Win XP Pro Startup

[HelpMe]

It is telling me that the Windows cannot start because the following file is missing or corrupted: \windows\system32\config\system

It says to try and repair to insert the original setup CD-ROM and hitting 'r' on the first screen. I tried putting in the Windows XP Pro installation CD and hitting r but it didn't do anything but give me the error again. I tried it while hitting r various times. Any help would be very appreciated.

[Chris]

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from Starting

Repairing a Windows XP Installation

[HelpMe]

Ahhh thank you. I will check this stuff out and let you know what is up. Thank you so much!

[-pops-]

I believe this message can also be brought up if there are problems with the cable to the hard drive.

Before doing the complex procedure given by MS, check that the cable to the drive containing your copy of XP (the "C" drive) is

1. the right way round. The black plug is attached to the drive, the blue to the motherboard.

2. is an 80 conductor cable and not an older 40 conductor type.

3. fully pushed home at both ends.

You should also check the jumper settings on the drive. If the drive is the only one attached to the cable, the jumpers should be set to "Master" if there are two drives on the cable the jumpers should be Master or CS. If CS it is vital that the other drive is set the same way AND your "C" drive is on the end.

[HelpMe]

Well, we tried the one the that powerless made and it worked up to where it said searching for previous versions of windows. Then it showed us the hardrive partitions instead of an option to repair a previous version. As I said earlier, we are using XP Pro and this tutorial seemed to be for XP Home so I don't know if that made a difference. And all the cable connections were checked and unfortunately that wasn't the problem.

[grim_reefer]

HelpMe.. read the post "Window$ XP Hell" in the Software Troubles forums

i had the EXACT same problem as you!!! we sorted it - but the computer is still not functioning properly :(

[HelpMe]

Okay well I feel stupid now that I didn't see that thread before. Thanks for posting that and I will try it out. Although I don't think a font problem is what I have been having since I don't even use Photoshop.

[madboy33]

-pops-

Surely its the blue plug to mobo and black to drive

[-pops-]

-pops-

Surely its the blue plug to mobo and black to drive

Oh crikey - slip of the brain there.

Of course you're right.

I hang my head in shame for not checking what I'd written more thoroughly.

I have corrected this stupid error now.

HelpMe, I apologise to you for this. Please re-check your cabling.

I'll put this down to a "senior moment" and go to lie down.

[grim_reefer]

Okay well I feel stupid now that I didn't see that thread before. Thanks for posting that and I will try it out. Although I don't think a font problem is what I have been having since I don't even use Photoshop.

the cause of your problem (damaged registry hive) may not be caused by the same things as mine (fonts) - but i managed to get Windows at least to log on - basically the "recovery console" doesnt repair installation - but allows access to the command prompt, windows folder, and repair folder (something like that) - i replaced the corrupted system file which the message we both got said about - and then windows loaded again

this is what a linked article in my thread instructed me to do.

however the link in THIS thread from Powerless leads me to believe i didnt replace "all" the registry hives i should have (the linked article from Nellie2 only told me to replace the "system" one) - which could be why the computer is still not right (plus the fact i definitely have "font overload" causing further software problems)

[grim_reefer]

Well, we tried the one the that powerless made and it worked up to where it said searching for previous versions of windows. Then it showed us the hardrive partitions instead of an option to repair a previous version. As I said earlier, we are using XP Pro and this tutorial seemed to be for XP Home so I don't know if that made a difference. And all the cable connections were checked and unfortunately that wasn't the problem.

this is also the problem i just had - i attempted to follow the instructions to repair Microsoft WIndows XP (not using the Recovery Console) - and i got the same screen about partitions - and i pressed ENTER to see the next option screen and it said it is unadvised to install multiple operating systems on the same partition (instead of offering me to repair XP Pro that is installed) so i exited setup

im gonna have to try replacing ALL the registry hives :huh: i guess this will mean i lose ALL saved settings etc.? :(

gonna try removing the fonts first, in case this solves the problem alone, but its doubtful - the registry has been corrupted by a font overload, and ive only replaced one registry hive as the article instructed - the article form Microsoft said that replacing only one hive can cause conflicts because hardware and software may have settings saved in various locations

EDIT

unless you find a XP Pro CD HelpMe - you may have to also replace ALL system registry hives - meaning you lose all saved settings to the point when Windows was first setup (according to the Microsoft article - the article i read said that the backups id use would restore settings to the LAST succesful time Windows loaded - Microsoft said that the Repair/Backup registry hives are the default setting for when Windows is installed)

[Scarecrow Man]

Most of your user settings, and data are stored in the following:

C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings (hidden folder)

C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data (hidden folder)

as well as NTUSER.dat (which is an index file for the files in the folder I think)

This is the good thing about WindowsNT, it organizes things like this a little more effiecently than 95--ME

You can also back-up all file and settings with File and Setting Transfer Wizard in windows XP.

http://www.iamnotageek.com/articles.php?aid=89&page=1

[grim_reefer]

thus far ive removed fonts (i just removed any for now :unsure: hope i didnt remove ones needed for the system) and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 loaded this time! so it was the font number causing the problem there... but we are still getting this message

[B]Esb[/B]

Open drive \\.\MTC0001 Fail

after logging on to Windows, and the game still doesnt work - giving this message:

[B]Hardware Driver Error[/B]

Could not initialize Direct Draw

i guess now i will have to replace all the offending registry hives which may be conflicting with the one i already replaced.. and hope this fixes the rest of it

o and ill see if i can use that File and Setting Transfer Wizard, thanx

[Scarecrow Man]

First. This site has a list of Windows system fonts. If you deleted one of them, get it back.

Second. "Open drive \\.\MTC0001 Fail" looks like your connecting to a network drive, and I think when you do that it has to be "//./MTC0001". What is the error preventing?

Third. "Could not initialize Direct Draw" Cclick on Start>Run then type in dxdiag

(it stands for direct x diagnostics). Click on the display tab, then click "test direct draw". You may need to update your DirectX to the latest version (9.0b?) from here. Anyway, in your dxdiag area, make sure your direct draw & the others are enabled. (You may need to reboot afterwards.)

[grim_reefer]

First. This site has a list of Windows system fonts. If you deleted one of them, get it back.

Second. "Open drive \\.\MTC0001 Fail" looks like your connecting to a network drive, and I think when you do that it has to be "//./MTC0001". What is the error preventing?

Third. "Could not initialize Direct Draw" Cclick on Start>Run then type in dxdiag

(it stands for direct x diagnostics). Click on the display tab, then click "test direct draw". You may need to update your DirectX to the latest version (9.0b?) from  here. Anyway, in your dxdiag area, make sure your direct draw & the others are enabled. (You may need to reboot afterwards.)

i know i need the system fonts back - ive still got all the fonts, dont worry! they are just in a different folder and later on i will put all those back that i need for the system and various programs

ive searched for the error message online - but found nothing! except a chinese or japanese website! im not connecting to a network - the message simply appears everytime after windows logs on and your desktop loads... i dont know what it is actually preventing - if anything!?

it could have been because of the conflicts in the registry - it may have hardware or driver settings which are incorrect

about direct draw - i will try the dxdiag program (ive used this before, but i couldnt remember its name) but this may be something that is fixed once the registry is corrected

im going back to work later to complete what i was doing (following the steps in the Microsoft article linked at the start of this thread) - and see if the error message stops showing, and see if the game works

if not then ill try dxdiag - maybe i do need to update to the latest version (again?!) because the update and settings may have been lost with the corrupted registry hives i removed :unsure:

EDIT

there was also a hotfix in the SP1 and SP1a update packs for windows xp - according to microsoft - to assist with corrupted registry problems and repair them - how can i get the update service pack without the laptop being connected to the internet?? it wont download the correct or all files needed if downloaded from windowsupdate on a computer running windowsME, will it

[HelpMe]

Well, my brother just took his computer over to his friends to pull off some files and then we are going to see if we can get this problem fixed today. I will keep you guys updated on what works or doesn't work for us. Thanks again for all the help. I really appreciate it.

[Scarecrow Man]

You can download SP1a from here and put it on a CD and install it.

If you have broadband, I suggest Network Install, which is all the files, and only needed ones will be installed. You can also use this on multiple computers.

[grim_reefer]

You can download SP1a from here and put it on a CD and install it.

If you have broadband, I suggest Network Install, which is all the files, and only needed ones will be installed. You can also use this on multiple computers.

thanx scarecrow man

that will be some long download! im only on a normal modem ( it is a 128kbps ISDN line - but it only seems to run at 64kbps :unsure: ) - and its over 100MB isnt it :unsure: i was looking earlier today

[grim_reefer]

found out that the "Esb" is Easy Start Button - the driver for this is failing, i think

it is probably is talking about the H1, H2, H3, H4 & H5 along the top of the keyboard - which is not too much of an issue if they dont work

although - - the standby option on the windows shutdown menu has not been available since i first got windows ot load again after i replaced one of the five system registry hives

i tried DXdiag and could find no problems :huh: ill have to try updating DirectX - if it still dont work, then reinstalling the game

or..

im considering taking off XP Pro and putting on XP Home Edition that i have the CD for - but ill need to partition the drive first so i can have both operating systems.. and move everything to Home Edition before removing Professinoal

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

it may be the only way to get Windows back to normal without the Professional XP CD

[grim_reefer]

First. This site has a list of Windows system fonts. If you deleted one of them, get it back.

Second. "Open drive \\.\MTC0001 Fail" looks like your connecting to a network drive, and I think when you do that it has to be "//./MTC0001". What is the error preventing?

Third. "Could not initialize Direct Draw" Cclick on Start>Run then type in dxdiag

(it stands for direct x diagnostics). Click on the display tab, then click "test direct draw". You may need to update your DirectX to the latest version (9.0b?) from  here. Anyway, in your dxdiag area, make sure your direct draw & the others are enabled. (You may need to reboot afterwards.)

well...

we already have the latest DirectX installed

and before i realised and tried installing - i couldnt anyway, coz the setup file connects to the net to download more files - the laptop isnt connected to the internet!

but some of the options aint available in DXDiag - infact, its made me discover that the soundcard is not functioning - it appears the driver files for a lot of hardware is f%@*ed!

i think replacing the system registry hives which stored all the settings has messed up all the driver files or removed the settings which made them function

really think we will have to install Windows XP Home Edition........

[Scarecrow Man]

It sounds like your just getting into more of a mess than you started with.

Back up everything, format and start fresh.

The standby disables itself when an error occurs with it (it is greyed)

Your keyboard needs drivers (and/or software) to run extra buttons like that.

[grim_reefer]

nothing has changed since i replaced that dodgy hive and got Windows to load, except..

i managed to restore the computer to an earlier date (well, restore it to Wednesdaym the day the fonts were installed and the problems started) after replacing all five registry hives - and it put all the jumbled up desktop icons back into place, put all 900-odd fonts back in the System Fonts folder, and removed font management programs i installed Thursday..

i removed loads of fonts again, but kept those required for the system and applications, and its only now ive discovered what else isnt working (as i hadnt had a chance to test ANYTHING yet, except Photoshop (which worked) and the game - which didnt) and the hardware drivers appear messed up from replacing the registry hives with their saved settings

now............

about the drivers - now ive realised all the drivers appear to be screwed up (coz the sound card isnt working either) we can use the driver CD because we do have that (just not the windows xp pro installation cd)

so: is there a quick way to update ALL drivers at once though?? :huh: and not do each one manually in Device Manager

[Scarecrow Man]

The only way to update drivers is to use the software that comes with the hardware (usually installs drivers during software install) or manually update them within Device Manager.

Another way you can do it is download programs to make an ISO of your windows CD and add the needed drivers in that.

Just format, It sucks but in a few days you'll be glad you did.

[HelpMe]

After many frustrating hours of messing with my brothers computer, we decided it would be easiest to just start over. He pulled all his important business stuff off his computer and we reformatted. I appreciate all your help though and good luck grim with whatever you do.

[grim_reefer]

After many frustrating hours of messing with my brothers computer, we decided it would be easiest to just start over. He pulled all his important business stuff off his computer and we reformatted. I appreciate all your help though and good luck grim with whatever you do.

dont feel too bad HelpMe, looks like we are going to be doing exactly the same lol if this drivers CD cant fix all the problems that is

ive been on this laptop now for errm..about 3 or 4 days lol :( failing to get it working properly. think the time may have come for it to be formatted and wiped clean