Windows couldn't boot because the following file is missing or damaged

2009-12-08 12:16:10

#1

Amdi Peter: peut-être; +111|5807|paris

I get this message when I boot. The missing file, \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

The last time I used the computer probably, it did have some trouble shutting down a program when I tried shutting down the computer. Then, when I turned on the computer half an hour ago, my mouse frose when I was on the profile screen. "No big deal, it's done it before" I said to myself, and did the normal procedure, turning off the computer, turning off the power, then turning everything on again.

Then I got the message. It also said, by inserting the installation cd, I could try and repair the file. Only problem: it can't boot from the cd, only if he disables both harddrives. It has never done it before.

MB: Asus P5N32-E SLi
CPU: Intel Core 2 Due E6850
GFX: Asus EH4650 512mb GDDR2
RAM: Kingston HyperX 2x1GB DDR2-800 x2 (4GB)
OS: Win XP

Last edited by Amdi Peter (2009-12-08 12:16:39)

2009-12-08 12:29:13

#2

steelie34: pub hero!; +603|6641|the land of bourbon

this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

one of your registry hives (system, in your case) is corrupted. follow the steps above and you will be back up in no time

the instructions above basically have you perform a manual restore of your registry. i've done this process many times to save peoples' systems, and has worked quite successfully. the only cases it hasn't worked in are systems that have an oem-installed OS... but you installed your windows on your own, right?

Last edited by steelie34 (2009-12-08 12:34:09)

https://bf3s.com/sigs/36e1d9e36ae924048a933db90fb05bb247fe315e.png

2009-12-08 13:07:19

#3

King_County_Downy: shitfaced; +2,791|6857|Seattle

You could also try taking your hard drive out and "slaving" it to another computer (swap out their CDROM for your hard drive).

Run check disk on the drive and be sure to use the /f switch.

So assuming your HD is letter d:

in a command prompt:

Code:

chkdsk d: /f

Sober enough to know what I'm doing, drunk enough to really enjoy doing it

2009-12-08 13:13:15

#4

Amdi Peter: peut-être; +111|5807|paris

steelie34 wrote:
this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

one of your registry hives (system, in your case) is corrupted. follow the steps above and you will be back up in no time

the instructions above basically have you perform a manual restore of your registry. i've done this process many times to save peoples' systems, and has worked quite successfully. the only cases it hasn't worked in are systems that have an oem-installed OS... but you installed your windows on your own, right?

That didn't work a single bit...
EDIT: Phase 1 didn't work.

Last edited by Amdi Peter (2009-12-08 13:15:38)

2009-12-08 13:26:42

#5

alexb: <3; +590|6199|Kentucky, USA

King_County_Downy wrote:
You could also try taking your hard drive out and "slaving" it to another computer (swap out their CDROM for your hard drive).

Run check disk on the drive and be sure to use the /f switch.

So assuming your HD is letter d:

in a command prompt:
Code:
chkdsk d: /f

This.

2009-12-08 13:28:45

#6

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|6995|Salt Lake City

The only reason you couldn't boot from the CD-ROM without disabling the hard drive is because you don't have the boot order set correctly.

2009-12-08 13:29:49

#7

Amdi Peter: peut-être; +111|5807|paris

alexb wrote:
King_County_Downy wrote:
You could also try taking your hard drive out and "slaving" it to another computer (swap out their CDROM for your hard drive).

Run check disk on the drive and be sure to use the /f switch.

So assuming your HD is letter c:

in a command prompt:
Code:
chkdsk c: /f
This.

Then it says something with parameter not available I think ...

Last edited by Amdi Peter (2009-12-08 13:30:55)

2009-12-08 13:31:30

#8

alexb: <3; +590|6199|Kentucky, USA

Amdi Peter wrote:
alexb wrote:
King_County_Downy wrote:
You could also try taking your hard drive out and "slaving" it to another computer (swap out their CDROM for your hard drive).

Run check disk on the drive and be sure to use the /f switch.

So assuming your HD is letter c:

in a command prompt:
Code:
chkdsk c: /f
This.
Then it says something with parameter not available I think ...

That's strange.

Recheck and make sure you used the right drive letter / command in CMD.

2009-12-08 13:34:40

#9

Amdi Peter: peut-être; +111|5807|paris

alexb wrote:
Amdi Peter wrote:
alexb wrote:

This.
Then it says something with parameter not available I think ...
That's strange.

Recheck and make sure you used the right drive letter / command in CMD.

I have checked and checked.
What should the command do?

2009-12-08 13:36:58

#10

alexb: <3; +590|6199|Kentucky, USA

Amdi Peter wrote:
alexb wrote:
Amdi Peter wrote:

Then it says something with parameter not available I think ...
That's strange.

Recheck and make sure you used the right drive letter / command in CMD.
I have checked and checked.
What should the command do?

It runs chkdsk in the command prompt, which scans the hard drive for any bad sectors or any corrupt files and attempts to repair them.

The hard drive might be dying / dead, but I'm no computer guru, so don't take my word for it.

2009-12-08 13:40:36

#11

Amdi Peter: peut-être; +111|5807|paris

alexb wrote:
Amdi Peter wrote:
alexb wrote:

That's strange.

Recheck and make sure you used the right drive letter / command in CMD.
I have checked and checked.
What should the command do?
It runs chkdsk in the command prompt, which scans the hard drive for any bad sectors or any corrupt files and attempts to repair them.

The hard drive might be dying / dead, but I'm no computer guru, so don't take my word for it.

I have been running a checkdisk, it said that there was one or more errors, but I could use /p to check it. I think the /p is my /f.
Then it said it didn't find any errors.

2009-12-08 13:45:57