Yet another computer topic from Dan

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

So two days ago I started using a new(er) computer. Yesterday I had it crap out on me. I seem to have the midas touch, everything I touch turns into a muffler.
The story goes like this, I was sitting around importing CDs into iTunes when my screen went black and my computer restarted when I moved the case back slightly. On startup, I was able to select my OS (both options are Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition) and when selected, I get one of the following error messages, depending on which one I choose.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system

You can attempt to repair this file by starting windows setup using the original setup CD-ROM
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file

Now this would probably be fine if I had the XP boot disk, but alas, I do not. So most of yesterday and all of today have been spent trying different things to fix my computer with the help of my dad. If anyone is able to shed some light on my problem, please do so, because I would like it up and running again. So you know, I am able to enter the BIOS and Advanced Startup Options menu. Any help is appreciated.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

So I just made some boot floopy disks, so it would appear that I will be able to get into windows. Hopefully. Ill let you know later.

[horn17]

let me know if your drive died Dan, I'll help you out then.....

Next wolves game, I need to make sure your working!!!

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

Thanks Rob, It might come to reformatting the drive. Fortunately, the only non-system thing on that drive is firefox.
We were able to get to the recovery console and access a dos prompt. But when we get to the directory with the registry files, we get this

c:\windows\system32\config>dir
something about the name of the drive
something else not important (i think)

an error occurred during the directory enumeration

if anybody has any pointers for dos stuff like that, let me know.

[CATLAX MAN]

Your symptoms sounds suspiciously similar to a situation that I encountered once. In that case, it was a virus that attacked the bot sector and corrupted that. The only way around it was to reformat the hard drive, thereby losing everything that was on it.

[Adam G]

Your symptoms sounds suspiciously similar to a situation that I encountered once. In that case, it was a virus that attacked the bot sector and corrupted that. The only way around it was to reformat the hard drive, thereby losing everything that was on it.

Ditto, had this happen to me my junior year and the trouble it caused me as indescribable. Problems lasted even into my victory lap year.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

Well, good news. A few days ago i got it working, but havent had time to sit around and post online. What I had to do was start the recovery console, pretty much starting a dos prompt. Then when I tried to access the folder I needed to edit, I was unable to. So after looking at some other stuff, we got that working. So once I could access that, I had to backup some files from there, delete them and bring in a repair copy of them. That would allow me to boot xp in safe mode to make it possible to use a folder from the recovery console. Then starting the dos prompt again, I was able to use a previous restore point for the registry to allow me to boot up normally, with all the files on that drive. Hooray. Sorry for not giving you more business Rob.