OMG! My laptop won't boot into Wndows anymore...help please

[flavio]

This horrible. When I boot up my Win2k latop it gets up to "Starting Windows" and then gives me this error;

"Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEMced starup options for Windows 2000, press f8"

I looked up the error and founf the following advice:

"Log on to the Recovery Console tool and type the following commands:
- cd system32\config
- ren system system.old
- ren system.alt systemalt.old
Copy the backup of the System hive from the Repair folder"

I did this and rebooted and it looked like it was going to go into Windows, but wanted to check the drive for consistency and I let it. It made some sort of change during this process and then went right back to the original error.

Now if I go into the repair console though it puts me straight into a C:\ prompt and says"access denied" if I try to "cd WINNT"

I really don't want to format/reinstall, I have way too much stuff on th thing for work..I'll freak out.

 

[Jiggz]

Boot from the W2K CD and then re-install. Before the final installation it will give you the option of Repairing the exisiting installation. Choose Repair and all the system files will be replaced as necessary. Another thing to do is try to boot in Safe mode to see if you can at least back up your important dat. Just in case you will have to re-install.

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Step 1> Download and burn linux to a CD
Step 2> Insert Linux CD.
Step 3> Install Linux.
Step 4> No more posting about your laptop breaking.

Enjoy

 

[bigshooter]

Step 1> Download and burn linux to a CD
Step 2> Insert Linux CD.
Step 3> Install Linux.
Step 4> No more posting about your laptop breaking.


Step 5> Post a million messages on how do I get my video/sound/network to work.
Step 6> Put windows2k or xp back on your laptop

 

[wepopfresh]

My laptop doesn't boot into windows either.


But I'm thankful for that.

 

[BreakApart]

You may want to find out the brand of hard drive in your laptop-(open a small cover on the back of the laptop)

IBM has a Drive Fitness utility for use on their travelstar drives... Had to use it on mine last month-(Win2000 errors also)
Drive Fitness test found alot of bad sectors on the drive. If this happens to you don't waste your time fixing that drive, chances are the rest of the drive will go bad soon also.

 

[flavio]

I tried running hardware diagnostics off a cd that came with the laptop, everything came up looking good

The computer WILL NOT boot into safe mode. Same error.

If I go through the WIn2k Installation at what point wll it let me replace files and not foramt? I do not want to format unless all other options are exhausted.

Oh and thanks for the Linux jokes guys, those come in real handy. This is my work computer and I have to use alot of programs that don't run on Linux.

 

[wepopfresh]

I said nothing of linux.

 

[grifterspawn]

ah ha, buy you have a penguin icon....linux lover!

 

[ChrisIsBored]

flavio just boot from the win2k cd... it'll get you to where it almost looks like you're about to install win2k but there's an option to repair an install. You won't have to format anything, and even if you get to a prompt saying the next step is to format, just <crtl><alt><del> your way out of it...

 

[Grootmeister]

A classic case of a corrupted registry. Your best bet is to press F8 as soon as it says Starting Windows and select Last Known Good Configuration. Hopefully your previous registry is OK. If not, unless you have a registry backup it looks like a reload.

 

[flavio]

Well what I tried already in the first post was booting from the Win2k CD. After it loads all the preliminary files there's a couple options:

1. is to go into Setup
2. Press "r" for repair
After you hit "r" you can press "c" for Repair Console or another option if you have a repair disk.

What you're saying is that if I pick "Setup" first there is another repair option?

I'll give it a try.

 

[wepopfresh]

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