windows\system32\config\system corrupted and no option for Recovery Console

The file that is missing is the hardware information part of the registry. If you try to use the Last Known Good boot option it may boot but they usually don't. All that it should require is that you do an 'in place install' but it may be that all the registry files are corrupted and the in place install won't be able to find your installation. I have seen this many times and it must be some kind of undocumented feature of Xp and W2k that occasionally the the registry gets hosed or becomes unreadable.

Good news is that your data is just about always OK and if you have a copy of the system state data you can re-install Windows and import the system state data and woohoo! you are back in business.

Curios tip number 2 - back up your system state data
(number 1 was just back up your data using True Image)

THank you for the info. :) I'd like to get more info on the restoring windows.... but for now I need to get my files out for immediate use. I'm accessing the HD as a slave on another computer running the same OS (XP home edition) but I can't get some files due to "access denied". How do I get a screen that allows me to say " Hey HD... it's me... here's proof.... Now LET ME IN!!!!"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by driviere

I can't get some files due to "access denied". How do I get a screen that allows me to say " Hey HD... it's me... here's proof.... Now LET ME IN!!!!"

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http://www.techzonez.com/forums/show...ight=ownership

:)

Oh what evil lurks in yon HD...
After unsuccessfully trying to get ownership of the evil HD... the bugger started clicking and not letting me access the drive again...
HELP ME... I'M melting....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by driviere

Oh what evil lurks in yon HD...
After unsuccessfully trying to get ownership of the evil HD... the bugger started clicking and not letting me access the drive again...
HELP ME... I'M melting....

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If it is clicking it might be a major issue related to hard drive failure.

If so check this thread:
http://www.techzonez.com/forums/show...hlight=freezer

HD failure ... with brief moments of operation... yet I not long enough to take ownership to get my files... any other desperate measures?

You could shake your dong at it... who knows... :assshake:

It sounds silly but it's not - stick it in the fridge for an hour or two then re-connect it. At this point it is usually best to use an imaging program like Drive Image, True Image or Norton Ghost to try to copy all the data off as obviously your hard drive mechanics are failing.

The cold tightens up the mechanism and although it will soon warm itself up once running you can often get 20-40 minutes of trouble free time from the drive which is enough to copy the data.

Thank you for your help!
I was actually working on Boog's suggestion... (but I only got an innie... not an outie...) so I'd have to borrow one to shake at it ... LOL :p )
I did try the freezer approach... but the hd only responded to the "cold shoulder"...
I'm going to try Drive Image... I'll keep ya posted thx again :)

I'm a big fan of "innies" and IMO they shake a LOT better.

Better go put my hard drive in the freezer. ;)


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by grego

I'm a big fan of "innies" and IMO they shake a LOT better.

Better go put my hard drive in the freezer. ;)


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Did you shake your dong at it first? :D

I screamed "Beetlejuice" three times at the top of lungs, I clacked my heels together on the yellow brick road, and shook my dong so hard it almost fell off, but the damn thing still didn't come back to life!

Off to the landfill it goes. Newegg is Fedexing a new Seagate as we speak.:)


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Got True Image... I now need to overcome the access denied aspect... I've logged in with same login & PW but on different computer. any suggestions for breaking in???

True Image + HD enclosure + a new HD + an ice cold one = success!!!
I was able to get the HD working enough for True Image to work its magic.
To overcome the access issue, I had to load the image onto a new HD and put back into the laptop. I now have access to the "denied" files and it appears that ALL files are intact.
Thank you once again for all your help!:D :D :D
-Dawn

Glad to help you and I bet you feel a whole lot better now!:)