I'm on my parents' computer now

[cleolinda]

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

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\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




I don't have a setup CD-ROM.

Comments

[colleenpowell.livejournal.com]

Oh no.

[zero-design.livejournal.com]

Damn...

Well, if you can't get ahold of a Win startup CD, you could switch to Ubuntu (when I installed it, I was able to keep a good number of the files I'd had before, in case that's a worry).

If you need help getting that going, feel free to let me know - it is free, in case that's a worry.

[quitesometime.livejournal.com]

+1 for ubuntu, it saved me two computers already

[chulacabra.livejournal.com]

Ubuntu rules and it's really easy to use.

[arachnejericho.livejournal.com]

I vote for Ubuntu as well, if the setup disk doesn't help. Ubuntu is an amazingly easy-to-install Linux (as well as easy to use), and it'll let you mount the drive and access your files again.

Once you access your files, you can get them outta there onto a USB thumb drive or send them into GMail.

[sun-star-n-moon.livejournal.com]

OH NOZ!

[wjf.livejournal.com]

This looks worse than it is. It means one of the registry hive files is broken and needs to be restored from the backup. Is it Windows XP? You need an XP disk, boot the machine from the disk and go to the recovery console. The process is outlined here:

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

Doing it from the recovery console is tedious and requires a lot of typing because you're doing everything from the command prompt, but it'll get you back up and running.

[futureperfect.livejournal.com]

Cleo did mention in her post that she doesn't have a setup cd-rom.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

I think that's the way to go too. I know you don't have a Setup CD, but they aren't exactly rare, so getting one should not be a problem. I have a spare one somewhere if you can afford to wait for the snail mail. But you may be able to find a local one long before I can ship it to you.

[gorgeousnerd]

There's often ways to rig boot disks without having anything official; my dad's had to do it a million times because of the way he trashes computers. I recommend a good Googling (I'd do it, but I'm swamped right now).

[clodia-risa.livejournal.com]

Talked to my husband, all he does is computers in his spare time, and his words are that you're screwed. You need the setup disc. There is no way around this that he knows. I hope someone else can prove him wrong. At worst, you buy another copy of whatever version of Windows it is and use that setup disc?

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Right, but setup disks are no problem. I have one I can give her if she can't find a local one.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I have located a copy of XP in the house, which sounds like it's something.

[queenanthai.livejournal.com]

You want the one I have so you can at least temporarily boot it? It's the one you can't really update for crap, but it'll at least boot your system for a little while so you can put something else on there.

[ahirutwin.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhhhhhh, you may have a virus. D': You should try a System Restore; it'll restore your computer to the point it was at before the error occured. Then do a virus/spyware sweep. That is, if you can get your computer to start at all.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, it was a thunderstorm/power outage.

[ahirutwin.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Well, I would still try the System Restore before you try anything else. It's saved my dad's ass before. Actually, I think it was from a poweroutage too. O: Yeah, it was; it was one of those crazy ones where everything goes on and off every ten seconds or so (I counted).

[emisi.livejournal.com]

If you have XP and are willing to upgrade and have no setup disc and can't get one, I would recommend downloading the Windows 7 RC (release candidate). I'm using it now, and when it reinstalled itself on my computer it saved all my data into a windows.old file. It's stable, fast, really nice, and for a while, free. And some places are selling the box version that's coming out this year (Oct. 22) for $40.

[killer-penguin.livejournal.com]

I second this. I'm using windows 7 right now and I'm kinda loving it

[krazycat.livejournal.com]

Same here, I've been using Windows 7 RC for a few months now and it's really good. I recently installed 64 bit over a 32 bit install. The fresh install saved all the old data into another folder, so I didn't lose anything, not even settings.

[lady-moriel.livejournal.com]

...oh. Yikes. Well, there is still hope: this blog (Fhttp://swatrant.blogspot.com/2005/11/windows-could-not-start-because_17.html) at least talks about how to make a setup CD, so even though it's 4 years old, I'm sure it's still doable. In fact, it looks like you can order replacement CDs from Microsoft, although...that might cost, I don't know. If you can't find one to download and burn, I know you can download an ISO image for an Ubuntu setup CD, which like someone else said might well work. I would also bet a lot of money that setup disk ISO images would be available to torrent. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246)

[skiesfyre.livejournal.com]

Ugh! I had this happen to me last year. It was so much fun! /sarcasm

It IS repairable, though. I don't know how difficult it is to get a Windows Setup disc (my computer guru had to send me one, which I had to give back, or I'd send it to you); the fix for my computer was a little difficult as my computer decided it had never, ever heard of Windows. BUT I didn't lose any files, even with the complications, which was the scariest part of the whole thing.

Good luck!

[blkbelt901.livejournal.com]

i had this problem on my old computer... i never figured out how to fix it... Can you email me how you did it??

[skiesfyre.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I only got as far as reinstalling Windows with the Setup disc before I had to send my computer to my computer guy to fix it the rest of the way (there was a problem with the drivers) and I don't know how it got fixed from there. Sorry!

[subversivecynic.livejournal.com]

It's XP, right. Cause if it's Vista, you're really screwed (you have to make the start up CD when you buy the computer). If it's XP, you can use some else's start up CD.

[lone-gothic.livejournal.com]

If you know any crazy techno-geek hacker people: get them to burn you an XP disk. I'm not sure how exactly that works/where you might find a friend with an XP setup disk, but my cousin always comes up with burned copies that still works with a registration code, although Windows will always recognise that it's not a genuine copy and you need to cancel most of their attempts to update, etc. Still, it's... sorta better than buying the whole Windows XP package with the startup disk because that's painfully costly.

[stringertheory.livejournal.com]

Oooo. That sounds like what happened to my computer. It was dead. As a doornail. Four-processors-to-Jesus.

I hope that isn't what's happened to yours. :\

[killer-penguin.livejournal.com]

uh oh. That happened to me in the beginning of summer. I gave my computer to my dad and he gave it back to me with a new operating system (yay windows 7 beta!) and a folder on the desktop of 90% of my stuff. So um I think it's fixable :/

good luck!!

[karikinetic.livejournal.com]

Hey, long-time-fan/lurker here. Have heart, this is NOT the end of the road. This is a registry issue, not an issue with your files and applications (those are still in there, but the computer can't access them because Windows is the gatekeeper and the gate just got borked). Basically you have to reconstruct the registry hive (it sounds a lot more complicated than it is).

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

This link goes step by step on accessing the recovery console with the windows xp CD you found in the house. It looks intimidating, but print it and any peripheral tutorials (how to access recovery--hit f8 during start-up) out and take it step by step.

Just don't do anything like completely reinstall the operating system (as opposed to a repair) or change operating systems, or you'll lose your work.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Also a lurker

[cbm321.livejournal.com]

The above advice is excellent. It may look scary, but take it one command at a time and you will very quickly have your computer back. Take your time and don't worry about anything else.

One bit of advice, if your data is valuable to you and your utility power prone to failure, you may want to invest in a Uninterruptable Power Supply(UPS). It will protect your computer from power outages and at the same time provide it with steady power. I would purchase a 500VA unit and just connect my computer to it. It will automatically shutdown your computer as the battery runs out. My last one cost me $89 a few years ago and I am very happy with it. In fact, it did it's job on Friday when we had a power outage.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Re: Also a lurker

[queenanthai.livejournal.com]

you may want to invest in a Uninterruptable Power Supply(UPS). It will protect your computer from power outages and at the same time provide it with steady power. I would purchase a 500VA unit and just connect my computer to it. It will automatically shutdown your computer as the battery runs out.

Quoted for truth!

Re: Also a lurker

[lost-garnet.livejournal.com]

This this this. They have saved me more than once.

Re: Also a lurker

[angelene.livejournal.com]

I strongly second (um, third?) this. Seeing as you seem to be getting quite a bit of thunderstorms/outages through the year, an UPS might just be your (PC)lifesaver. It should also be able to protect the PC from power surges that might occurr (and, yes, damage components of the machine -- trust me, I learned it the hard way) while it's switched-off, so that's another reason to get one.

I hope everything gets back to as much of OK and with the least chagrin for you as possible and very very soon.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

*bookmarks the hell out of this* I had this happen to my desktop about a month ago. It's...currently in the care of the guy that built the thing, but still, handy to know for the future.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Oh, crap! Um... *sends moral support?*

If it makes you feel any better, when I had to reformat my drive, I went through the whole thing thinking I had a copy of MS Office and then...I didn't. Which means right now I'm using OpenOffice, which is LAME and crashes ALL THE TIME. Grah.

Maybe if you take the computer to one of those stores where they can try to recover stuff? Did you have stuff backed up??

[edda.livejournal.com]

I will now commence sacrificing goats and chickens on your behalf. Which frankly is the beginning and end of my tech knowledge.

But I think the above suggestions sound good.

[thedivinegoat.livejournal.com]

Hey!

My dad is a computer genius, I am not.

[piccgirl.livejournal.com]

My dad (who knows computers) says that you need to go look for something called "Microsoft Q-article 'Q315265'". This should help, he says.

I hope it does. :/

[sherrilina.livejournal.com]

Oh my shit! That sucks....hope you can fix it soon!

That makes me want to run around the house and find my own copy of XP....just in case.

[chellytastic.livejournal.com]

*send waves of good computery karma*

something of which my grandmother has none of.

anyhoo, i believe in you.
alot.
:]

[elysian-dreams.livejournal.com]

If it's already been said, then ignore me.

Most newer computers come with the setup or restore information stored on the hard drive and you have to burn your own restore CDs (obviously before the computer crashes) The ONLY way I know this is because it happened to me and I had no CDs either. It's totally bullshit and I swear that info is not like written anywhere in giant letters like it should be. Usually if you call tech support they charge to send you the CDs, but you can get them if you're desperate. You might even get lucky and find it online somewhere if you know where to look and burn it that way, but I don't know how.

Also, I seriously hope you back everything up!!!!! :( And I'm sorry your computer is not working, I know that pain (and also the pain of not backing up and losing a chunk of your life)

[savvy-implet.livejournal.com]

My other computer has been doing something like this too! Did you download the newest iTunes? Because it's been ever since then that I've been having problems.

[mysticowl.livejournal.com]

Oh no! If all of your readers concentrate, we should be able to start up your computer again through sheer universal willpower.

Have you seen this bit of Twilight fluff from Television Without Pity? http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/movies_without_pity/twilight_our_recasting_wish_li.php The dig at Twimoms in the Carlisle blurb made me chuckle.

[glimmerata.livejournal.com]

That link is great! With the exception of Ashley Greene and the guy who plays Emmett, I think they're right on.

I actually have no idea who Emma Stone is (and frankly, most of my interest in Twilight is concerned with the Secret Life of Dolls in any case), but wouldn't it have been nice to cast someone as Bella who looks like they're having fun with the part and aren't embarrassed to be there?

[elbales]

D: *flails*

Uh, I'm really really glad there are Windows-smart people around here, because I know two things about Windows: Diddly and squat. But I wish you luck and a smooth recovery.

Also, for the love of all that's good and holy, BUY A UPS, and I don't mean the lame-ass business with the brown trucks.

[krazycat.livejournal.com]

You should be able to create a boot disk from another windows install in the house, actually.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305595/en-us

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

Oh no. I hope you're able to figure something out, just for your own peace of mine. Good luck, Cleo.

[divadeanna.livejournal.com]

I had this exact problem on Saturday. I didn't think I had a setup CD ROM, but I found one, and even then, I couldn't get my computer to work again, and HP couldn't give me any tech support on it, because my computer was more than 5 years old. In the end, it was a dead hard drive, and I'm not typing from a brand new computer. Plus, I did the stupid thing and ordered from the company, since I was on the phone with them. I should've just gone to Best Buy. At least I would've gotten it sooner than today. :-P

[divadeanna.livejournal.com]

and I'm not typing from a brand new computer

*Now, rather. Still getting used to this keyboard, apparently. lol