Windows Media Center

[DasFox]

If you put in the cd and do a repair for a missing file, nothing will be lost on the system correct, it doesn't touch what's there already?

Also if this System.sav is the only file missing does anyone know where it is in cab files, and how I might just extract it, and what the commands would be to extract it off the cd and on the Windows\System32\Config\ path?

THANKS

 

[hasu]

That is windows registry database.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms724877.aspx

Edit: You might be able to restore it from the previous system restore point.

 

[DasFox]

I've tried booting this thing from, "Last Known Good Config", and Safe Mode and she won't go..

Any other ideas how to get into it with this messed up?

Also I'm trying to get a hold of a cd for it, if I can, doing a repair, you won't loose anything installed correct?

THANKS

 

[hasu]

hmm... if you can't boot even with "Last know good config" or Safe mode, I am helpless :-( I could use those even when I had issues with registry files.

Probably some one else might know it better!
Will this help?

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: hasu
hmm... if you can't boot even with "Last know good config" or Safe mode, I am helpless :-( I could use those even when I had issues with registry files.

Probably some one else might know it better!
Will this help?

NP, I'll just see if I can get a hold of the cds for this thing to repair it, then end of problem.

THANKS

 

[DasFox]

Ok I'm getting there....

 

[hasu]

I don't think that would be an option, because it is machine dependent information. Did you try safe mode with a command prompt? Can you get up to the command prompt if you select that?

 

[DasFox]

Well right now I'm running chkdsk /r and if that doesn't get it, then I'll run:

FixBoot

FixBoot doesn't work, then I'll run:

bootcfg

Still no luck then I'll try:

fixmbr

And if that doesn't get it, then I'll do a repair reinstall, that will get it, LOL

ALOHA

 

[hasu]

Originally posted by: DasFox
Well right now I'm running chkdsk /r and if that doesn't get it, then I'll run:

FixBoot

FixBoot doesn't work, then I'll run:

bootcfg

Still no luck then I'll try:

fixmbr

And if that doesn't get it, then I'll do a repair reinstall, that will get it, LOL

ALOHA

None of those options may restore the registry hives. Even repair re-install might not help. As far as I know the only place where you can restore it is from a previous backup using System Restore. System restore can be invoked from the command prompt in safe mode. Use "Safe mode with command prompt" and then run the command C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe at the command prompt (as described in the above link).

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: hasu

Originally posted by: DasFox
Well right now I'm running chkdsk /r and if that doesn't get it, then I'll run:

FixBoot

FixBoot doesn't work, then I'll run:

bootcfg

Still no luck then I'll try:

fixmbr

And if that doesn't get it, then I'll do a repair reinstall, that will get it, LOL

ALOHA

None of those options may restore the registry hives. Even repair re-install might not help. As far as I know the only place where you can restore it is from a previous backup using System Restore. System restore can be invoked from the command prompt in safe mode. Use "Safe mode with command prompt" and then run the command C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe at the command prompt (as described in the above link).

Ahh ok, thanks. Not even "sfc" can help?

ALOHA

 

[DasFox]

By the way I can't boot up, "Safe Mode with a Command Prompt option."

Nothing boots, no options...

A repair-reinstall should work, sheesh it better...

I guess I can always delete the files, this way when the repair-reinstall doesn't see them it will install them, I mean if they are installed off the cd...

By the way aren't there 5 files that make up the registry hive?

Or are they created when Windows first starts up?

What else is there besides System.sav?

THANKS

 

[hasu]

Boot from the CD and try fixboot. Your installation should still be untouched. Once it can boot then try safemode with command prompt.

See this link
I don't think you can restore registry by a re-install. I am not sure if you can use tools like GetDataBack to restore them.

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: hasu
Boot from the CD and try fixboot. Your installation should still be untouched. Once it can boot then try safemode with command prompt.

See this link
I don't think you can restore registry by a re-install. I am not sure if you can use tools like GetDataBack to restore them.

Ok, and I found this info too:

http://web.mit.edu/ist/products/winxp/advanced/registry-corruption.html

Because with System Restore I have no idea how far I'd need to go back to get this working, but hopefully only a day or two would let it work ok.

THANKS

 

[DasFox]

CRAP fixboot doesn't help.

I tried running safe mode cmd and I get this:

Windows can't start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.SAV

Errrr

 

[hasu]

Probably you can boot from a Linux live cd, and mount the disk using ntfs-3g and rename those files from there

 

[DasFox]

As I posted before, I wonder if this is the same for XP Media Center?

http://web.mit.edu/ist/products/winxp/advanced/registry-corruption.html

ALOHA

 

[hasu]

I think so here is another link http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial74.html
(did you see my post above re Linux?)

 

[DasFox]

AHHH found this:

"BOOTCFG /Rebuild"

which is a complete diagnostic of the operating system loaded into the recovery console; the purpose of the command is to remove/replace/repair any system files that were preventing the operating system from loading correctly. Amongst the files it fixes are:

* Windows Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)
* Corrupt registry hives (\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM32\\CONFIG\\xxxxxx)
* Invalid BOOT.INI files
* A corrupt NTOSKRNL.EXE
* A missing NT Loader (NTLDR)


I hope this gets it.

 

[hasu]

Good luck!

 

[DasFox]

Crap "BOOTCFG /Rebuild" didn't help either

sheesh

 

[DasFox]

Well I didn't run all the commands here:

http://www.short-media.com/articles/repair_windows_xp

So I'm going to do everything and see what happens....

 

[bsobel]

Did you have System Restore enabled? If so you can grab a recent system hive from there...

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Did you have System Restore enabled? If so you can grab a recent system hive from there...

Well sure if I can at least get it to bootup to the command prompt.

The only command prompt I can get it is the recovery console, not sure you can run it from here.

 

[hasu]

Originally posted by: DasFox

Originally posted by: bsobel
Did you have System Restore enabled? If so you can grab a recent system hive from there...

Well sure if I can at least get it to bootup to the command prompt.

The only command prompt I can get it is the recovery console, not sure you can run it from here.

Since the error msg specifically says: WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.SAV is missing
and you can get the previous version as you saw in this link

Linux live cd with ntfs-3g might help. It might be worth giving it a try.

 

[Smilin]

k system.sav shouldn't really be needed to boot. I'm thinking more corrupted than missing.

boot to recovery console find and rename the file, try booting.

If that doesn't work, go into \system volume information\_restore\ {ugly guid} \RPXXX\Snapshot and grab the backup copies of the registry from there.

XXX=most recent restore point.


Tell you what. Just follow this KB:
307545 How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545


It's not exactly what your problem is but the fix is exactly the same and it will save me the typing.

I know you are scared to ****** that this thing is done for but it's not. This is an ugly looking problem but there is actually a very good chance of success when fixing it.

I would suggest getting a chkdsk /p or chkdsk /r done from recovery console before you begin. You didn't get a missing or corrupt file out of the blue. You don't want to fix it then have the problem reappear.

Good luck, come let us know if you get stuck.