Help appeal for my laptop

Girl Friday · 10-02-2006, 08:03 AM

Help appeal from the "tech"nically challenged

Yesterday when I turned my laptop on, I received the following message:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt.
System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows set up using the original set up CD Rom
select 'r' at the first screen to start repair"

Okay..I figure I can just try to system restore or recovery the laptop, BUT I forgot to save a year's worth of pics that are only on my laptop.

I called tech support (Toshiba) and they reccomended taking the laptop to a computer repair store....to have them use an external drive to get the pics out. Course this means changing all my passwords on many sites and who knows how much money.

Is this something I can fix myself? I have a desktop..any way to use the drive on there?

It has been 3 days now and I just realized that I have other important files that I need to access.

THANKS for the help. It's appreciated!

Friday

**hwm54112** · 10-02-2006, 10:13 AM

Welcome to TSF,

You can replace ntfs using an install cd. Or,

Install the laptop drive as a slave in a desktop using a Notebook drive adapter. This might be your better option because you can copy your data to the desktop hard drive before attempting the repair, then copy ntfs.sys from the desktop drive to the laptop drive

Bill

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-02-2006, 10:23 AM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows set up using the original set up CD Rom
select 'r' at the first screen to start repair" this should be your repair console,
asks you to choose versions windows to repair 1, admin password in none press enter, then type in sfc/scannow

Girl Friday · 10-02-2006, 09:00 PM

Thank you both for replying!
I think the adapter might be the best bet. If I understand correctly, I need to take the hard drive out of my laptop, place it in the adapter and hook it up to the usb port on my desktop? Sound right? Then once I get the pics off, I can then use the repair to fix the laptop?
Kinda nervous bout taking apart the laptop, but how hard can it be? Right? lol
Friday

**hwm54112** · 10-02-2006, 09:47 PM

Check this link for directions on notebook_drive_removal. If you can’t find your notebook, post the model number.

You can hook the drive up to a usb enclosure or hook it up to your desktop internally as a slave or 2nd drive. I would opt for a direct hookup in the desktop. The only thing involved might be setting the jumper on the laptop drive to “slave” or “cable select”, and then plugging it into the middle connector of an existing ide cable. It’s very simple to do.

Bill

**hwm54112** · 10-02-2006, 10:48 PM

Installing a HardDrive

Girl Friday · 10-03-2006, 07:17 AM

Thanks again for your help and I just looked at the link for the hard drive.

Sorry, I am very s.l.o.w. to retain this kind of information. :)

I understand taking out the hard drive. But am I going to use an adapter and a usb externally on the desktop or a cage internally as a secondary drive?

Have to work today but tomorrow I will find a computer store to buy what I need.
Thanks!
Friday

~~OMGmissinglink~~ · 10-03-2006, 07:33 AM

Repair install

1 - Boot with the Windows XP CD press any to boot XP disk
2 - Boot with the Windows XP CD and at the Setup Screen press Enter
3 - You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. After reading the agreement press F8 to proceed.
4 - The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to repair the selected Windows XP installation. To run a Repair Install Press "R" at this time.
**Note** if you do not see the option to repair the selected Windows XP installation DO NOT choose the option to continue installing a fresh copy without repairing as that will overwrite your data and cause unrecoverable data loss.

5 - Windows XP will copy the necessary files to your Hard Drive to begin the installation and will then reboot. You will see the message that informs you to "Press any key to boot the CD". Do not press any keys this time just wait a few seconds and the Windows Startup Screen will be displayed. Following this you will be greeted by the Windows XP Setup Screens.
6 - When Setup has completed you should find all of your previously installed apps and settings are intact.

Girl Friday · 10-04-2006, 03:22 PM

Okay...I have purchased the adapter.
The website showing tear down instructions doesn't have my Toshiba Satellite A65..and it has 4 covers on the back...any idea which one is the hard drive?

Thanks
Fri

Girl Friday · 10-04-2006, 06:46 PM

Good news and bad news.
Got the pics off but am now receiving an error message when I try to use the Recovery cd:

File ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded
The error code is 14

Called Toshiba and their response was ..we can sell you a new recovery cd for $39.95, course during the last call...they also told me that the back cover of the WAN was the hard drive..so not much faith in them.

Any ideas out there what this means?
I kinda searched it and didn't understand a lot of it.
THANKS!
Fri

**hwm54112** · 10-04-2006, 07:38 PM

did you try just copying ntfs.sys from the desktop to the laptop drive?

I don't think the file is actually missing from the recovery cd. There's something else going on.

Girl Friday · 10-05-2006, 05:20 AM

How would I copy the file to the laptop drive?

I ended up using another laptop to hook up the hard drive to. Would I search for the ntfs.sys file on the good laptop and try to save it to the hard drive while it is hooked up?

Thanks
Fri

**hwm54112** · 10-05-2006, 08:25 AM

Yes. try to copy it over to the drive.

If no go, try pressing F7 instead of F6 when windows asks you to load drivers

Another possibility would be to install your drive in the good laptop and try the install. then use sysprep to prepare the drive for the swith to the malfunctioning machine. It may not install if the disk is tied to the laptop.

Girl Friday · 10-05-2006, 09:32 AM

Okay I just sent the ntfs.sys file to the laptop hard drive.

Do I put the hard drive back in the laptop or is there more to do with the hard drive while it is out?

Then, when I try to boot the laptop, is the next step trying the XP cd or the recovery cd, or just which ever works?

I changed the bios so it reads the cd drive first....so will it pick up the new ntfs file from there?

Thanks

Girl Friday · 10-05-2006, 10:11 AM

Sorry one more question..was I suppose to delete the old ntfs file on the hard drive? It currently has 2 on the old one now.

**hwm54112** · 10-05-2006, 03:48 PM

You should have deleted the old ntfs. On the other hand, it should have been overwritten or you should have been prompted to overwrite if copied to the same directory on the old drive.

There should be a copy of ntfs in the following folders: windows\I386, windows\system32\dllcache and system32\drivers

If you did copy it to the same directory and both reside in that directory, go ahead and delete the old

At this point, re-install the drive in the original laptop and boot to it. If unsuccessful- use the XP cd and do a repair install as per OMGmissingllink's post

**laboye** · 10-07-2006, 08:23 AM

My signature has my patented breakdown of the repair process. Take a look at it. It sounds to me like there's a nice deep scratch in that recovery CD.

Girl Friday · 10-09-2006, 08:04 AM

I have tried both the Recovery cd and a windows xp set up cd, neither of which will work.
With the windows xp cd it looks like it gets to step 2 or 3 on your list and then tells me there is an error.

**hwm54112** · 10-09-2006, 03:40 PM

What is the error message?

It's possible the remnants of the old install are interfering with the re-install. If you don't need to save any data on the disk, you can zero or wipe the drive using the drive manufacturer’s utilities

Bill

**laboye** · 10-09-2006, 07:02 PM

It could also be memory. During steps 2 and 3, setup copies the entire setup core to memory. Along with the kernel and other items, it starts to load drivers to RAM as well. Download Memtest and burn the ISO file down to a CD. Make sure you burn the image and not just the ISO file to the CD. Boot off of that CD and it will test your RAM. Let it run for a while (overnight) so it does several passes. Look at the error count and report the results.

10-02-2006, 08:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Help appeal for my laptop Help appeal from the "tech"nically challenged Yesterday when I turned my laptop on, I received the following message: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt. System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows set up using the original set up CD Rom select 'r' at the first screen to start repair" Okay..I figure I can just try to system restore or recovery the laptop, BUT I forgot to save a year's worth of pics that are only on my laptop. I called tech support (Toshiba) and they reccomended taking the laptop to a computer repair store....to have them use an external drive to get the pics out. Course this means changing all my passwords on many sites and who knows how much money. Is this something I can fix myself? I have a desktop..any way to use the drive on there? It has been 3 days now and I just realized that I have other important files that I need to access. THANKS for the help. It's appreciated! Friday

10-05-2006, 03:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	You should have deleted the old ntfs. On the other hand, it should have been overwritten or you should have been prompted to overwrite if copied to the same directory on the old drive. There should be a copy of ntfs in the following folders: windows\I386, windows\system32\dllcache and system32\drivers If you did copy it to the same directory and both reside in that directory, go ahead and delete the old At this point, re-install the drive in the original laptop and boot to it. If unsuccessful- use the XP cd and do a repair install as per OMGmissingllink's post Last edited by hwm54112; 10-05-2006 at 04:03 PM.

10-07-2006, 08:23 AM	#17 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	My signature has my patented breakdown of the repair process. Take a look at it. It sounds to me like there's a nice deep scratch in that recovery CD. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

10-09-2006, 07:02 PM	#20 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	It could also be memory. During steps 2 and 3, setup copies the entire setup core to memory. Along with the kernel and other items, it starts to load drivers to RAM as well. Download Memtest and burn the ISO file down to a CD. Make sure you burn the image and not just the ISO file to the CD. Boot off of that CD and it will test your RAM. Let it run for a while (overnight) so it does several passes. Look at the error count and report the results. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

10-02-2006, 10:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Welcome to TSF, You can replace ntfs using an install cd. Or, Install the laptop drive as a slave in a desktop using a Notebook drive adapter. This might be your better option because you can copy your data to the desktop hard drive before attempting the repair, then copy ntfs.sys from the desktop drive to the laptop drive Bill

10-02-2006, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows set up using the original set up CD Rom select 'r' at the first screen to start repair" this should be your repair console, asks you to choose versions windows to repair 1, admin password in none press enter, then type in sfc/scannow

10-02-2006, 09:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Thank you both for replying! I think the adapter might be the best bet. If I understand correctly, I need to take the hard drive out of my laptop, place it in the adapter and hook it up to the usb port on my desktop? Sound right? Then once I get the pics off, I can then use the repair to fix the laptop? Kinda nervous bout taking apart the laptop, but how hard can it be? Right? lol Friday

10-02-2006, 09:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Check this link for directions on notebook_drive_removal. If you can’t find your notebook, post the model number. You can hook the drive up to a usb enclosure or hook it up to your desktop internally as a slave or 2nd drive. I would opt for a direct hookup in the desktop. The only thing involved might be setting the jumper on the laptop drive to “slave” or “cable select”, and then plugging it into the middle connector of an existing ide cable. It’s very simple to do. Bill

10-02-2006, 10:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Installing a HardDrive

10-03-2006, 07:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Thanks again for your help and I just looked at the link for the hard drive. Sorry, I am very s.l.o.w. to retain this kind of information. :) I understand taking out the hard drive. But am I going to use an adapter and a usb externally on the desktop or a cage internally as a secondary drive? Have to work today but tomorrow I will find a computer store to buy what I need. Thanks! Friday

10-03-2006, 07:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
~~OMGmissinglink~~ Troubled Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,535 OS: XP Pro sp2 My System	Repair install 1 - Boot with the Windows XP CD press any to boot XP disk 2 - Boot with the Windows XP CD and at the Setup Screen press Enter 3 - You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. After reading the agreement press F8 to proceed. 4 - The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to repair the selected Windows XP installation. To run a Repair Install Press "R" at this time. Note if you do not see the option to repair the selected Windows XP installation DO NOT choose the option to continue installing a fresh copy without repairing as that will overwrite your data and cause unrecoverable data loss. 5 - Windows XP will copy the necessary files to your Hard Drive to begin the installation and will then reboot. You will see the message that informs you to "Press any key to boot the CD". Do not press any keys this time just wait a few seconds and the Windows Startup Screen will be displayed. Following this you will be greeted by the Windows XP Setup Screens. 6 - When Setup has completed you should find all of your previously installed apps and settings are intact.

10-04-2006, 03:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Okay...I have purchased the adapter. The website showing tear down instructions doesn't have my Toshiba Satellite A65..and it has 4 covers on the back...any idea which one is the hard drive? Thanks Fri

10-04-2006, 06:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Good news and bad news. Got the pics off but am now receiving an error message when I try to use the Recovery cd: File ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded The error code is 14 Called Toshiba and their response was ..we can sell you a new recovery cd for $39.95, course during the last call...they also told me that the back cover of the WAN was the hard drive..so not much faith in them. Any ideas out there what this means? I kinda searched it and didn't understand a lot of it. THANKS! Fri

10-04-2006, 07:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	did you try just copying ntfs.sys from the desktop to the laptop drive? I don't think the file is actually missing from the recovery cd. There's something else going on.

10-05-2006, 05:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	How would I copy the file to the laptop drive? I ended up using another laptop to hook up the hard drive to. Would I search for the ntfs.sys file on the good laptop and try to save it to the hard drive while it is hooked up? Thanks Fri

10-05-2006, 08:25 AM	#13 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Yes. try to copy it over to the drive. If no go, try pressing F7 instead of F6 when windows asks you to load drivers Another possibility would be to install your drive in the good laptop and try the install. then use sysprep to prepare the drive for the swith to the malfunctioning machine. It may not install if the disk is tied to the laptop.

10-05-2006, 09:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Okay I just sent the ntfs.sys file to the laptop hard drive. Do I put the hard drive back in the laptop or is there more to do with the hard drive while it is out? Then, when I try to boot the laptop, is the next step trying the XP cd or the recovery cd, or just which ever works? I changed the bios so it reads the cd drive first....so will it pick up the new ntfs file from there? Thanks

10-05-2006, 10:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	Sorry one more question..was I suppose to delete the old ntfs file on the hard drive? It currently has 2 on the old one now.

10-09-2006, 08:04 AM	#18 (permalink)
Girl Friday Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 16 OS: WinXP	I have tried both the Recovery cd and a windows xp set up cd, neither of which will work. With the windows xp cd it looks like it gets to step 2 or 3 on your list and then tells me there is an error.

10-09-2006, 03:40 PM	#19 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	What is the error message? It's possible the remnants of the old install are interfering with the re-install. If you don't need to save any data on the disk, you can zero or wipe the drive using the drive manufacturer’s utilities Bill