardware fault. Hopefully you're still under warranty, if you're not things could get expensive.

 

[bfonnes]

easy way to fix this... windows keeps backups of that file in the C:\WINDOWS\repair folder. go to a command prompt, and type 2 commands,

1. cd \windows\system32\config

2. copy \windows\repair\system

problem solved, gg, hf

BFonnes

edit: trust me... this works... I did Gateway tech support and did this all the time. btw, if you can't get into a command prompt, then use a boot disk with any version of windows/dos on it. Then, use the above commands.

link back to original thread I posted this in

Originally posted by: bob1234


-Booting up w/ WinXP Install CD and selecting Repair option.... after it reboots and continues the process I get a blue screen error "BAD_POOL_CALLER".

-I've tried booting in Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration... I get the same error (the first one i posted)

-Tried "bootcfg /rebuild", "fixboot", "chkdsk /r /p", and "expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll" in recovery console

-Tried http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545 , however I cannot get to Part Two because I cannot boot in WinXP

Confuscious say.
"Don't expect a Windows utility to be able to fix a crash caused by Windows."

BFonnes
henceforth to be known as Confuscious...