black screen

[ClwydOldGuyInVirginia]

I found some similare postings but they seem old and not exactly on
point. Here is the scenario:

I was trying to add another computer to our home network. I made up a
patch cord (my first one, the other two were already prepared). In
working thru problems it ocurred to me try the patch cord with an
existing computer. Still no luck on the network addition but the next
time I used this computer I got

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing
or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

I may have shot myself in the foot with a bad patch cord but that is
not the whole problem.

I tried "Boot Using Last Known Good Configuration" with no results.

I then started the steps recommended to recover the Files. I failed
the first time I tried to copy the CONFIG\..files to a TMP\..bak
versions. The file above could not be copied. Well... it was
corrupted. I ran chkdsk and tried again. Of course this caused a
couple of the CONFIG\..files to disappear. According to the steps this
was only a precaution and the files were not used later. I bit the
bullet and skipped to the next step where the CONFIG\... files ae
deleted and replaced by equivalent versions from
....\WINDOWS\REPAIR\etc.

I was able to reboot though I got a lot of errors relating to bad DLLs.
I had no Start Menu or any way to complete the remaining recommended
steps.

I went thru the XP Repair instal. A the end the computer tries to
reboot but I only see the XP Splash then the process hangs on a black
screen with a white arrow cursor that can be moved. I cannot get the
Task Menu using CTL-ALT-Delete.

Since I can only shut things down by hitting the power switch I get a
bad shutdown message the next time. I repeated the repair install a 2nd
time with identical results.

Is there anything left before a completely new install?

Thanks in advance
Clwyd

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Did you try the following article:

"How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307545

The article does not apply to OEM versions of XP.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[ClwydOldGuyInVirginia]

Hi

Did you try the following article:

"How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307545

The article does not apply to OEM versions of XP.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

Thanks for the quick reply. My box is not an OEM. Yes, I did attempt
the steps in that article. It was the basis for backing up your old
....\WINDOWS\CONFIG\...files and so on. When I could not continue after
the first step is what lead me to try the Windows Repair install.

 

[Will Denny]

Thanks for the quick reply. My box is not an OEM. Yes, I did attempt
the steps in that article. It was the basis for backing up your old
...\WINDOWS\CONFIG\...files and so on. When I could not continue after
the first step is what lead me to try the Windows Repair install.

Hi

You get the same error message after performing a 'Repair' install as well?

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

Have you tried a System Restore - if you can access Safe Mode that is?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[ClwydOldGuyInVirginia]

Your my new best friend it looks like.

No error message after the Repair install. I have now performed this 3
times. The Repair Install presents a nice XP window with a list on the
left that keeps track of where you are in the process. The last part
of the process I see is a dialog box which gives you the option to
change regional settings and default text. I accept the defaults by
hitting the "Next" or "Continue" buttons (forget which). The machine
shuts down and is supposed to continue the Repair install after
rebooting. However, after the reboot I only see the black screen with
arrow cursor. If i get down and look my disk activity light in the eye
very closely there is a red blink periodically. I have let this run up
to 45 minutes with no change in the black screen. I did a repair
install last fall when I changed motherboards and did not experience
these probems. Do you reckon I should let the red blink run a longer
time. Or punt and reinstall everything?

Clwyd

 

[ClwydOldGuyInVirginia]

I forgot to answer your question re: system restore.

After completing the first part of the recovery of corrupt registry I
was able to boot up but had no Start Menu. I tried to run the restore
from the command line but was stopped by DLL errors.

Clwyd