HELP! Massive home edition crash!

[Guest]

I've just turned on my computer to find it wont start and it seems I've corrupted the registry. This is the error I'm getting at boot up:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

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

I have been searching the Knowledge base and have found that I need to be using the Recovery Console to try to fis this problem but the XP h.e disks are have are supplied by HP thus I cannot access r at the startup screen and have only one choice but to format c:!! I have no floppy drive on my computer just a cd drive. The following link seems to be close to what I need but the link on the page is broken!:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q310994.

I seem to need to use a PXE boot method as I have only a cd drive!!! can anyone please help me with this awful problem??? I have so much work on my computer and i cannot face formatting my c: drive as I am a student and dont want to lose that 8000 word essay i had ready for next year!! please someone help me!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

HP Pavilion computers have a hidden partition which contains the files necessary
to restore your PC to its original factory condition. Please read and follow these
instructions carefully:

HP Pavilion Desktop PCs - Performing a Full System Recovery in Microsoft Windows XP
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/famiDocument?product=12455&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=bph07145

Note: HP offers both a "destructive" and "non-destructive" method....use the
"non-destructive" method first. Read the topic titled:

"Recovering the system without using Windows"

Note: You must return your HP computer to the exact same hardware configuration
as it was originally. Disconnect all peripheral hardware devices except for the monitor,
keyboard and mouse.

HP Instant Support Professional Edition
http://instantsupport.hp.com/euserv/jsp/hpinstantsupport.jsp

Obtaining HP PC Recovery CDs
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/famiDocument?product=12455&dlc=en&lc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07143

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I've just turned on my computer to find it wont start and it seems I've corrupted the registry. This is the
error I'm getting at boot up:
|
| "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
|
| \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
|
| You can attempt to repair this file by starting the Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
| Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."
|
| I have been searching the Knowledge base and have found that I need to be using the Recovery Console to try
to fis this problem but the XP h.e disks are have are supplied by HP thus I cannot access r at the startup
screen and have only one choice but to format c:!! I have no floppy drive on my computer just a cd drive.
The following link seems to be close to what I need but the link on the page is broken!:
|
| http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q310994.
|
| I seem to need to use a PXE boot method as I have only a cd drive!!! can anyone please help me with this
awful problem??? I have so much work on my computer and i cannot face formatting my c: drive as I am a
student and dont want to lose that 8000 word essay i had ready for next year!! please someone help me!

 

[Guest]

By this do you mean that this will format everything on my computer??

 

[Guest]

Well thats the problem with oem editions of xp,they dont have the ability
to use alot of the tools a microsoft version of xp has with the xp cd.Most
microsoft articles deal with repairing registry in recovery,however,you
can at start-up tap the F8 key,select safe-mode with internet options,then
enter as ADM.,the microsoft repair for repairing on the desktop is nos.
307973 Good Luck !!

 

[Guest]

Hi Vinny,

The facts:

You need a Windows Xp Home CD ro repair.

You don't have an repair on you CD from HP.

You can only re-install.

You have important data to save.

The Solution:

You need to go buy a retail version of Windows XP Home and do a repair, reactivate and register that copy or call HP and try to geta an OEM copy that works.

SJ


Sorry you computer broke. I have been there and it smarts.
And I will never buy anything form a company that pulls these tricks on the public.
And they know who they are.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Please re-read my message. Use the "non-destructive" HP recovery method.
This method does not reformat the drive and will not cause loss of files.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| By this do you mean that this will format everything on my computer??
| --
| vinny

 

[Guest]

Hi Carey,


And every other person with an HP computer like this has to come to you to find out how to do this, years after the fact.

BOLONGA on HP and the the other OEM con men. blah!

SJ

 

[Guest]

I feel severely ill. I cannot face losing 2 years worth of school work!!! Please there must be something i can do. im 17 and i aint got the money to buy that cd. All I need is the recovery console according to the error message but i have no floppy drive to get on the boot up disks! sigh

 

[Guest]

Sorry about that. I see what you mean but my system is a hp pavilion laptop. Same rules still apply?

 

[t.cruise]

Not ALL OEM versions of Windows XP are inferior. The DELL OEM Windows XP CD is comparable
to the MS retail version. As for HP, I'll never understand the number of buyers who
purchased HP systems with the hidden partition in lieu of an OEM Windows XP CD. It was a
bad corporate decision. I'm assuming that most of the purchasers were not very computer
literate, and having learned their lesson will probably never buy an HP system again. HP
is the Packard Bell of this decade. Oddly, less expensive DELL "As Advertised" specials,
on a good week, are more loaded with freebies, and are shipped with all needed CDs.

It's been my experience, that when an HP with a hidden partition is trashed, that there's
only a 50/50 chance of recovery with the F12 key. Then there's the phone call to HP tech
support, which anyone who has had to do it, is a long process, and ends up with HP
shipping only Recovery CDs. Then there's a 60% chance that those Recovery CDs will help.
Others will have to ship the system back to HP, and me thinks that all they do is swap the
hard drive, because it comes back as the original was shipped, minus your settings, data
files, and any software you might have installed. It's just a mirror of the original hard
drive as shipped. When a client mentions an HP system with a hidden partition and no CDs,
I almost want to stock up on garlic and crucifixes.
--

T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
Remove [NoSpam] to reply

Well thats the problem with oem editions of xp,they dont have the ability
to use alot of the tools a microsoft version of xp has with the xp cd.Most
microsoft articles deal with repairing registry in recovery,however,you
can at start-up tap the F8 key,select safe-mode with internet options,then
enter as ADM.,the microsoft repair for repairing on the desktop is nos.
307973 Good Luck !!

Recovery Console to try to fis this problem but the XP h.e disks are have are supplied by
HP thus I cannot access r at the startup screen and have only one choice but to format
c:!! I have no floppy drive on my computer just a cd drive. The following link seems to
be close to what I need but the link on the page is broken!lease help me with this awful problem??? I have so much work on my computer and i cannot
face formatting my c: drive as I am a student and dont want to lose that 8000 word essay i
had ready for next year!! please someone help me!

 

[Guest]

They should, but contact HP to make sure.

--
Just my 2¢ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
| Sorry about that. I see what you mean but my system is a hp pavilion laptop. Same rules still apply?
| --
| vinny

 

[Guest]

You've got it babe, and a whole lot more hanky panky is in the pipe.

I have lot of garlic.

SJ lol

Not ALL OEM versions of Windows XP are inferior. The DELL OEM Windows XP CD is comparable
to the MS retail version. As for HP, I'll never understand the number of buyers who
purchased HP systems with the hidden partition in lieu of an OEM Windows XP CD. It was a
bad corporate decision. I'm assuming that most of the purchasers were not very computer
literate, and having learned their lesson will probably never buy an HP system again. HP
is the Packard Bell of this decade. Oddly, less expensive DELL "As Advertised" specials,
on a good week, are more loaded with freebies, and are shipped with all needed CDs.

It's been my experience, that when an HP with a hidden partition is trashed, that there's
only a 50/50 chance of recovery with the F12 key. Then there's the phone call to HP tech
support, which anyone who has had to do it, is a long process, and ends up with HP
shipping only Recovery CDs. Then there's a 60% chance that those Recovery CDs will help.
Others will have to ship the system back to HP, and me thinks that all they do is swap the
hard drive, because it comes back as the original was shipped, minus your settings, data
files, and any software you might have installed. It's just a mirror of the original hard
drive as shipped. When a client mentions an HP system with a hidden partition and no CDs,
I almost want to stock up on garlic and crucifixes.
--

T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
Remove [NoSpam] to reply

Well thats the problem with oem editions of xp,they dont have the ability
to use alot of the tools a microsoft version of xp has with the xp cd.Most
microsoft articles deal with repairing registry in recovery,however,you
can at start-up tap the F8 key,select safe-mode with internet options,then
enter as ADM.,the microsoft repair for repairing on the desktop is nos.
307973 Good Luck !!

Recovery Console to try to fis this problem but the XP h.e disks are have are supplied by
HP thus I cannot access r at the startup screen and have only one choice but to format
c:!! I have no floppy drive on my computer just a cd drive. The following link seems to
be close to what I need but the link on the page is broken!lease help me with this awful problem??? I have so much work on my computer and i cannot
face formatting my c: drive as I am a student and dont want to lose that 8000 word essay i
had ready for next year!! please someone help me!

 

[t.cruise]

As I posted earlier: Phone HP tech support, and they will send the needed recovery CDs
(NOT an OEM Windows XP CD), which hopefully will allow you to recover and have access to
your data files. Just make sure that you select the correct option. You do NOT want a
NEW INSTALL. Just last week a client had a similar problem. Fortunately the sent HP
Recovery CDs allowed him back into his system, and he was able to burn his needed files to
CD. But, many installed programs no longer functioned and there were error messages ad
nauseam. If the same happens to you, burn the two years of school work to CD. So at
least if you have to reinstall, you will have the your data files on removable media, and
won't lose them.
--

T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
Remove [NoSpam] to reply

I feel severely ill. I cannot face losing 2 years worth of school work!!! Please there

must be something i can do. im 17 and i aint got the money to buy that cd. All I need is
the recovery console according to the error message but i have no floppy drive to get on
the boot up disks! sighRecovery Console to try to fis this problem but the XP h.e disks are have are supplied by
HP thus I cannot access r at the startup screen and have only one choice but to format
c:!! I have no floppy drive on my computer just a cd drive. The following link seems to
be close to what I need but the link on the page is broken!lease help me with this awful problem??? I have so much work on my computer and i cannot
face formatting my c: drive as I am a student and dont want to lose that 8000 word essay i
had ready for next year!! please someone help me!

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

You have two years of work and you have never backed it up? No sympathy for
you! Critical and important data should ALWAYS be backed up on regular
basis. It can be a hard lesson to learn...but it will at least teach you
the value of a backup regimen.

Bobby

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

I feel severely ill. I cannot face losing 2 years worth of school
work!!! Please there must be something i can do. im 17 and i aint
got the money to buy that cd. All I need is the recovery console
according to the error message but i have no floppy drive to get on
the boot up disks! sigh

Sorry to be harsh, but I have zero sympathy. Anyone who doesn't back up on a
regular basis (I do weekly) deserves what's coming to them. If you have data
you cannot afford to lose then you *BACK IT UP!!!*

I use Drive Image 7 to back up to one of three folders on an external drive.
It does it whilst I'm asleep and I know that, in the worst case scenario, I
can simply boot from the DI disc and restore - takes all of 20 minutes. As
insurance, I burn said image to a set of DVDs I keep in a box specifically
for the purpose. It has never failed.

If you're too lazy to implement a proper back-up routine, then you deserve
to lose the lot. Consider it one of the hardest lessons you're going to
learn in life.

 

[CS]

I feel severely ill. I cannot face losing 2 years worth of school work!!! Please there must be something i can do. im 17 and i aint got the money to buy that cd. All I need is the recovery console according to the error message but i have no floppy drive to get on the boot up disks! sigh

Vinny:

See if you can "borrow" a friends retail copy of XP Home so you can
boot your HP laptop with it and try to use the recovery console.

However, I wouldn't bet that you can correct the corrupted registry
problem that you have even with the recovery console. The recovery
console is cumbersome and difficult to use for most people. You might
be able to do a repair of the system to get it running again.

Also, be very careful of the HP recovery and so called non destructive
recovery that Carey pointed you to. Although he is correct,
experience has shown that even this type of recovery can be
destructive.

 

[Guest]

Gees guys,
Their just a kid. How many times did it take you to get the idea od BK?

Be nice.

SJ

 

[Hilary Karp]

Vinny, put the hard drive in another XP computer as a slave drive and
copy the school data you need from the drive. They you can try the
various recovery methods including HP's not so "non-destructive"
recovery, but save your data first. If it's important enough and that
solution doesn't work there are data recovery resources available with
sophisticated software or they will do the work for you, though very
expensive. One resource is www.ontrack.com.