system fried

[Lemon law]

I have a XP pro computer I got used--its got coa sticker but the system disk I got with it probably does not match. Last night it was running fine. This morning I started it up and
it informs me C:\windows\system32\configsys is either missing or corrupt. Try repair install

So I toss in the dubious systems restore disk into my cd rom drive---and it startts repair but aborts saying dmio.sys is corrupt after running awhile--which is a problem I had before this happened.---and it aborts there before it gets to any repair config.sys--or last known good config.--it just goes dead when it hits dmio.sys.

I can try to press F2 at the repair windows screen but then it prompts me for the Windows automatic system recovery floppy-----and where can I get one of those animals. ---windows help has nothing on it.

Meanwhile it won't go to safe mode or anywhere where I can try something else.

Any suggestions?

 

[Drag55]

you meen c:/config.sys

 

[mechBgon]

I can try to press F2 at the repair windows screen but then it prompts me for the Windows automatic system recovery floppy-----and where can I get one of those animals. ---windows help has nothing on it.

You won't have an ASR floppy unless you ran an ASR backup job before all this happened. ASR is amazing, but it doesn't run itself, so that's a no-go.

If you have an OEM WinXP Professional CD, try a repair installation using that OEM CD with the CD key on the COA. If it succeeds, you'll probably have to call in for activation, but that's not very hard.

 

[Lemon law]

To mechbgon,

In terms of asr--I did check--and without one--that won't work.

When I used the XP pro install disk that came with the system---and attempt to do a repair install, it gets to DMload--and then tells me dmio.sys is corrupt---and aborts there---so thats a no go.

I have managed to get into the safe mode start screen---and all options lead to a report that --------
C:\windows\system32\config\system is corrupt or missing---the only option that yields anything is command prompt and that shows it loads the following item before it gets to the same point from system 32---namely Ntosrkl.exe, 3 dll's then config\system, then config\system.log and aborts at the same point.

At this point I don't even have any utilities to tell if my NTFS formatted hard disk is fried or not. I can get to the windows install disk in my cd rom drive but setup.exe won't run from dos.--I can read the files on the cd but I can't the install cd to do anything useful.

Any suggestions on what repair utilities I can download to troubleshoot?---or any useful suggestions.

So far everything is catch 22.

 

[mechBgon]

When I used the XP pro install disk that came with the system

Right, I got that part. Now, do you have an XP Pro install disc that did not come with the system, a normal OEM one?

 

[Lemon law]

God knows what came with the system originally ---but what I have says xp pro from dell---and given the system has an amd processor--its doubtfull.---but I have a coa on the case---and it gets me into windows update--at least it did when it was working.

And its not a XP full --its evidently a upgrade disk--so catch 22 again--without booting into windows I can't reinstall as far as I know.

 

[Lemon law]

Well update---system unfried---pulled a cheat and used a xp home disk on a xp pro system to do the repair install---and that sucker got past the dmio.sys roadblock---and when it stopped I swapped in the dell xp pro disk---the system booted back into windows---which tells me my sata1 hard drive formatted NTFS is not fried---and I am good to go until it happens again.

Will make sure I have an windows automatic restore floppy by then---but right now the windows help instructions are as clear as mud---thanks Bill Gates.

Tell me again why we should not all use Linux.

 

[mechBgon]

If you don't have your XP disc, is that Microsoft's fault? The EULA for OEM Windows specifically says that the seller is supposed to give you the disc along with the computer. And if he/she gave you a Dell disc for a non-Dell computer, you have a busted Windows license and you need to get a new one. Or Linux if you prefer, sure.

If it's a Dell chassis but you're not sure it's Dell guts inside, just look up the specs for the system, compare them to what's really in there, and you'll know if it's a real Dell or not.

 

[Lemon law]

Actually I was bitching about Gates due to the piss poor quality of his help screens and windows documentation. Linus may not be all that much better, but at least you don't pay and arm and a leg to be abused.

But I am the third owner of this computer---at one time it had a proper install disk, see coa on side of computer, and the second owner of the computer probably lost the original install disk. But the used computer I bought was advertised to come with windows xp pro pre installed, have a coa, and come with the original install disk. When the computer arrived, no install disk---I wrote the vendor---and he sent me the dell disk --I should have called him on it then--and its too late now--but no where here has microsoft been ripped off.