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Thread: Won't boot after defrag [FIXED]

  1. #1
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    Won't boot after defrag [FIXED]

    Help!

    I defragged my PC yesterday and today I get the following error

    The following file is missing or corrupt,
    \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

    As the error message suggested, I booted using the original CD Rom and went into repair console. After several minutes it took me to the windows command prompt.

    So, what do I do now?

    I am desparate to preserve my date, emails etc. I do have a backup but it is slightly out of date.

    Thanks

    Howard

  2. #2
    Hardware guy Super Moderator FastGame's Avatar
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    Try this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 and maybe your HD is going bad ?

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    Quote Originally Posted by FastGame View Post
    Try this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 and maybe your HD is going bad ?
    I tried following those instructions but when I boot into the recovery console it doesn't ask me for the administrator password I just get

    D:\WINDOWS>

    and if I try

    D:\WINDOWS>md tmp

    as the first instruction says I get

    The path or file specified is not valid

    Can I just re-install XP?? or will that blow out all my data?

  4. #4
    She who must be obeyed Super Moderator piaqt's Avatar
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    Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I'll never know.
    love, piaqt

  5. #5
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    No, that didn't work either. I got to the stage where it should have detected the original XP installation and said.....

    Caution, a windows folder already exists blah, blah..
    All files, subfolders, user accounts, applications will be deleted. The My Documents folder may also be deleted

    I'm beginning to think that my XP disk may be the culprit???

  6. #6
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    Would making a "Slipstream" disk make any difference do you think?

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    Gold Member harrytb's Avatar
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    i dont supose you have a spare machine that you put put your hdd into,do you?
    that way you could back-up eveything then try any method you like to repair it.
    at least youd have your stuff backed up.

    ill be back soon,
    just watching some paint dry.

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    Quote Originally Posted by harrytb View Post
    i dont supose you have a spare machine that you put put your hdd into,do you?
    that way you could back-up eveything then try any method you like to repair it.
    at least youd have your stuff backed up.
    I was trying to get away with not tearing the junk pile down! But the answer is yes, I'm typing this on my second PC which I normally use exclusively for photo / video work. It doesn't even have a virus checker on it and very rarely goes on-line. The duff PC is underneath EVERYTHING!

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    Old and Cranky Super Moderator rik's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rik View Post

    Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow. I will have to take the disk out and back it up first though.

    This may take some time...................Looking on the bright side, at least I'll be able to hoover up round the back of all my kit now

  11. #11
    She who must be obeyed Super Moderator piaqt's Avatar
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    When you reinstall, select the "upgrade" option. That'll keep your stuff intact. (been there, done that way too often)

    Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I'll never know.
    love, piaqt

  12. #12
    Titanium Member efc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by piaqt View Post
    When you reinstall, select the "upgrade" option. That'll keep your stuff intact. (been there, done that way too often)
    Never heard that before. A good suggestion.
    Linux Mint Debian Edition

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    Quote Originally Posted by FastGame View Post
    Try this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 and maybe your HD is going bad ?

    Good guess, yes disk drive is shot.

    Moved it into my other PC and tried to do a backup with Ghost but if failed quite quckly. Tried to copy some files over but again failed. I forget the exact wording but basically saying that it couldn't find the files.

    Off to Maplins to get a new drive then I'll have to revert to my last good backup.

  14. #14
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    Phew!

    Lost 3 days emails and nothing else important. Interestingly none of the suggested fixes worked, probably because the disk was on the way out and badly corrupted ??

    Anyway, the moral of the story is....backup. I don't know what I would have done had I not got a recent backup. Lost everything I suppose, family pictures, really important emails (evidence in a Court case would you believe ) user names / passwords......doesn't bare thinking about it....

  15. #15
    Old and Cranky Super Moderator rik's Avatar
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    Glad you got it sorted.

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