OT: Need major WindowsXP tech help!

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:13 pm

So I am installing Silent Hunter 3, which has this ridiculous addon game update software. The game runs fine, but when I install this update thing Windows freaks out. It starts to operate so slowly that I ctrl-alt-del and restart. Windows loads but then locks up completely. I can't even do the old 3-finger salute now, so I turn off my machine. I wait about 3 minutes fire it up and get this doozy:

Windows will not load because the following file is missing or corrupted:

C:/Windows/system32/config/system

(cue heart attack) Ok, I think. I'll just boot in safe mode. No dice. Same error. (cue second heart attack) Ok, be calm. I'll just pop in the system disk and restore. Lo and behold, I recall that Dell, in its infinite wisdom, informed me that due to the new "robust" Windows and Dell system restore features, I was no longer in need of the boot disks. They don't include them anymore.

So, I have contacted Dell and they're sending me the restore disk etc. But in the meantime:

Is there anything I can do to fix this damn thing without having to do a restore?

The PC is a Dell Dimension 8400 running WinXP Media Center edition.

Any tips, including creative ways to avoid setting fire to my office out of frustration, are appreciated.

ubrakto · Post by **ubrakto** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:23 pm

Rob, does Dell not even give you an OEM OS disk? That's horrible if they don't because, theoretically you ought to be able to boot to the Windows CD and run the OS options from there. There's the Recovery Console (you'd have to do some reading to make use of it, as -if memory serves- I think the usage commands are rather arcane and, failing that, you ought to be able to reinstall the core OS files.

Not sure what else you could do. I know you said you couldn't boot to safe mode, but can you boot to a basic command prompt. Because if you have multiple PCs running XP, I suppose you could try locating the file noted in the error on a working PC, copying it to a floppy, booting to the command prompt on your jacked up system and copying it over the corrupt/missing file.

Good luck!
---Todd

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:15 am

Rob,

Silent Hunter 3 has that f*cking Starforce copy protection . There were reports when it was released of people having problems with their computers because of the starforce copy protection drivers that were installed.

Hope you get your system working properly soon!

Best wishes,

Doug

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:22 am

Here is some info about starforce and a link to remove it as well is on this page.

http://www.glop.org/starforce/

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:31 am

ubrakto wrote:Rob, does Dell not even give you an OEM OS disk? That's horrible if they don't because, theoretically you ought to be able to boot to the Windows CD and run the OS options from there. There's the Recovery Console (you'd have to do some reading to make use of it, as -if memory serves- I think the usage commands are rather arcane and, failing that, you ought to be able to reinstall the core OS files.
---Todd

Nope, not even the OEM disk. They give you a little slip of paper that says it's no longer necessary because of the system recovery tools in XP LMAO!!

I knew about the Starforce problem, but I'm pretty sure that the culprit was this other update s/w. I was hesitant to install it at all, and I should've followed my ample gut on that one!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:33 am

You're probably not going to be able to fix it without restoring...if you don't want to wait for the OEM disc, just press F12 when the Dell logo comes up on the screen right when you're booting up. You can just press it a few times so that it will activate the setup program. Give that a try if you don't feel like waiting for the discs.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:13 am

The problem is usually solvable... but you will have to wait for the restore disk because you have an OEM machine. Here is the M$ article... but heed the warning that it would be unwise for you to try to use this method... even in the worst case, where you have to do M$'s method and you get locked out via password, it can be gotten around by someone with sufficient Win 2000 knowledge. I've done it...

Edit: forgot the link....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;307545

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 2:01 am

You don't need to wait for the damn restore disk...if it's anything like every other Dell I've seen. They have the image already on the hard drive...you just need to hit one of the F keys to get into the menu.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 2:09 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:You don't need to wait for the damn restore disk...if it's anything like every other Dell I've seen. They have the image already on the hard drive...you just need to hit one of the F keys to get into the menu.

Yeah, it's supposed to be F11, but it doesn't work. Thx for the tips guys. I guess I'll just wait patiently for the disks to arrive

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 2:42 am

You should be able to hold one of the function keys, boot into "SAFE" mode, and jump back to an XP restore point if you have them enabled...

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 3:46 am

How long will it take for the disks to get to you Rob? If it's going to take a while I have a copy of XP you could use.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:19 am

ScoopBrady wrote:How long will it take for the disks to get to you Rob? If it's going to take a while I have a copy of XP you could use.

That's kind of you, Scoop. They said 2-3 days, which is an inconvenience but not terrible. I have the laptop here to get me through for work use, but thanks for the offer.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:24 am

Sport73 wrote:You should be able to hold one of the function keys, boot into "SAFE" mode, and jump back to an XP restore point if you have them enabled...

Yes, but anytime I attempt this I get a "Floppy Disk" error which is interesting inasmuch as there are no floppy drives on the PC. This is what prompted the Dell tech to immediately send the restore disks.

Noledog · Post by **Noledog** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:02 am

you know whats crazy, i got the exact same error last wednesday.

i was just browsing the net and i got the good old blue screen of death. after i rebooted i got the "some file in the C:/Windows/system32/config/system folder is corrupted" message.

so i went and bought a new HD and installed windows. i tried hooking my old drive up to my PC via an external usb enclosure and it wont even recognize it.

i have no clue what caused it, but never touched Silent Hunter 3.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:42 pm

Well, a bit of good news. The DHL guy showed up at my door at 9:00am to deliver the disks, which were overnighted. At least Dell handled that part of things well.

Now to try to fix the damn thing.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:37 pm

The nightmare continues. Step 1 of the recovery goes fine, but now XP still won't boot into safe mode to continue with part 2. I get a blue screen with a stop error that, according to MS, can be caused by about 15,000 different things

About once ever 5 years I wish I used a mac...

EDiddy · Post by **EDiddy** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:41 pm

Might just consider a complete format at this point and start fresh. Might save some time in the end.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:55 pm

EDiddy wrote:Might just consider a complete format at this point and start fresh. Might save some time in the end.

Yeah, but I have some data that's not backed up which I do not want to lose. Then again, isn't that always the case...

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:02 pm

Rob,
Buy a new harddrive and install your current harddrive as a secondary harddrive. You should be able to retrieve any files you don't want to lose and transfer them to your new harddrive. Then you can format your old harddrive and have extra space. You should be able to get a really good deal on a harddrive at Frys. If you need any help with anything let me know.

EDiddy · Post by **EDiddy** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:04 pm

Have you tried to boot into the XP recovery console, which is basically a DOS prompt. You can access your cd burner and the file system. Boot into that, make your backup cd with DOS copy commands, format all, restore. The only draw back is that recovery console can only see certain directories, and I doubt the data you need is in /WinNT/System.

EDiddy · Post by **EDiddy** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:05 pm

Scoops idea is excellnt if you can get your hands on one, most hard drives that are non bootable can be read as a slave.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:38 pm

Excellent ideas guys. If my current attempts fail, I'll use another HD. I've got an 80gig Firewire external drive. Will that work? How do I get the computer to recognize it, seeing as I can't get into XP at all?

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:42 am

Can you install over the current XP installation without formatting first?

Don't people periodically reinstall XP in order to regain some performance?

Yeah I had to do a format and fresh install about a year ago. Real PITA but fortunately, not much data on there other than reinstalling things like Office.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:34 am

wco81 wrote:Can you install over the current XP installation without formatting first?

That's actually what I'm trying. Now I'm running into an error (described here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/82867

According to my setupact.log there is a problem with one of the PCI drivers, I think. (specifically there are several error-like messages related to (deep breath) PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00C1&SUBSYS_024510DE&REV_A214&16EC1A1&0&0008

)

Now I'm trying to figure out how the HeDoubleHockeySticks to fix this. /sigh

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:51 am

One nice feature about the Mac OS X Installer DVD is that you can do an "Upgrade Install" or an "Archive and Install" where it installs the system files in a separate directory without trying to overwrite any of the previous system files.

Then at the end, it copies over the user accounts and settings from the older system files onto the new ones so that you don't have to reconfigure your computer.

So if the XP installer doesn't let you install over or around an existing XP installation, then adding the drive and installing to a different volume sounds like the way to go.

Usually, Staples, Office Depot, Circuit, City etc. have deals on drives every week.

As for using a Firewire drive, I would imagine you would have to set it in the BIOS to "see" it and then later boot from it.