Windows won't boot

[Lindsay]

Today I went to start my computer and was presented with this screen
"Windows was unable to start because the following file is missing or
corrupt" windows\system32\config\system. It then advised that I could try a
repair. I inserted the CD and booted to it. Then selected r for repair. It
then gave a bsod which said windows had been shutdown to protect my
computer. The message read "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x00000010,0x00000002, 0x00000000,0xF7673DFA)

I contacted Dell and they said it would be necessary for me to format and
reinstall windows. I thought I would seek advice here before proceeding with
this. Any help anyone?

 

[paulmd]

Today I went to start my computer and was presented with this screen
"Windows was unable to start because the following file is missing or
corrupt" windows\system32\config\system. It then advised that I could try a
repair. I inserted the CD and booted to it. Then selected r for repair. It
then gave a bsod which said windows had been shutdown to protect my
computer. The message read "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x00000010,0x00000002, 0x00000000,0xF7673DFA)

I contacted Dell and they said it would be necessary for me to format and
reinstall windows. I thought I would seek advice here before proceeding with
this. Any help anyone?

Back up your personal stuff to a CD or other media first. You can just
yank the hard drive, put it in another computer, and do the deed there.
You can even do it with the same computer if you can obtain a "live cd"
Which is a fully functional OS on CD. Knoppix is one I have used. You
will need 2 cd drives if you want to use the burning program (you
cannot eject the Knoppix CD while the OS is using it).

 

[Roberto]

Today I went to start my computer and was presented with this screen
"Windows was unable to start because the following file is missing or
corrupt" windows\system32\config\system. It then advised that I could try
a repair. I inserted the CD and booted to it. Then selected r for repair.
It then gave a bsod which said windows had been shutdown to protect my
computer. The message read "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x00000010,0x00000002, 0x00000000,0xF7673DFA)

I contacted Dell and they said it would be necessary for me to format and
reinstall windows. I thought I would seek advice here before proceeding
with this. Any help anyone?

Don't select r that takes you to the recovery console, continue as per a
"normal" install, setup will detect your current installation and offer
to repair it, choose yes.

This advice is dependent of you having XP setup media not a recovery
CD, which may be the case with Dell ?.

rgds
Roberto

 

[Amnon Feiner]

Today I went to start my computer and was presented with this screen
"Windows was unable to start because the following file is missing or
corrupt" windows\system32\config\system. It then advised that I could try
a repair. I inserted the CD and booted to it. Then selected r for repair.
It then gave a bsod which said windows had been shutdown to protect my
computer. The message read "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"
STOP: 0x000000D1 (0x00000010,0x00000002, 0x00000000,0xF7673DFA)

I contacted Dell and they said it would be necessary for me to format and
reinstall windows. I thought I would seek advice here before proceeding
with this. Any help anyone?

How well do you understand comoputers? I want to know which advice to give
you.

 

[paulmd]

Don't select r that takes you to the recovery console, continue as per a
"normal" install, setup will detect your current installation and offer
to repair it, choose yes.

This advice is dependent of you having XP setup media not a recovery
CD, which may be the case with Dell ?.

rgds
Roberto

Dell has a more or less regular OS install disk, and seperate media for
applications.

 

[Lindsay]

Thanks for all the help guys. After doing several checks and tests I
determined that my hard drive was failing. I contacted Dell and after many
on the phone trials they determined the same thing. They are sending a new
hard drive to me. I have backed up all files but will lose the programs. Oh
well, at least my important stuff is backed up. Thanks again.