XP Home Won't Boot

[Juan de Carmen]

The daughter of a friend has an XP Home that now hangs during boot-up with

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTME32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

It doesn't give an actual file name, just the directory.
She doesn't have an "original Setup CD-ROM". She has a

"Quick Restore CD
For Distribution Only With A New CTL PC.
V.WXPHome2002"

("CTL" == Computer Technology Link)
The CD warns that its use "will result in the loss of all programs, configuration & data currently on your computer. ...".

The PC (a hand-me-down from her step sister) worked well for her for a year or two, but recently began giving her error messages at start-up (perhaps mentioning a driver problem (? She can probably clarify this 7/29 when she returns from runners' camp)). Now it has escalated to the point that it will not boot-up.
So far as can be recalled, no software was installed or modified immediately prior to the messages' appearance.

She has stuff on it that she doesn't want to hose (including hundreds of $ in iTunes) or re-install (quite a few apps) via a new XP installation.

She doesn't have any Recovery disk(s) -- didn't know they are can be made. One of the first things we'll do once her system is working properly again.

I've been able to plug the HD into another XP Home system. The programs I've tried running from it work OK.

Examining the HD with Explorer shows that the ONLY possible way to complete the directory\filename portion of the boot-up error message is "\WINDOWS\SYSTME32\CONFIG\SYSTEMPROFILE" etc, so it's probably hit a buffer length limit which trims it to "\WINDOWS\SYSTME32\CONFIG\SYSTEM".
Would this error message be written to disk somewhere also? It might not be truncated there. If so, having the entire path+filename, might enable me to place the file there (if missing) or replace it (if corrupt).
If it's written somewhere, where would that be?
If not, is there some other way to get at the full path+file string from the error message?

Another possibile fix would be to run a disk scan on the HD from the malfunctioning system. Is this a good idea?

System Information lists both HDs -- the working system's & the "transplanted" one -- as running NTFS. If this is true (I'd heard that XP Home does not support NTFS), might NTFS's log contain helpful info?
If so, where would that log be?

If there are other options for us, what are they?

If we could borrow someone else's XP Home "Setup CD-ROM" could we attempt a repair? Would it have to be a CTL Setup CD?

(An aside: Is the CTL "Quick Restore CD" an OEM CD?)

Sorry if this is too basic. I guess you all were noobs at some point also.

Anyway, thanks for any advice anyone gives.

Warren

 

[mechBgon]

It sounds like the Registry is messed up. I would begin where you're at right now: with the hard drive in a different computer, so you can rescue stuff off it.

how to take ownership of stuff in WinXP Use this info if you get "Access denied" to folders you need to rescue stuff from.

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting and you'll need the manual method.

Since you have no WinXP CD... Windows XP Home Edition Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install, I believe that'll do it.


The recovery CD you described isn't an OEM Windows CD, it's a recovery CD that would re-image the hard drive to out-of-the-box condition. Tangentially, if you do that, make sure to take precautions against worm infection (scroll down halfway to the large picture and start from there).


Welcome to the Forums, hope that helps Oh, and scan the other hard drive for viruses, here are some online virus scanners listed if you want second & third opinions (recommended).

 

[Juan de Carmen]

Thanks for your reply!

1) You suggested I recover the registry using stuff from MS's

"How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting"

support page. In the Summary before starting to give instructions on the recovery it gives the following warning:


Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives.


How do I determine whether or not the "computer has an OEM-installed operating system."? (AFAIK it didn't come with a Windows Setup CD when it was first bought, only the "Quick Restore CD".)


2) In the Manual steps instructions, Part one, it says "When you have finished this procedure, a registry is created that you can use to start Windows XP. This registry was created and saved during the initial setup of Windows XP. Therefore any changes and settings that occurred after the Setup program was finished are lost.". Does this loss refer only to system settings changes, meaning that user apps installed subsequent to the "initial setup of Windows" will still be "installed" and run OK?


3) I'm made a tiny bit uncertain by the combination of your first comment


"I would begin where you're at right now: with the hard drive in a different computer, so you can rescue stuff off it."

----- vs -----

[your tip 3 lines further down: "Since you have no WinXP CD... Windows XP Home Edition Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install (<== MS website link that mechBgon inserted), I believe that'll do it."
--- and ---
MS's web page instructions (Part one, Step 1): "Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer."]

Do I (tentatively) understand correctly: I should return the HD to the ailing PC for the recovery attempt, right?


4) Might it be wise for us to retrieve valuables off of the HD (> $100 in iTunes, etc ...) while it is accessible (ie plugged in to the working XP Home computer) before attempting the registry recovery? (Maybe this is what you meant with your first line "... so you can rescue stuff off it."?)


5) The other computer here (into which I plugged in the problematic PC's HD to check it out) does not have a floppy drive to which to write the "Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install". I will need to do that in my own PC, which is 50 mi away (I'm house sitting here now; will go home sunday nite). Hopefully, I can take the sick PC home with me to work on there! If not (she may need/want to "rescue stuff off it."), it may be a week or more before I can report back.

Again, many thanks,
Warren

 

[mechBgon]

4) Might it be wise for us to retrieve valuables off of the HD (> $100 in iTunes, etc ...) while it is accessible (ie plugged in to the working XP Home computer) before attempting the registry recovery? (Maybe this is what you meant with your first line "... so you can rescue stuff off it."?)

Exactly, that's what I meant by rescuing stuff. You may not be able to rescue everything you'd like, such as installed programs, but at least documents, pictures, possibly the iTunes library (not sure if they're transplantable), Favorites list, etc.

How do I determine whether or not the "computer has an OEM-installed operating system."? (AFAIK it didn't come with a Windows Setup CD when it was first bought, only the "Quick Restore CD".)

I'm not sure if that applies to your system or not, but it appears you've got nothing further to lose by trying, since the system already doesn't work and you have no non-destructive recovery options, only that restoration CD. Maybe someone else will have other suggestions, so keep checking back... there's some bright lights around here who might know another way