Jonnycake Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 So, my parents computer recently....well decided it would become dead. Okay, so the error I get at startup is: Windows could not start because \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM is missing or corrupt. So, obviously I figure I'll just throw in a linux live cd and start up and get the files off of them that we need backed up, but here is the problem - the cd drive is broken as well (which I didn't know until about an hour trying to figure out why the live cd wouldn't start). This means that I can't replace that file or get any files off of it since I have no access. I would use a flash drive but I have no idea how to get it to start up off of it. My question is: is there any way I can get the files off? Theory: Mount the internal hard drive as an external hard drive on a seperate computer and backup the important files - will this work? If not, how else could I get the files off if at all? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Sierakowski Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Yup, putting that internal HDD into an enclosure and connecting it to another computer will absolutely work, provided it's just windows that's gotten messed up and there is nothing structurally wrong with the drive. You could also set the jumper setting to slave and put it into the working computer internally if you don't have an enclosure handy. You may also want to look into having some recovery tools ready in case your machine recognizes the drive, but you are unable to browse the files due to corruption. I've had a lot of luck with something like this: http://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm, and you probably want to have it installed on the working computer before you connect the other one, as every time you access a corrupted drive, you run the risk of overwriting files. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnycake Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Thank you so much, I'm gonna try it tomorrow, I hope it works, if not I'll be back. Edit: BTW, I think it is just windows that got messed up because we recently had a virus and that's what I think messed up the file. When I get the files off I'm gonna try to figure out if the virus is what deleted/corrupted the file with some reverse engineering :D *dances around happily at his chance to experiment* :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Sierakowski Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Thank you so much, I'm gonna try it tomorrow, I hope it works, if not I'll be back. Edit: BTW, I think it is just windows that got messed up because we recently had a virus and that's what I think messed up the file. When I get the files off I'm gonna try to figure out if the virus is what deleted/corrupted the file with some reverse engineering :D *dances around happily at his chance to experiment* :P In that case, when you log into the working computer, make sure that you either have an antivirus installed, or are not logged in to an administrator account. Or both :). When you boot the drive, if you can see the files, hit it with an AV to clean it up while its in isolation before you bring the files over, that way you don't infect your good computer too. You may also want to use Unstoppable Copier, as you can do source="external drive", destination="folder on working computer hdd", and it will also attempt to copy and repair damaged files as well. Let us know how it goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRGRIM Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Buy a new CD drive? $12 Load Windows XP CD - Repair :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rab Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Is this the IE8 boot.ini thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digip Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Is this the IE8 boot.ini thing? Sounds more like a borked registry, as thats what those files are for in the folder, "WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparda Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Did you check the blinker fluid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry99705 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 In that case, when you log into the working computer, make sure that you either have an antivirus installed, or are not logged in to an administrator account. Or both :). When you boot the drive, if you can see the files, hit it with an AV to clean it up while its in isolation before you bring the files over, that way you don't infect your good computer too. You may also want to use Unstoppable Copier, as you can do source="external drive", destination="folder on working computer hdd", and it will also attempt to copy and repair damaged files as well. Let us know how it goes! Or use a live linux distro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dw5304 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 just use barts pc Version 1.03 3-Jan-08 where x: is the XP boot drive Barts PE 2config = CD to x:\windows32\system\config 2sysvol = CD to x:\System Volume Information copy1 = copy snapshot files to x:\1 copy2 = copy x:\1 snapshot files to x:\…\config SetPath = Set path to CD:\XPREGFX automaticly, if not run: setpath Cddrive where CDdrive is the cdrom Drive letter no colon 1. Barts Menu: GO, Command Prompt (CMD). Prompt will be X:\i386\system32 2. CD \ 3. SetPath 4. ?: computer boot drive. Normal C: 5. MD \1 To be used in COPY1 6. 2CONFIG a. Should be in the registery directory ?:\windows\system32\config b. MD YYMMDD - Make directory todays date. Where YY=year, MM=month, DD=day c. COPY *.* YYMMDD - Copy all files to it. Just in case 7. 2sysvol System Volume Information 8. CD _RESTO~1 (normal _resto~1 is only directory, I have see _restor~2 too) It will be _restore{lots of number} 9. DIR to find the newest RPxxx directory which is the largest number 10. CD RPxxx remember you can't backspace pass the endline. 11. CD SNAPSHOT If there is no SNAPSHOT directory pick another in step 10 CD .. to go back to 10 12. If you do a DIR you will see_REGISTRY_MACHINE_xxx (4 files) and REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT. If there is none or one is a zero size go back to step 10 and pick another one. 14. COPY1 COPY registry files to directory \1 you made in step 5 your should have 5 files DEFAULT SAM SECURITY SOFTWARE SYSTEM If you don't your have to use different RPxxx directory. Delete these files first I save them here because the last thing you do is set back to the last restore point, and I had corrupted restore points. 15. COPY2 copies the files to the C:\windows\systm32\config folder 16. EXIT 17. RESTART to normal windows. !YOU MUST GO BACK TO RESTORE POINT, so program and registry match! 18. Click Start and then click All Programs 19. Click Accessories and then click System Tools 20. Click System Restore and then click Restore to a previous Restore Point. The last one created. 21. If it all works then remove C:\1 Restore corruptions I have seen is 1. 5% Bad hard drive or bad memory 2. 5% Virus 3. 10% Adware 4. 80% Unknown regfix.rar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Sierakowski Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 just use barts pc Version 1.03 3-Jan-08 where x: is the XP boot drive Barts PE 2config = CD to x:\windows32\system\config 2sysvol = CD to x:\System Volume Information copy1 = copy snapshot files to x:\1 copy2 = copy x:\1 snapshot files to x:\…\config SetPath = Set path to CD:\XPREGFX automaticly, if not run: setpath Cddrive where CDdrive is the cdrom Drive letter no colon 1. Barts Menu: GO, Command Prompt (CMD). Prompt will be X:\i386\system32 2. CD \ 3. SetPath 4. ?: computer boot drive. Normal C: 5. MD \1 To be used in COPY1 6. 2CONFIG a. Should be in the registery directory ?:\windows\system32\config b. MD YYMMDD - Make directory todays date. Where YY=year, MM=month, DD=day c. COPY *.* YYMMDD - Copy all files to it. Just in case 7. 2sysvol System Volume Information 8. CD _RESTO~1 (normal _resto~1 is only directory, I have see _restor~2 too) It will be _restore{lots of number} 9. DIR to find the newest RPxxx directory which is the largest number 10. CD RPxxx remember you can't backspace pass the endline. 11. CD SNAPSHOT If there is no SNAPSHOT directory pick another in step 10 CD .. to go back to 10 12. If you do a DIR you will see_REGISTRY_MACHINE_xxx (4 files) and REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT. If there is none or one is a zero size go back to step 10 and pick another one. 14. COPY1 COPY registry files to directory \1 you made in step 5 your should have 5 files DEFAULT SAM SECURITY SOFTWARE SYSTEM If you don't your have to use different RPxxx directory. Delete these files first I save them here because the last thing you do is set back to the last restore point, and I had corrupted restore points. 15. COPY2 copies the files to the C:\windows\systm32\config folder 16. EXIT 17. RESTART to normal windows. !YOU MUST GO BACK TO RESTORE POINT, so program and registry match! 18. Click Start and then click All Programs 19. Click Accessories and then click System Tools 20. Click System Restore and then click Restore to a previous Restore Point. The last one created. 21. If it all works then remove C:\1 Restore corruptions I have seen is 1. 5% Bad hard drive or bad memory 2. 5% Virus 3. 10% Adware 4. 80% Unknown I would say lets get the data off and safe before our friend Jonnycake gets too out of hand :). @MRGRIM, I'd say that's a pretty good solution too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dw5304 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 lol well thats how u go about fixing the corrupted registry... but yea just get your data off first before trying to repair the corrupted registry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWFu Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Add one of these to your tool case: USB 2.0 TO SATA / IDE CABLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnycake Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 Works fine now anyway, I just got the files off and did the regular recovery thingy and then put the files back on the computer after working for about 3 hours at 2:00 am. Insomnia ftw :D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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