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Computer Finally Crashed
I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it.
I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or corrupt. I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? Thanks |
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#2
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Computer Finally Crashed
From: "tonita"
I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or corrupt. I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? Thanks Buy a new computer with Windows 7. Put the hard disk in a USB to IDE external Chassis. Setup new computer. Connect drive to new computer USB port. Copy over your data. Enjoy your new computer. -- Dave Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp |
#3
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Computer Finally Crashed
tonita wrote:
I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or corrupt. I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? Thanks Whether it can be fixed, depends on: 1) Whether System Restore was enabled. 2) Whether the hard drive has severe problems or not. The repair may not work, if the hard drive is failing. and finally 3) Whether you made backup copies of the hard drive contents, for the day when this would happen. I keep a 3TB drive next to my computer, which has an image of all internal drives on it. The backup was made a week ago using Macrium. The drive was purchased only for backups. To hold a single image of the computer. ******* This is the procedure for restoring the SYSTEM registry file, using a two stage process. First, you replace the registry with an "empty" set of files. (The Registry consists of a set of five files. Newer OSes may use more files.) This is for the purpose of getting the computer to boot again. The second step, is to use the latest System Restore point, as it has the actual, populated registry entries. The System Restore takes a snapshot of the Registry, so those would be your actual "good files". SYSTEM would be one of the recovered files from there. "How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 # The important steps, followed by reboot # These files hold *none* of your preferences, so are useless # for normal operation of the computer. They're to make the # computer boot, and that is all. copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default You will notice that the procedure uses the Recovery Console, for the file copying in Part 1. A retail WinXP installer CD, can boot to the Recovery Console. The Recovery Console can also be installed, before the fact, into the OS, so Recovery boots from the hard drive. I have that feature, but have never used it. You could also attempt the procedure, using an AVIRA NTFS4DOS boot floppy, as without the NTFS driver, normal MSDOS floppies could not access C:. It would be very very painful to do it that way. If your C: drive happens to be FAT32 (unlikely), then even an MSDOS floppy made on a Win98 machine (sys a could be used. Machines like a Dell, should not be using FAT32. Only home installers like me, use FAT32 :-) So really, the limiting step, is the ability to copy the files in Part 1. The rest relies on the health of your OS. If you have System Restore turned off, then there won't be any "good" copies of the Registry to use. The "Empty" registry files are not really all that useful, except to promote emergency booting of the computer. Another way you could do the file copy step, is from Linux. Or, you could boot a Windows 7 or Windows 8 retail installer type DVD, and use the recovery console in those. I don't know if those would screw up permissions on any files or not. Good luck, Paul |
#4
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Computer Finally Crashed
| I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or
corrupt. | | I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? | It depends on what died. It sounds like it could just be a corrupt OS (as opposed to a dead hard disk or other hardware problem). If "the disk" is a system restore disk it should work to reinstall, but it sounds like it's not booting from the disk drive. When the system boots you should see a quick message that tells you to press F* or maybe the Delete key for boot options and/or for BIOS access. Different computers work differently. You can look up the options for your system online or in your manual. However it works, it will require you to hold down a key during the early part of boot. The BIOS settings typically have boot order settings. If you put CD/DVD first then that will boot if there's a bootable disk in there. More recently some companies have overridden those options with a "consumer" boot menu so that people won't need to go into the BIOS settings. The whole thing is not difficult. It's just difficult to explain because there are no standards for how a computer should operate, so the particulars about how to boot from the CD drive can vary. In any case, you may be able to re-install fresh if you get the CD to boot. Failing that, you may be able to install fresh if you boot into a hidden restore partition, which may also be presented as a boot option. If those don't work then there could be a hardware problem. If one of those does work then you might want to consider making disk images and storing them on CDs so you'll have a copy of the system for later, even if the hard disk dies. |
#5
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Computer Finally Crashed
"tonita" wrote in message ...
I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or corrupt. I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? Thanks Start the computer without the disc, tap the F8 key repeatedly until the boot menu appears and select "Last known good configuration". Ben |
#6
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Computer Finally Crashed
tonita wrote:
I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. Pretty old. 8+ years or so? Things do wear out. What do you mean by "finally died?" Exactly. More info would help. Doesn't power up? Doesn't POST? Won't boot? Does boot, but hangs? Etc? Can you get to the BIOS screen? Usually done by pressing the DEL key after you first power it on. If you can, set the boot order to put the CDROM first. Insert a bootable CD. A Linux LiveCD is perfect. Doesn't matter which distro. Or insert you XP install CD. Reboot. How did the boot go? I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or corrupt. Windows has a perchant for breaking itself. Or could be your hard drive is failing. Or your system is infected. Try booting in Safe Mode. Repeatedly press the F8 key after the machine POSTs to get the boot option screen. You may have to try several times. Timing is everything. Pick Safe Mode with Networking. See if it boots. Any errors? If it boots, do a malware scan using Malwarebytes' AntiMalware and SuperAntispyware. You'll have to download them. Do the FULL scan. I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? Doesn't sound like the machine is set to first check the CD drive to boot from. This is normal. I've NEVER come across a Windows machine where the hard drive isn't set first for booting by default. Change the boot order, and see if the XP CD boots. FWIW: This is an old machine. Hardwarewise, things could be failing, or it could be a fault in Windows. If it's software, that can be fixed, usually. If it's hardware, other than a failing hard drive, repairing will probably be uneconomical. Hard drives are easy to replace. Another thing to consider is just getting a new laptop. Stef |
#7
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Computer Finally Crashed
From:
On Thu, 14 Aug 2014 07:41:27 -0400, "David H. Lipman" wrote: Buy a new computer with Windows 7. That machine is probably not big enough to run 7 effectively. "...not big enough..." ? What does size have to do with anything here ? -- Dave Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp |
#8
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Computer Finally Crashed
On 8/14/2014 1:04 PM, Stef wrote:
tonita wrote: I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. Pretty old. 8+ years or so? Things do wear out. Are you sure? My first two laptops (a Epson PX-8 and a Sharp PC4501) I ever owned from the 80's are still running just like new. The batteries are long dead, but they run fine from the AC. -- Bill Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Kingston 120GB SSD - Thunderbird v24.4.0 Centrino Core2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz - 4GB - Windows XP SP2 |
#9
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Computer Finally Crashed
BillW50 wrote:
On 8/14/2014 1:04 PM, Stef wrote: tonita wrote: I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. Pretty old. 8+ years or so? Things do wear out. Are you sure? My first two laptops (a Epson PX-8 and a Sharp PC4501) I ever owned from the 80's are still running just like new. The batteries are long dead, but they run fine from the AC. No, I'm not. That's why in the next paragraph which you snipped I asked the OP to qualify what he meant by "finally died." But, in general, yes. things do wear out, or fail, for one reason or another. And two examples of very old laptops that haven't, doesn't mean they won't eventually, or that many others haven't already. Stef |
#10
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Computer Finally Crashed
On 8/15/14 9:17 AM, Stef wrote:
BillW50 wrote: On 8/14/2014 1:04 PM, Stef wrote: tonita wrote: I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. Pretty old. 8+ years or so? Things do wear out. Are you sure? My first two laptops (a Epson PX-8 and a Sharp PC4501) I ever owned from the 80's are still running just like new. The batteries are long dead, but they run fine from the AC. No, I'm not. That's why in the next paragraph which you snipped I asked the OP to qualify what he meant by "finally died." But, in general, yes. things do wear out, or fail, for one reason or another. And two examples of very old laptops that haven't, doesn't mean they won't eventually, or that many others haven't already. And it also matters how much use it gets. 1 hour a month, or 100 hours a month. If you don't use them at all, they'll never wear out. G -- Ken Mac OS X 10.8.5 Firefox 25.0 Thunderbird 24.6.0 "My brain is like lightning, a quick flash and it's gone!" |
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Computer Finally Crashed
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#12
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Computer Finally Crashed
Ken Springer wrote:
On 8/15/14 9:17 AM, Stef wrote: BillW50 wrote: On 8/14/2014 1:04 PM, Stef wrote: tonita wrote: I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. Pretty old. 8+ years or so? Things do wear out. Are you sure? My first two laptops (a Epson PX-8 and a Sharp PC4501) I ever owned from the 80's are still running just like new. The batteries are long dead, but they run fine from the AC. No, I'm not. That's why in the next paragraph which you snipped I asked the OP to qualify what he meant by "finally died." But, in general, yes. things do wear out, or fail, for one reason or another. And two examples of very old laptops that haven't, doesn't mean they won't eventually, or that many others haven't already. And it also matters how much use it gets. 1 hour a month, or 100 hours a month. If you don't use them at all, they'll never wear out. G True for the most part. But some electronic components will degrade over time to the point of failure even if they aren't powered on. Stef |
#13
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Computer Finally Crashed
On 14/08/2014 11:52, tonita wrote:
I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. I and getting a message that windows/system32/config/system is missing or corrupt. I have tried to start if with the disc in but I get that message. Is there anything I can do? Thanks Take it this to be a very good news because you can now buy a brand new DELL Inspiron preloaded with Windows 8.1 for a very special price. The desktop prices are tumbling and go and grab it. The old machine can't be fixed and most probably you might have to pay somebody to take it away unless you can dump it somewhere without being noticed. Windows 8.1 is the current version and you want to be on current operating system. Why remain behind when the current version is available for somebody like you. |
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Computer Finally Crashed
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#15
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Computer Finally Crashed
On 8/15/2014 11:08 AM, Ken Springer wrote:
On 8/15/14 9:17 AM, Stef wrote: BillW50 wrote: On 8/14/2014 1:04 PM, Stef wrote: tonita wrote: I have a Dell Insprion 600m running xp since brand new. It finally died. I have all the original disks that came with the computer and wonder if I can fix it. Pretty old. 8+ years or so? Things do wear out. Are you sure? My first two laptops (a Epson PX-8 and a Sharp PC4501) I ever owned from the 80's are still running just like new. The batteries are long dead, but they run fine from the AC. No, I'm not. That's why in the next paragraph which you snipped I asked the OP to qualify what he meant by "finally died." But, in general, yes. things do wear out, or fail, for one reason or another. And two examples of very old laptops that haven't, doesn't mean they won't eventually, or that many others haven't already. And it also matters how much use it gets. 1 hour a month, or 100 hours a month. If you don't use them at all, they'll never wear out. G Some electronic components seems to last longer if they are used. Electrolytic capacitors tends to be this way for example. This machine is 8 years old and it usually runs 12 hours a day and sometimes 24/7. And these M465 doesn't have a high failure rate and I think I'll get another 20 to 30 good years out of it. I have another M465, but that one usually just records TV programs. But it has been running for years doing this. I do believe that one will last just as long too. If I am wrong, I have five more M465 to go through before I am in trouble. :-) -- Bill Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Kingston 120GB SSD - Thunderbird v24.4.0 Centrino Core2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz - 4GB - Windows XP SP2 |
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