XP Problem, Please Help--

[jamalsbro]

Hi Everyone!

I need help, bigtime!

My Dell- Dimension8400 is giving me problems that are XP related.

Last week I powered up the machine and got a message that said"
windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt- windows\system32\config\system. There is a message that says
that I can try to fix the file using recovery, which I have tried to
no avail. I found some instructions on how to fix registry errors
which I have done. It involved copying files while in recovery mode
which I did, however, when I was copying the files I received a
message that said one of the files was not there. This happened when
I entered the command- copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows
\system32\config\system- it says that the file cannot be located. When
I try to restart the computer I get the very, very first windowsxp
screen, then the computer goes through a bunch of files then stops
briefly and then reboots and does it all over again. It will not boot
in safe mode because of this.

I just don't know what else I to do and any and all help and
suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I need help, bigtime!

My Dell- Dimension8400 is giving me problems that are XP related.

Last week I powered up the machine and got a message that said"
windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt- windows\system32\config\system. There is a message that
says that I can try to fix the file using recovery, which I have
tried to no avail. I found some instructions on how to fix
registry errors which I have done. It involved copying files while
in recovery mode which I did, however, when I was copying the files
I received a message that said one of the files was not there.
This happened when I entered the command- copy
c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows \system32\config\system- it
says that the file cannot be located. When I try to restart the
computer I get the very, very first windowsxp screen, then the
computer goes through a bunch of files then stops briefly and then
reboots and does it all over again. It will not boot in safe mode
because of this.

I just don't know what else I to do and any and all help and
suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Repair installation:

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

 

[Jim]

Hi Everyone!

I need help, bigtime!

My Dell- Dimension8400 is giving me problems that are XP related.

Last week I powered up the machine and got a message that said"
windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt- windows\system32\config\system. There is a message that says
that I can try to fix the file using recovery, which I have tried to
no avail. I found some instructions on how to fix registry errors
which I have done. It involved copying files while in recovery mode
which I did, however, when I was copying the files I received a
message that said one of the files was not there. This happened when
I entered the command- copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows
\system32\config\system- it says that the file cannot be located. When
I try to restart the computer I get the very, very first windowsxp
screen, then the computer goes through a bunch of files then stops
briefly and then reboots and does it all over again. It will not boot
in safe mode because of this.

I just don't know what else I to do and any and all help and
suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

If you ever made a system state backup, you may be able to extricate
yourself. This by far the easiest method.

You may be able to extricate yourself by the technique described in the
Windows Registry Guide by Jerry Hunnicut. He shows how to recover a
registry hive from a restore point \system volume information\ folder.
I have never tried this method.

Otherwise, you will save lots of time and trouble by a reinstallation. Your
data is toast unless you have made a good backup.

The trouble with other methods (as described in the article in Help &
Support) is that they may not work with an OEM computer.

Jim

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I need help, bigtime!

My Dell- Dimension8400 is giving me problems that are XP related.

Last week I powered up the machine and got a message that said"
windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt- windows\system32\config\system. There is a message that
says that I can try to fix the file using recovery, which I have
tried to no avail. I found some instructions on how to fix
registry errors which I have done. It involved copying files
while in recovery mode which I did, however, when I was copying
the files I received a message that said one of the files was not
there. This happened when I entered the command- copy
c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows \system32\config\system- it
says that the file cannot be located. When I try to restart the
computer I get the very, very first windowsxp screen, then the
computer goes through a bunch of files then stops briefly and then
reboots and does it all over again. It will not boot in safe mode
because of this.
I just don't know what else I to do and any and all help and
suggestions is greatly appreciated.

<some answers inline>

This is the fix, I don't know what the heck the other responders to
the post are thinking, I do this for my customers all the time.

Easy Way --- Note that this doesn't always work.
When you are booting your system, press the F8 key during the start
of the bootup sequence, meaning after it does the Power On Self
Test.
Once you press the F8 key, you will be taken to a Menu. Select
"Boot Using Last Known Good Configuration".

Won't work for the OP. Why not - see the next answer to you...

It will now attempt to load Windows XP using a past set of
configuration files.

If that doesn't work, there is the next step....the hard way.

Hard Way
Boot your system with the Windows XP Install CD, let the system
boot into the Setup. Once in the Setup, choose to run the Recovery
Console.
You will now be presented with a screen similar to good old DOS.

First, we will recover the System Hive.

Now, type in the following commands with pressing Enter after each
line.
md tmp
copy C:\windows\system32\config\system C:\windows\tmp\system.bak
delete C:\windows\system32\config\system
copy C:\windows\repair\system C:\windows\system32\config\system

Be very careful when you are typing in these commands, one wrong
move, and you know, broken Windows XP.

Also, change the C in the commands to whatever your Windows XP
drive letter is.

Attempt to boot the system, if it doesn't boot, get back into the
Recovery Console and do the following commands.

md tmp
copy C:\windows\system32\config\software C:\windows\tmp\software.bak
delete C:\windows\system32\config\software
copy C:\windows\repair\software C:\windows\system32\config\software

If you read anything the OP said - you'd know they already did this. Thus
why your easy method won't work and the hard method is already proven not to
work.

If you had read not only the responses, but the original post itself - you
would have known "what the heck the other responders to the post are
thinking"... ;-) You quoted ther original post - so... that's something.

Also - if you 'do this for your customers all the time' - something is
majorly broke on your customers computers and needs to be properly repaired.
;-)

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I need help, bigtime!

My Dell- Dimension8400 is giving me problems that are XP related.

Last week I powered up the machine and got a message that said"
windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt- windows\system32\config\system. There is a message that
says that I can try to fix the file using recovery, which I have
tried to no avail. I found some instructions on how to fix
registry errors which I have done. It involved copying files while
in recovery mode which I did, however, when I was copying the files
I received a message that said one of the files was not there.
This happened when I entered the command- copy
c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows \system32\config\system- it
says that the file cannot be located. When I try to restart the
computer I get the very, very first windowsxp screen, then the
computer goes through a bunch of files then stops briefly and then
reboots and does it all over again. It will not boot in safe mode
because of this.

I just don't know what else I to do and any and all help and
suggestions is greatly appreciated.

another slightly different version
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_a_stop.htm
also if you had a ultimate boot cd, you could also try the registry
restore wizard that is on the disk to go back to a restore point

Clark...

First off - it's the same response you gave before (hard way) except
actually a complete set of instructions in refereence to the given issue and
it is exactly the following KB article repeated (except in a more manual way
instead of writing a script to use.)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/

The OP (again - I feel this should be pointed out) mentioned following a set
of instructions - which undoubtedly are those...

I found some instructions on how to fix
registry errors which I have done. It involved copying files while
in recovery mode which I did

Which means those instructions did not work - something is more seriously
wrong with the machine in question (or they had a typo... Which is plausible
and, if they believe this possible, they should try the actual Mictosoft led
instructions again.)

Interesting you would reply once - giving the exact (although only partially
laid out) instructions, then come back with more complete instructions (but
still not the actual Microsoft link to them) on a Microsoft MVP's web site
and *then* say this:

"MVP's my ass"

*shrug*

The OP has options -0 some of which they have already tried - some of which
they may have already tried and not mentioned yet. I hope the OP fixes
their issues.

 

[jamalsbro]

Guys, thank you so much for the help and the responses. But I am
still in the same spot.

I tried going back into REPAIR mode, but this time a weird thing
happened, it went through the procedures for a reinstall. But I am
having a problem with even this as it gets to a certain point and I
get a message where it says I need **** file and to indicate where the
file is located, but I dont have said file. Its worth mentioning at
this point that the only thing I seem to have it a CD from Dell
labeled "windows XP reinstallation CD".

Let me retry the setup again and find out exactly what the name of
the file is that I am missing. Now, even furthermore is the fact that
the PC I am using to access the internet does not have a cd burner,
but rather the old 3.5 floppy, while the PC with the problem has two
cd burners and no 3.5 floppy drive. So I have somewhat of an issue,
even if I can locate the files I need, if that is the solution, and
get them to the PC that is ailing.

What a headache!!

Thank you to all of you for all of the help!

You are giving me hope!!

BRB!

 

[jamalsbro]

Okay, here we go--

When I start the computer it goes to that first XP screen, then it
goes to a blue screen that says "setup is being restarted", after
which it stops at a popup that reads "the file asms on windows XP
professional service pack1 CD is needed, type the path where the file
is located" There is a path in the field of GLOBAL\ROOT\DEVICE
\CDROM0\I386 but that is obviously not where it is as nothing happens
when I try to move forward. The file is not on the CD that I have as
far as I can tell. What else can I do?

You guys are a Godsend, please help me get my PC back..

Thank you so very, very, very much!!!

Jamie

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311755

An MS link with error that you are getting, and their solution

 

[jamalsbro]

Got the Win98 Second Edition CD at a yardsale for $2. However, when
I try to copy the I386 folder and all of its contents, I get a message
saying that I cannot use wildcards or copy directories??? I feel like
I am so close to the finis line and I keep falling here. PLease help
me through...

Thank you so much

Clarance

 

[jamalsbro]

Thank you for all of the help!! As you can see from my post above,
I was able to get a Win98 CD which I used to copy the XCOPY file(s) as
well as the SMARTDRV file. But also there is the instruction to copy
the entire I386 folder as well as all of the files and sub folders
onto the harddrive to which will be used as the remedy for the
"missing ASMS" file. But I cannot copy those files. Reason one being
that there are several thousand files in the I386 directory and the
Recovery console will only let you copy them one at a time. Plus even
when I try to copy them one at a time, most of the files have
unreadabel extentions making them dificult to copy. Also, the
recovery console will not alow the use of wildcards or complete
directory copies to be done. Supposedly there is a way to change the
settings, in the "Group Policy" settings, which would be great to do,
but from the instructions I was able to find it sounds like you need
to at least have XP operational in safe mode. I can't even get that
far. I can only get as far as the command prompt and even there it is
difficult to get things accomplished.

Please, please, I beg you all... Help me to get my PC back!!!
Please... I have a feeling I am missing something here as I seem to
have everything that I need. I just can't seem to get the right info
and instruction on how to follow through.


Thank you everyone!!! I am so greatful to you all and will be in
great debt to whoever can get me out of this mess and help me to get
my XP Pro back up and running again!

Thank you and God Bless you all!

Ger