Laptop XP boot issues

FirePhoenix · 10-09-2008, 03:07 PM

My laptop recently decided to stop working.
When I turn it on normally, windows doesn't load and I get this message

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

I looked around and tried some repair boot cds
(I dont have an official one, my laptop came with xp installed).
When I try to load a boot CD I end up getting THIS error

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please reinstall a copy of the above file"

I've tried everything I can find or think of and nothing is working.
I'm hoping someone can give me some help with this without needing to wipe my harddrive.

prudhoc1 · 10-09-2008, 04:28 PM

Config/System is a critical System File, And can be corrupted by Overclocking Or Changeling out Components. the only way i know of fixing it is to reinstall windows. :/

FirePhoenix · 10-10-2008, 04:17 AM

Will reinstalling windows wipe my harddrive?
If so is there a way I can back it up from dos?

**grimx133** · 10-10-2008, 04:49 AM

You can do a repair install as long as you have the right type of windows disc. A disc that is a recovery disc from the big manufacturers won't work, needs to be a microsoft produced disc usually. The other ones restore to factory condition, bloatware and all, and don't have the option of the repair install. If you can try it, your data is not lost, however, it's always a good thing to back it up just in case. Always good to be backed up.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

FirePhoenix · 10-10-2008, 12:43 PM

Well, I'll try that I guess. I dont have an official XP cd but an AHEM burned XP cd should work right?

Also, if need be how do I back-up my files through dos?
I still cannot access windows through my laptop. So I can't do it from there.

Thanks for the help so far

.

**wrench97** · 10-10-2008, 01:44 PM

See this for a repair install> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XP...install.htm#RI
The burned disk is ok as long as you have a valid product key label to use on the laptop somewhere(Bottom?)
Back up through DOS?? do you have a dos boot disk?

FirePhoenix · 10-10-2008, 05:33 PM

Well, I can make a dos boot disc. If I dont have one laying around.
But if a burned XP disc will work, then I'll try that tomorrow.
I do have an XP product key, so if all goes as planned then hopefully it will be up and running tomorrow.

FirePhoenix · 10-11-2008, 02:59 PM

Okay, I spent the better part of my day trying to fix this again. I used the links and did whatthey said there, got the XP disc to boot up and everything.

But I cannot repair my existing OS.
I come to screen asking me to choose a partition to install XP on.
But I dont want a clean install, I want my files to remain intact.

Am I just being dumb or am I in it deep now?

**wrench97** · 10-11-2008, 03:10 PM

Did you try the options under the Warning#2?
Is the disk a copy of a major manufacturers(Dell,HP Etc) reinstallation disk or a copy a a retail disk?

FirePhoenix · 10-13-2008, 08:17 AM

Ok, so I did everything under warning 2.

None of that fixed it, it did find two new operating systems, but I'm afraid if I try to boot them it'll format my drive.

I still come to a blue screen that asks me to choose a partition of space to install XP on. And still no option to do a repair. Unless I have to proceed past that screen to see it.

So, if no one has any suggestions I may have to back up everything and then restore it. The XP disc is a retail version by the way.

**wrench97** · 10-13-2008, 11:09 AM

I think you need to back it up or at least get the data you need off it either with a linux boot disk or by slaving it to a pc.
Test the drive with the drive manufacturers test program and wipe and reload.

dai · 10-13-2008, 12:03 PM

does the laptop offer a non destructive recovery option along with the normal recovery option

FirePhoenix · 10-14-2008, 06:08 PM

Using a linux or 95 boot to dos, is backing up as easy as say.

Copy C:\ H:\ ?

Also, I do not think that the disc is giving me a way to repair without a reinstall. I hate it but I guess I'll just have to spend a day backing up and restoring my important files.

Are there any good Backup guides out there, I dont want to wing it and end up worse off then where I started.
(sorry for the slow reply, I've been busy)

**wrench97** · 10-15-2008, 12:51 AM

Well it's not as easy as it sounds because you will need somewhere to back up to if you have another pc with enough HD space and a network you can use the Linux boot CD to transfer files to it but you won't be able to burn them to the cd drive your running the Linux cd from you will also need someone a little more versed in Linux to walk you through mounting the hard drive and setting up Samba shares on the network I can get through it not sure if I can explain it well enough to get you through it as lately when faced with this issue I've just been slaveing the drive into a pc and coping that way.

FirePhoenix · 10-18-2008, 12:10 PM

(another slow reply)
I have two 120gb External hardrives.

also, I dont need to backup the WHOLE computer, just some important things (though installing everything will be annoying)

also, I should have enough space on my desktop to backup important things (IE pictures)

but for now I'll try to find some guides on google.

Edit:
I've been looking at this but am leery of trying it since it asks me to delete several important files.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

**wrench97** · 10-19-2008, 02:56 AM

You don't want to use that on an OEM install
I think the easiest way out is to copy the files you need to the external drive with a Linux boot cd and reinstall windows

FirePhoenix · 10-19-2008, 04:21 PM

Ok, I'll do that. But where can I get a Linux CD? Also, Is backing up from Linux as easy as drag+drop?

**wrench97** · 10-19-2008, 04:57 PM

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu

It's a little more then drag and drop there is a slight learning curve d/l and burn the cd get it running and post in our linux forum you get someone more versed then me to walk you through it.

FirePhoenix · 10-19-2008, 05:23 PM

Hopefully this will get me up and running again. Thanks everyone for all the help. I wish it could have been easier, but at least I didn't have to reformat my system.
Thanks again! Tomorrow everything should be fixed.

10-09-2008, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Laptop XP boot issues My laptop recently decided to stop working. When I turn it on normally, windows doesn't load and I get this message "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM" I looked around and tried some repair boot cds (I dont have an official one, my laptop came with xp installed). When I try to load a boot CD I end up getting THIS error "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll Please reinstall a copy of the above file" I've tried everything I can find or think of and nothing is working. I'm hoping someone can give me some help with this without needing to wipe my harddrive.

10-09-2008, 04:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
prudhoc1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia Posts: 149 OS: XP SP2 , Vista Premium My System	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Config/System is a critical System File, And can be corrupted by Overclocking Or Changeling out Components. the only way i know of fixing it is to reinstall windows. :/ __________________ http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/k...een040-1-1.jpg

10-10-2008, 04:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Will reinstalling windows wipe my harddrive? If so is there a way I can back it up from dos?

10-10-2008, 04:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 2,204 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Laptop XP boot issues You can do a repair install as long as you have the right type of windows disc. A disc that is a recovery disc from the big manufacturers won't work, needs to be a microsoft produced disc usually. The other ones restore to factory condition, bloatware and all, and don't have the option of the repair install. If you can try it, your data is not lost, however, it's always a good thing to back it up just in case. Always good to be backed up. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

10-10-2008, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Well, I'll try that I guess. I dont have an official XP cd but an AHEM burned XP cd should work right? Also, if need be how do I back-up my files through dos? I still cannot access windows through my laptop. So I can't do it from there. Thanks for the help so far .

10-10-2008, 01:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,244 OS: XPSP3	Re: Laptop XP boot issues See this for a repair install> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XP...install.htm#RI The burned disk is ok as long as you have a valid product key label to use on the laptop somewhere(Bottom?) Back up through DOS?? do you have a dos boot disk? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-10-2008, 05:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Well, I can make a dos boot disc. If I dont have one laying around. But if a burned XP disc will work, then I'll try that tomorrow. I do have an XP product key, so if all goes as planned then hopefully it will be up and running tomorrow.

10-11-2008, 02:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Okay, I spent the better part of my day trying to fix this again. I used the links and did whatthey said there, got the XP disc to boot up and everything. But I cannot repair my existing OS. I come to screen asking me to choose a partition to install XP on. But I dont want a clean install, I want my files to remain intact. Am I just being dumb or am I in it deep now?

10-11-2008, 03:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,244 OS: XPSP3	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Did you try the options under the Warning#2? Is the disk a copy of a major manufacturers(Dell,HP Etc) reinstallation disk or a copy a a retail disk? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-13-2008, 08:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Ok, so I did everything under warning 2. None of that fixed it, it did find two new operating systems, but I'm afraid if I try to boot them it'll format my drive. I still come to a blue screen that asks me to choose a partition of space to install XP on. And still no option to do a repair. Unless I have to proceed past that screen to see it. So, if no one has any suggestions I may have to back up everything and then restore it. The XP disc is a retail version by the way.

10-13-2008, 11:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,244 OS: XPSP3	Re: Laptop XP boot issues I think you need to back it up or at least get the data you need off it either with a linux boot disk or by slaving it to a pc. Test the drive with the drive manufacturers test program and wipe and reload. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-13-2008, 12:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,628 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Laptop XP boot issues does the laptop offer a non destructive recovery option along with the normal recovery option __________________

10-14-2008, 06:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Using a linux or 95 boot to dos, is backing up as easy as say. Copy C:\ H:\ ? Also, I do not think that the disc is giving me a way to repair without a reinstall. I hate it but I guess I'll just have to spend a day backing up and restoring my important files. Are there any good Backup guides out there, I dont want to wing it and end up worse off then where I started. (sorry for the slow reply, I've been busy)

10-15-2008, 12:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,244 OS: XPSP3	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Well it's not as easy as it sounds because you will need somewhere to back up to if you have another pc with enough HD space and a network you can use the Linux boot CD to transfer files to it but you won't be able to burn them to the cd drive your running the Linux cd from you will also need someone a little more versed in Linux to walk you through mounting the hard drive and setting up Samba shares on the network I can get through it not sure if I can explain it well enough to get you through it as lately when faced with this issue I've just been slaveing the drive into a pc and coping that way. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-18-2008, 12:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues (another slow reply) I have two 120gb External hardrives. also, I dont need to backup the WHOLE computer, just some important things (though installing everything will be annoying) also, I should have enough space on my desktop to backup important things (IE pictures) but for now I'll try to find some guides on google. Edit: I've been looking at this but am leery of trying it since it asks me to delete several important files. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 Last edited by FirePhoenix; 10-18-2008 at 12:22 PM.

10-19-2008, 02:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,244 OS: XPSP3	Re: Laptop XP boot issues You don't want to use that on an OEM install I think the easiest way out is to copy the files you need to the external drive with a Linux boot cd and reinstall windows __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-19-2008, 04:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Ok, I'll do that. But where can I get a Linux CD? Also, Is backing up from Linux as easy as drag+drop?

10-19-2008, 04:57 PM	#18 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,244 OS: XPSP3	Re: Laptop XP boot issues http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu It's a little more then drag and drop there is a slight learning curve d/l and burn the cd get it running and post in our linux forum you get someone more versed then me to walk you through it. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-19-2008, 05:23 PM	#19 (permalink)
FirePhoenix Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: Laptop XP boot issues Hopefully this will get me up and running again. Thanks everyone for all the help. I wish it could have been easier, but at least I didn't have to reformat my system. Thanks again! Tomorrow everything should be fixed.