Very Bad WinXP boot problem (Z71V)

Last thing I did on my laptop was watch some videos and then straight shutdown.

The next time I started the computer, it shows the Pentium M logo, tries to load, then brings up this error:

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

It then goes on to say that:

"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."

I tried using a WinXP CD, and it will not recognize it, I think my boot order goes to the hard disk before optical drive.

I tried to get to the BIOS by pressing delete in the startup (to change the boot order), but it never takes me there.

Does anyone recognize this? Know a fix or something?

 

HTML:

I tried using a WinXP CD, and it will not recognize it, I think my boot order goes to the hard disk before optical drive.

Is this the same CD you used to install XP??
If you have installed XP Pro and want to repair with XP Home doesn't work and.
You also can't get in the bios, maybe you need another key and not Del but Esc.

If nothing helps get the HDD out of youre laptop into another one and look for the problem.

Ore you can use the Ultimate Boot CD
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

Its harsh but a reformatt will help fix this annoying problem i bet. I think you should at least try that, if it annoys you that bad and wheat it fixed.

 

Make sure the 1st bootup sequence is dvd/cdrw. If you don't need your data inside the hd, then choose quick format, otherwise, leave all the file and reload a fresh windows.

 

it might not be del for you to enter bios. I think it's f2, try that, and go from there.

 

It's F2 to enter the bio ^_^. The file corrupt probably cause from the inproper shutdown, which cause from a bug in the program of whatever u were using before it shut itself down. <Just a guess>.

 

well i have to say thanks for all your help guys. To fix this i posted on about five forums, and was constantly on MSN consulting tech support buddies. My fix really was a combination of many different suggestions.

Yesterday I somehow managed to fix it enough to boot into safe mode and backup everything. That was an immediate relief I knew if all else failed, I could format and still have my files.

Today I couldn't get into Safe mode anymore, so first I ran chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console (took 3 hours), in Windows Setup (from the WinXP CD), selected the option to install Windows. It detected a version on system and asked if i wanted to repair, pressed 'r' to begin. That fixed my system enough so that I could boot into normal mode, however with all default settings, and no old programs would work. I then followed this fix procedure to force Windows to recongize past Restore Points again ( MS Database: Recover from a corrupted registry ). Restored to a safe point about a week ago, and now everything is perfect like it was before.

Thanks to everyone for your help. From this experience I have learned to never rely on being able to always fix problems with Windows, so I should constantly backup important things.

 

After watching videos you say? What KIND of videos? hahaha j/k, but you could've been infected with a virus embedded in the videos you were watching...YES it is possible, very possible with CERTAIN types of videos

Cheers,
Mike

Oh yeah that's not from personal experience, but from fixing countless friends' computers and laptops hahahahaha

 

Oops I forgot to add that you should just repair your windows installation, it should be fine...yes a fresh install would be ideal, but try the repair option from the windows xp cd...as the others have said you must boot from the cd, then follow instructions

Cheers and goodluck,
Mike

 

Yes, Windows may be more robust than it used to be, but a software problem is more likely to stop your computer than a hardware problem. My disaster mitigation strategy is: (a) keep personal files on a separate partition to the maximum extent possible; and (b) have a second HDD containing a bootable image of the normal HDD as a backup. The big, but slow, HDDs that Asus is planning to provide will be very good for the backups. If/when Windows falls over then it is a very quick task to swap the HDDs and keep working and then repair the main installation at your leisure.

John

 

Well now a few days later there is an extended story...

After about a day the system became extremely lagged. I would boot up, get to the desktop screen, the hard drive light would light consistenly for about 10 minutes (hard drive spinning), and I could not press anything. After that some things were useable, a lot of things not.

I basically backed up all my important files and reformatted. Took the WinXP Setup CD 5 hours to format a new NTFS partition on my Samsung MP8040H (80gb, 5400rpm). Then I installed the OS again. Booting OS is now faster than before, yet somehow not as fast as when I first got the laptop. Odd...thought format removed EVERYTHING...

All was good for a couple days until yesterday. Booted and got this error:

"Windows could not start because of an error in the software.
Please report this problem as :
load needed DLL's for kernel.
Please contact your support person to report this problem"

It finally booted after I ran Recovery Console, and did a "chkdsk /p".

MY QUESTION IS THIS: I'm surprised all these booting issues have no been resolved by a format and new install. Could this mean that I have a hard drive issue (Samsung MP8040H)? Is there anything I can do to further pinpoint this problem?

 

Hardware failure? Overclocking?

 

no overclocking.

I ran this program on the Ultimate Boot CD, from Samsung called HUTIL i think. Supposed to test for sector errors on my model, the Samsung MP0804H (80gb, 5400rpm).

Ran the test last night and the full scan got locked up at 81% and kept bringing up errors. I guess this could mean a hardware problem (the utility came with no documentation, the website says how to scan, doesn't explain what reports say).

Going to see if my dealer will warranty replace it...probably a month without laptop!!!