C:\$MFT corrupt can't be saved

[JulieinVirginia]

Windows XP SP2 on Dell laptop

Started having trouble with windows update site about a year ago.
computer would slow to a crawl and take an hour to boot.
Turned off autoupdates and updated manually when I had an hour to spare.

Recently did all the critical updates and then got error:
C:\$MFT is corrupt.

STUPID ME! Didn't look that up before I attempted to use a restore point to
return to an earlier version. This is how I fixed the windows update issues
in the past.

First restore point didn't work.
Chose an earlier one and now I cannot boot in Safe Mode at all.

I suspect the harddrive is fragmented and full and I would happily delete
tons of stuff, but I cannot boot

Error is (lsass.exe)
oleaut32.dll cannot load

I cannot chkdsk or defrag or boot. I assume I will have to format and
reinstall but I would like to get my data off first.

In the old DOS days, we would boot off a floppy, grab the data, and format.
I was hoping to get into a command prompt if only to delete and make space.

My first priority is data. But of course I need to be able to boot to do
that. I think the HD doesn't have enough free space as it is - so I am
reluctant to reinstall XP - but would give that a try if you think it won't
make things worse.

Thanks!
Julie

 

[smlunatick]

Windows XP SP2 on Dell laptop

Started having trouble with windows update site about a year ago.
computer would slow to a crawl and take an hour to boot.
Turned off autoupdates and updated manually when I had an hour to spare.

Recently did all the critical updates and then got error:
C:\$MFT is corrupt.

STUPID ME! Didn't look that up before I attempted to use a restore point to
return to an earlier version. This is how I fixed the windows update issues
in the past.

First restore point didn't work.
Chose an earlier one and now I cannot boot in Safe Mode at all.

I suspect the harddrive is fragmented and full and I would happily delete
tons of stuff, but I cannot boot

Error is (lsass.exe)
oleaut32.dll cannot load

I cannot chkdsk or defrag or boot. I assume I will have to format and
reinstall but I would like to get my data off first.

In the old DOS days, we would boot off a floppy, grab the data, and format..
I was hoping to get into a command prompt if only to delete and make space..

My first priority is data. But of course I need to be able to boot to do
that. I think the HD doesn't have enough free space as it is - so I am
reluctant to reinstall XP - but would give that a try if you think it won't
make things worse.

Thanks!
Julie

Get yourself a new hard drive and install XP onto this drvie. Then,
connect the older drive as the second drive. If all goes well, you
should be able to access the data on the "second" drive and copy it to
your new XP boot drive C:

This link: http://www.cgsecurity.org:80/wiki/TestDisk
Provides access to an Open Source HDD recovery CD which should be able
to fix the MFT with the baock copy of the MFT (stored elsewhere on the
hard drive.) I "lived" this last year but I never went back to be old
drive (no important files.)

 

[neil]

If you are able to boot to the recovery console from the XP CD then run
chkdsk with the fix option.
Neil

 

[JulieinVirginia]

If you are able to boot to the recovery console from the XP CD then run
chkdsk with the fix option.
Neil

I tried that and it did not work. I was able to get to a command prompt by
booting off the resource CD and entering my admin password and then CTRL ALT
DEL to bring up the task mgr. I kept getting the error:

oleaut32.dll cannot load

and just pressed enter over and over and over and eventually, I went to
File, Run from the task manager.

Nothing else was visible - no desktop, no start menu - nada...

Unfortunately - in searching the archives here - I tried one of the fixes
here that resets the sytem32 settings and now I am locked out because my
administrator password is not recognized anymore. It is the same password I
have been using all along - but the "fix" that I tried resets back to April
2005.

This is the "fix" that I tried:
http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=8658

I will open a new thread when I settle into whatever new troubles are ahead
of me as I try this fix:
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

to recover my pw.

Thanks for both of your suggestions.

Julie

 

[neil]

That is the MS recommended method to recover from a "system/config" error. I
don't think that's what you had. Your only option now may be obtain a copy
of a "live CD" like knoppix and copy off your important files then format
your hard drive and reinstall.

Neil

 

[JulieinVirginia]

Thanks for your help. I was able to eventually get my admin password reset,
and ran chkdsk /r which found several problems. I reinstalled XP on top of my
existing version which solved all the other issues. I bought a cheap external
HD and was able to get my files off and when that is done - i will do a
format/reinstall. What an ordeal this has been - all because I wasn't really
paying attention to the symptoms that led up to this. There were two things
going on - hard drive issues (not enough free space and/or physical issues
with bad sectors AND the windows update issue which now seems to be resolved.

I appreciate having this place as a resource - I learned a lot here by
combing the archives.

Thanks
Julie

 

[neil]

Good, glad to hear you solved your problem. Can be a steep learning curve
eh.
Neil