XP system startup fail

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Guest

I've had a boot time error claiming \windows\system32\config\system is
corrupted.

I have reinstalled XP in a second Windoes directory (WindowsR) and am in the
process of using this reinstall to copy off important documents and images to
an external HD before continuing.

If possible, I want to recover the original install and repoint the boot
record to start c:\windows instead of c:\windowsr

I think this is what I need to do, am I right?

First, I need to understand what's in the "system" file and if there is
anywhere a workable backup on the drive made by Windows.

Second, I need to get a workable "system" file into the Windows\... folders

Lastly I need to reset the bootloader to boot off the \Windows folder not
\WindowsR


HELP please !

PAul
 
Additional:

On reboot I was informed that the system had recovered the registry
successfully (huh!) from a log file - and then it crashed.

The recovery console could not access C: at all, complaining of an error
enumerating folders - and could not access any files on C: at all.
Drive D: (second HD) was accessible.

Installing to C:\WindowsR got me to a second windows install that has
working IE to come for help...
 
smartwombat said:
I've had a boot time error claiming \windows\system32\config\system is
corrupted.

I have reinstalled XP in a second Windoes directory (WindowsR) and am in the
process of using this reinstall to copy off important documents and images to
an external HD before continuing.

If possible, I want to recover the original install and repoint the boot
record to start c:\windows instead of c:\windowsr

I think this is what I need to do, am I right?

First, I need to understand what's in the "system" file and if there is
anywhere a workable backup on the drive made by Windows.

Second, I need to get a workable "system" file into the Windows\... folders

Lastly I need to reset the bootloader to boot off the \Windows folder not
\WindowsR


HELP please !

PAul
Click to expand...


Are you certain that you do not have any hardware problems like a
failing hard disk? YOu should probably determine what caused the
problem in the first place before trying to repair. It would be a great
shame to do all this work to rebuild the OS upon a faulty foundation.
If possible you should get your important files moved off to a safe
destination first. There are numerous options.

What you describe above is a recipie for a long night. I doubt very
seriously you are going to be able to recover based upon your steps
above. Windows especially XP doesn't really like having stuff just
copied around. It may work mind you, but your probably in for trouble
down the road.

IMO it's probably best for you to get your important stuff offloaded and
reinstall windows from fresh media. If you can find a nice new HD use
that and put your original drive in as a secondary drive. You won't
need what's on it until you've re-built anyway.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but having worked on 1000's of XP
machines this is probably the quickest way to get yourself back up. Now
granted if you wanted to learn a few things go for what you describe,
but I wouldn't do it until all your files are safe.

tM
 
Now granted if you wanted to learn a few things go for what you describe,
but I wouldn't do it until all your files are safe.
Click to expand...

Well yes, I've been a Windows user since version 0.95 (OEM).
I used to run network training courses on MS-NET (remmber that?).
Closet geem (out of the closet now I suppose).

I need to get to the point where I can run Adobe Photoshop CS2 form the old
program files folder, so I can get the licence activation key off it.
Then I can reinstall on another HD.
Without that application, I'm stuck.


I've been through KB 307545
And through KB 309531
Restoring the registry from the files form the restore point yesterday.


I'm at the point now where Windows on boot claims HAL.DLL is corrupted
booting from the \Windows XP Home version. If I dual boot the \WindowsR XP
Pro version - all is well.

Can I just copy HAL.DLL from one to the other?
 
smartwombat said:
I've had a boot time error claiming \windows\system32\config\system is
corrupted.

I have reinstalled XP in a second Windoes directory (WindowsR) and am in the
process of using this reinstall to copy off important documents and images to
an external HD before continuing.

If possible, I want to recover the original install and repoint the boot
record to start c:\windows instead of c:\windowsr

I think this is what I need to do, am I right?

First, I need to understand what's in the "system" file and if there is
anywhere a workable backup on the drive made by Windows.

Second, I need to get a workable "system" file into the Windows\... folders

Lastly I need to reset the bootloader to boot off the \Windows folder not
\WindowsR


HELP please !

PAul
Click to expand...

Yes you are taking the right steps to first save important data. This
error indicates a problem with the registry. See this article for how
to resolve it.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

After the problem is resolved take a look at this article:
How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=822705

It's a good idea to regularly make a backup of the registry. An
excellent tool for this is ERUNT. It can be set up to make daily
backups and the recovery process, if the registry gets corrupted, is
straightforward.

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt

Installing and Using ERUNT
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm
 
Thaks, good to know I'm on the right track.
I now have a dual boot, with only the new OS install working :(

I've been through KB 307545
And through KB 309531
Restoring the registry from the files form the restore point yesterday.


I'm at the point now where Windows on boot claims HAL.DLL is corrupted
booting from the \Windows XP Home version. If I dual boot the \WindowsR XP
Pro version - all is well.

Can I just copy HAL.DLL from one to the other?
If not then how to I convert HAL.DL_ from the I386 directory on the Home
product CD into a working (I hole!) HAL.DLL file?


PAul
(ex-MVP, now a systems analyst)
 
OK, doesn't look like HAL.DLL but instead a weirdness in boot.ini perhaps?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWSR
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWSR="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


Note the partition(2) and partition(1) values?
These two installs are actually on the C: drive on the same partition ...
So it looks like getting XP home up with partition(2) might work, since
partition(1) is probably the EISA recovery partition installed by the OEM.
 
smartwombat said:
OK, doesn't look like HAL.DLL but instead a weirdness in boot.ini perhaps?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWSR
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWSR="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


Note the partition(2) and partition(1) values?
These two installs are actually on the C: drive on the same partition ...
So it looks like getting XP home up with partition(2) might work, since
partition(1) is probably the EISA recovery partition installed by the OEM.
Click to expand...

That looks like it could be the problem, assuming the restore of the
registry worked.
 
That looks like it could be the problem, assuming the restore of the
registry worked.
Click to expand...

Big assumption :(

It gets past the HAL problem, reports no registry error.
But it won't actually load Windows.

I'm trying safe mode, to se whereit crashes, but it loads a lot of files
which flash past too quick to see, and then returns to the system start up
IntelPenium4 splash and starts rebooting again.

SO close, but not enough.
 
smartwombat said:
Big assumption :(

It gets past the HAL problem, reports no registry error.
But it won't actually load Windows.

I'm trying safe mode, to se whereit crashes, but it loads a lot of files
which flash past too quick to see, and then returns to the system start up
IntelPenium4 splash and starts rebooting again.

SO close, but not enough.
Click to expand...

Computers were designed evil....giving just enought to temp you.
 
Would you believe it died again !!
Contributing factors
1) reboting after installing Windows Update
2) extreme heat, around 30C air temp

Same error, failed to enumerate directories from the repair console.
I think this a fault caused by reboot after windows update.

Possibly exacerbated by the use of Standby on the PC, which I put in place
to prevent heat soak in this awful hot weather if unused.
 
SmartWombat said:
Would you believe it died again !!
Contributing factors
1) reboting after installing Windows Update
2) extreme heat, around 30C air temp

Same error, failed to enumerate directories from the repair console.
I think this a fault caused by reboot after windows update.
Click to expand...


What died again? What was the same error? I have no idea what this is about.
Please quote enough of the message you're responding to to put your reply
into context (as I did above). Many newsgroup participants (me, for example)
don't save already-read messages and a message without a quote is likely to
be completely unintelligible to people.
 
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