Need to Repair NTFS.sys, but Windows Setup won't run

[ArsPolitica]

I'm running WinXP, and when it loads I get the screen informing me that the last boot attempt was unsuccessful. If I select Boot Normally or Last Good Configuration, the system hangs. If I pick safe mode, the various files start to load until it attempts to load NTFS.sys and then it says there is an error with NTFS.sys and I should use the repair feature of Windows Setup.

The problem is that when I boot into the Windows setup, I get a message: "File setupdd.sys could not be loaded. The error code is 7."

I really don't want to format my c drive as I have a lot of data on there that I don't want to lose. Does anyone know what the problem with the windows setup is, or how I can repair NTFS.sys manually?

TIA,
Cameron

 

[mastertech01]

Do you know what happened just before this all started? Power outage? device added? software added? nothing?

 

[ArsPolitica]

 

[Rhi]

Well that's informative. 😛

-Rhi

 

[ArsPolitica]

Oops, sorry bout that.

To answer the question, there really isn't anything I've done lately out of the ordinary. I've been having some trouble with a filesharing app (eDonkey) so I've been installing different versions of that, but I really don't think that has anything to do with the problem.

So can anyone think of a way out of this bind, or is my only option to format and reinstall?

-Cameron

 

[ArsPolitica]

Update: I still get the same error message when trying to enter windows setup, but I get a new error when trying to load windows. Now whether I select safe mode or normal mode, I get an error about my BIOS not being fully ACPI compliant. I'm not sure why because I have the latest BIOS for my mobo (an ECS K75). Any help would be appreciated.

-Cameron