Windows XP Has Crashed - Help!?

Question

Hi,

I own a Windows XP, and today when I switched it on, I got this message:

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

\WINDOWS.I \ SYSTEM 32 \ CONFIG \ SYSTEM

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

Problem: On starting up the PC, I get the above message, and at the moment, I cannot find any setup CD-Rom.

But, if I do, how major is this problem? ie: Will my files and photos that I hadn't got around to backing-up be recoverable?

I've been having a lot of problems with the PC being slow and sluggish and crashing recently anyway, so I may just invest in a new one - but if I want to transfer my documents and files from this PC, yet can't find the setup CD-Rom -- can the data/files/photos be recovered from it any other way?

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Question: Do you have any Security Software other than the crap that came with the OS? (i.e.: Norton / McAfee / ca / Kaspersy / etc)



If not, you likely have multiple viruses running rampant on your system.



First things first. Go to the manufacturer's website and see if you can find-out what key you need to press to access Safe Mode. See if you can boot into Safe Mode. If you can't, one or more viruses have corrupted or deleted the critical file(s) to let you boot-up.



If you *can* boot into Safe Mode (choose "Safe Mode with Networking," and try to find a system scanner [here's a link to the company I have my AVS with].)



If you can't, you're going to have to take the computer in for repairs...and that is going to be moderately expensive.



Once they have repaired your system (or you buy a new one), make sure you buy a decent AV Suite - avoid McAfee, it's too bloated for it's own good right now - and install it. Also, see if you can have them build you a "recovery CD" that you can use should you have similar issues in future. You can't do the format and re-install yourself with anything less than the actual OS disk...recovery and repair CDs won't do it, and they don't fix every problem.



Good Luck!

Answer 2

SYSTEM is one of your registry files which Windows needs to start.

Based on your message it has been corrupted.



Your personal folders such as (pictures, documents etc) should be okay as long as you do not reformat the hard-drive and as long as this error is not a hard-drive hardware error.



Worst case you would need to remove the hard-drive and either put in an external usb kit and attach to a second computer or attach as a second drive to a different computer.

This is a safety precaution to ensure that your critical files are safe.



Next depending on the registry file error or other BSOD error do a Google search to determine the appropriate recovery option.



Most likely you will have to reboot from the install disks and get into the recovery console to either run chkdsk or copy backup registry files into their proper location.



Then after reboot do a system restore to get the computer back to a current state.



There is much good documentation out on the web on this but all steps must be done in order and very carefully.



Post back if more assistance is required.

Answer 3

All of your files & folders are still there, just the Windows XP OS is messed up... Even if you find the system disks that came with your computer, they will NOT fix the problem as they most likely are just restore disks & NOT Windows XP program disks...



So if you tried to use the system restore disks, they would erase your hard drive (delete ALL of your FILES!) & reinstall the OS, that is how the system restore disks work...



As it stands now, you can take your hard drive to a computer repair shop & have your files recoveredd & copied on to DVD. Or when you buy a new computer you can buy an USB hard drive enclosure, to install the old hard drive in & Connect it to your new computer & transfer the files to your new computer your self...

Answer 4

It's good you have an new computer. All your files, data/photos, etc are still in the old hard drive. Just don't FORMAT the old drive. To transfer the files to your new computer, just remove the old hard drive and add it to the new computer as a 2nd drive, not primary. Thjis requires opening your casing of the desktop.



If you don't want to open up the desktop, I would suggest you getting a external drive case and insert the old drive and this become a new external drive. Your USB connection will recognize the new external drive. Good Luck!

Answer 5

To get to your documents, you can remove the hard drive and connect it to a USB-to-hard-drive adapter, then plug the USB into another computer (that has its own anti-malware programs running) and access your documents and copy them. You can get these adapters from



TigerDirect:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276554&Sku=ULT40112&SRCCODE=WEBINKPLP&cm_mmc_o=YztBBCjCmH4CjCmmVCjCmmV



Compusa :

http://www.compusa.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=3770



Compusa :

http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3249952



Dell :

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A1164717&cs=04&c=us&l=en&st=snp%20data%20feed&dgc=SS&cid=24326&lid=556773&acd=43647,4,283225,0,514697215,1233850145,USB%20hard%20drive%20adapter,0,0



Newegg :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002



You might check with a computer repair shop, they will have these adapters and might rent you the device for a small fee.



Get an USB external hard drive, these are made by Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital, Iomega, Verbatim, and many others, and sold at Best Buy, Office Max, Office Depot, and others.



Use the external hard drive to make fast and easy copies of all of your important documents (it's faster than burning CDs or DVDs).



More importantly, after you get rid of the malware on your computer, make a full backup of the computer, so that in the future if you get clobbered again, you can reload the backup and be running again. Be aware that a full backup can take over 20 minutes to run - and a full restore likewise will take over 20 minutes to run.



To completely get rid of malware, it is usually necessary to reinstall the operating system. The jerks who write the malware are constantly revising it to keep the anti-malware software from shutting the mal-ware down. It's a never ending battle.



But you said you might get a new computer - be sure to make backups, because it is much easier to restore a backup than it is to reinstall the operating system.

.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Yes, they will be recoverable. I would recommend, once you find the restore disks, that you back up everything. If there is a virus on your computer, it will happen again, at which point it is time to reformat.

Answer 8

try taking the hard drive out and if you have a spare pc put it in that