corrupt file CHDSK cannot fix

[Guest]

Hi

I've had a few problems with the computer shutting down without warning for
a couple of . I tried running CHKDSK at startup but it said Windows couldn't
open the file to access - but didn't specify which file. I got an alert this
morning to say: Windows - Corrupt file C:\WINDOWS\system32 is corrupt and
unreadable and to run CHDSK utility. I did this but got a message saying that
it was unable to complete the task.
Any ideas, please?

Many thanks in anticipation

 

[S.Sengupta]

'How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting'
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

regards
ssg MS-MVP

 

[R. McCarty]

Sounds like you have two fairly serious issues to deal with. The
abrupt shut downs may be heat or hardware related. The corrupted
message seems incomplete, but probably points to a Registry hive.
If you have an XP CD-ROM disk, you need to boot to that and take
the Recovery Console option. Once you are at the RC prompt type
Chkdsk C: [Press Enter] - This will run a Check Disk without fix or
repair and indicate if errors are present that a /F or /R can repair.If
indicated do another Chkdsk C: /F - After completing it will give the
results and indicate if any unresolved errors remain.
In some cases a Repair or In-Place upgrade would be warranted.
But if the disk drive has errors or inconsistencies then that would not
help you in the situation you're in.
Also, by running Chkdsk with Fix or Repair it's possible that some
data will be lost. Hopefully, you've got your personal data backed
up on removable media.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for this - XP does start so will try this later if the other option
suggested doesn't work.

Kathryn

 

[Guest]

Thanks for this - the shutdowns do come up with a possible hardware problem -
but I haven't installed any recently.
I'll give your other suggestion a go. Fortunately I do back updata pretty
regularly (phew!) and as I can start XP can do a final back-up before trying
your suggestion.
Thanks again

Kathryn

Sounds like you have two fairly serious issues to deal with. The
abrupt shut downs may be heat or hardware related. The corrupted
message seems incomplete, but probably points to a Registry hive.
If you have an XP CD-ROM disk, you need to boot to that and take
the Recovery Console option. Once you are at the RC prompt type
Chkdsk C: [Press Enter] - This will run a Check Disk without fix or
repair and indicate if errors are present that a /F or /R can repair.If
indicated do another Chkdsk C: /F - After completing it will give the
results and indicate if any unresolved errors remain.
In some cases a Repair or In-Place upgrade would be warranted.
But if the disk drive has errors or inconsistencies then that would not
help you in the situation you're in.
Also, by running Chkdsk with Fix or Repair it's possible that some
data will be lost. Hopefully, you've got your personal data backed
up on removable media.

Hi

I've had a few problems with the computer shutting down without warning
for
a couple of . I tried running CHKDSK at startup but it said Windows
couldn't
open the file to access - but didn't specify which file. I got an alert
this
morning to say: Windows - Corrupt file C:\WINDOWS\system32 is corrupt and
unreadable and to run CHDSK utility. I did this but got a message saying
that
it was unable to complete the task.
Any ideas, please?

Many thanks in anticipation

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Kathryn" <[email protected]>

| Hi
|
| I've had a few problems with the computer shutting down without warning for
| a couple of . I tried running CHKDSK at startup but it said Windows couldn't
| open the file to access - but didn't specify which file. I got an alert this
| morning to say: Windows - Corrupt file C:\WINDOWS\system32 is corrupt and
| unreadable and to run CHDSK utility. I did this but got a message saying that
| it was unable to complete the task.
| Any ideas, please?
|
| Many thanks in anticipation

Go to the hard disk manufacturer's web site and download their diagnostic software
respective to your hard disk. After the test, you will know if the hard disk is bad or
not..

Quantum/Maxtor - PowerMax
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/powermax.htm

Western Digital - Data LifeGuard Tools (DLGDiag)
http://support.wdc.com/download/

Hitachi/IBM - Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

Seagate - SeaTools
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

Fujitsu - Diagnostic Tool
http://www.fcpa.com/download/hard-drives/

Samsung - Disk manager
http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/shdiag.htm

 

[Steve N.]

Sounds like you have two fairly serious issues to deal with. The
abrupt shut downs may be heat or hardware related. The corrupted
message seems incomplete, but probably points to a Registry hive.
If you have an XP CD-ROM disk, you need to boot to that and take
the Recovery Console option. Once you are at the RC prompt type
Chkdsk C: [Press Enter] - This will run a Check Disk without fix or
repair and indicate if errors are present that a /F or /R can repair.If
indicated do another Chkdsk C: /F - After completing it will give the
results and indicate if any unresolved errors remain.
In some cases a Repair or In-Place upgrade would be warranted.
But if the disk drive has errors or inconsistencies then that would not
help you in the situation you're in.
Also, by running Chkdsk with Fix or Repair it's possible that some
data will be lost. Hopefully, you've got your personal data backed
up on removable media.

I hope you don't mind a minor correction here; in Recovery Console the
command is CHKDSK /P not CHKDSK /F.

Steve

 

[R. McCarty]

Don't mind at all - Should sometimes slow down and proof-read a
little better - Thanks, and just to refresh my memory & for reference
here is the list of Recovery Console commands & qualifiers.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/EN-US/

Sounds like you have two fairly serious issues to deal with. The
abrupt shut downs may be heat or hardware related. The corrupted
message seems incomplete, but probably points to a Registry hive.
If you have an XP CD-ROM disk, you need to boot to that and take
the Recovery Console option. Once you are at the RC prompt type
Chkdsk C: [Press Enter] - This will run a Check Disk without fix or
repair and indicate if errors are present that a /F or /R can repair.If
indicated do another Chkdsk C: /F - After completing it will give the
results and indicate if any unresolved errors remain.
In some cases a Repair or In-Place upgrade would be warranted.
But if the disk drive has errors or inconsistencies then that would not
help you in the situation you're in.
Also, by running Chkdsk with Fix or Repair it's possible that some
data will be lost. Hopefully, you've got your personal data backed
up on removable media.

I hope you don't mind a minor correction here; in Recovery Console the
command is CHKDSK /P not CHKDSK /F.

Steve