Missing or corrupt \WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

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Tek7 (Legacy)

Tek7 (Legacy)

CGA & ToJ President
Fun, fun, fun.

I was using my PC, my screen glitched, and I rebooted. Up pops this nasty error message about this missing or corrupt file on which the entire operating system apparently sits.

So, instead of working on schoolwork for the last three hours, I've spent the time trying to salvage my PC. I just have to get and keep my Windows 2000 install running long enough to finish out the semester and back up my critical files. After that, I'm nuking the OS and starting fresh with Windows XP.

Anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know it might be another day or three after finals before I'm back on the scene. This is perhaps the worst time EVER for my PC to crash.
 
UPDATE: I restored the original registry backup (UGH), but I'm still getting screen glitches at random times. After one hard lock, I rebooted and the PC wouldn't POST. I'm thinking it's the RAM; I'm running some diagnostics overnight to check. If it is a RAM issue, I'll be sending at least one stick back to crucial.com for a replacement.
 
hescominsoon said:
what beep code where you getting? Also try removing all ram sticks except one to help narrow it down. Bad video can cause this issue as well..
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I...can't quite remember the beep code.

BUT I ran some hardware diagnostics and everything seems to be working fine. I'm still rather nervous, though, as a no-POST must be the sign of hardware problems (right?).

If the system does freak out again, the RAM will be the first thing I swap. I pray it's not my video card as I don't have a few hundred dollars to spend on a replacement. @_@

Anyway, I restored the original registry, so I'm missing tons of configuration data. I went from a registry of ~5.8MB to one of ~980K. Five megs of registry data down the tubes.

But, it's not that bad. Like I said, I just have to survive a few more days before I wipe this entire system.
 
well, our computer has this "non-destructive" to "destruvtive" recovery options... descrutitve blows out everything, xcept softwhare that came with our comp. In otherwords, factory settings. :D

So if anything goes wrong, PHOOOOT!

*O i got norton system works for this 5 year old computer and it fixed tons of stuff. I instaleld messesd up printer driver! : o * <-- >_< Stupid windows sp2... messing up our computer software... :eek:

and at our fry's elec, we can get next year's internet security and sys works FREE! *upgrade mail in rebate + fry's normal cheapo rebate = 0$ ! O_O
 
Hmm I had a same problem a month or so ago..couldn't figure out what the problem was even with the diagonistics...eventually I had to format and its working fine now.

But now that hescomming has mentioned about beep codes, I've noticed that I get 3 beeps first time I start my computer in the day...then when I restart I don't get those beeps...I'm confused.

Sorry Tek didn't mean to take over your thread, just thought its similar problem to yours and maybe it will help you too :)

.seek.
 
UPDATE: I'm back in Windows. I've run the essential M$ Updates and installed the most important drivers (i.e. sound and printer), so it looks like I'm good to go until the end of the week. After that, it's time to nuke and start fresh with Windows XP.

Before Friday rolls around, I plan to run RAM diagnostics with the DocMem RAM Testing Utility disk I found lying around.
 
Tek7 said:
Before Friday rolls around, I plan to run RAM diagnostics with the DocMem RAM Testing Utility disk I found lying around.
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Okay, I ran the diagnostics today while I outlined my research paper and Greek Myth and Tragedy final. DocMem's QuickTest halted once, so I rebooted and looped the Burn-In Test for nearly two and a half hours. All tests during that time passed, but when I hit ESC to halt the tests, the system froze--even the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys didn't respond. I had experienced this problem previously, when attempting to log in after restoring an older registry backup.

This leads me to believe the problem lies with the RAM, but I haven't ruled out a faulty video card yet. Perhaps it's even a BIOS setting or faulty PS/2 port causing the problem?

Also, if you know of a tried-and-true utility for testing video cards for errors, please post with at least the name of the software. If possible, please include a link. Given my current poor-college-student status, freeware is much preferred.

EDIT: I've dumped my Event Viewer logs for April 2005 and today; if any Windows experts think they can figure out the cause of the problems by skimming over these logs, please PM or e-mail me at tek7 AT cgalliance DOT org.
 
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Here's some not-so-encouraging information from Award's web site:
Beep Codes
The only AwardBIOS beep code indicates that a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information. This beep code consists of a single long beep followed by two short beeps. Any other beeps are probably a RAM (Random Access Memory) problems.
Click to expand...
 
My dad may be able to help you Tek. Just send him and e-mail at;

mstewart5 AT cinci DOT rr DOT com

In the subject put something like Ryan told me you could help. So he doesn't delete it.

God bless,
Ryan

(Please do not send anything to this e-mail, only Tek7 can)
 
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Good deal. I'll try to get that e-mail out to him tonight.

I'm also hoping to post "screenshots" (photos of my monitor startup and RAM diagnostics taken with the camera's flash disabled) tonight as well.

But, school comes first! I'm off to write some essays...
 
UPDATE: I opened my case, took out the 256MB RAM stick, rebooted, started the RAM diagnostics, hit ESC, and it didn't freeze. That's the good news.

The bad news is that I have swollen capacitors on my motherboard.

More bad news: I tried to view a few anime episodes and the files had been corrupted (I had a copy of the same episode on CD and the CD copy played just fine, so it wasn't a codec problem). Some of my music had also been corrupted.

There's no telling just how far my D drive has been corrupted. There's over 180GB of data on that drive, most of which I haven't backed up for lack of a DVD burner (which, ironically, I ordered two days ago).

What I need to know is: With the 256MB RAM removed, is it safe to re-attach my D drive and get back to work? Was the RAM really the problem? Is the swollen capacitor a symptom of a worse problem--perhaps the problem corrupting my hard drives?

Ugh. This is a nightmare. It's hard to write my final papers when my PC is failing.
 
[QUOTE='[toj.cc]
(Please do not send anything to this e-mail, only Tek7 can)[/QUOTE]

D'oh! There goes my plan.
 
hescominsoon said:
swolen caps mean impending motherboard filaure. If hte board is under warranty get it replaced ASAP. DO NOT run that machine until the mobo is replaced.
Click to expand...
My primary PC has been shut down and disconnected from the power source. I'm keeping an eye on a replacement on ebay, but I'll also be shopping around for a current mobo with the same key features.
 
hescominsoon said:
swolen caps mean impending motherboard filaure. If hte board is under warranty get it replaced ASAP. DO NOT run that machine until the mobo is replaced.
Click to expand...
Definitely. Might want to get the rest of the parts disconnected from the motherboard to some place safe.
edit:
Check your motherboard shop thread i might've got a good motherboard that may fit your demands.
 
Heh. I think I found the cause of the problem.



Yep. Three pins on the power supply lead to the motherboard are toast. There was black residue in one of the holes on the motherboard power socket (for lack of more precise terminology).

So, now I have to figure out the root of the problem. Is it:

- the motherboard?
- the power supply?
- the uninterruptible power supply?

I called Giga-byte today and opened an RMA request. That's currently on hold until I decide whether or not I want to ship my UPS (shipping will cost at least $30) on the chance that the UPS is the root of the problem. If I ship the UPS to APC and they determine that the unit was not at fault, I'm out $30, plus the costs of shipping (and time) to RMA other items.

I'm leaning toward skipping the hullabaloo with APC and RMA-ing my motherboard, power supply, and RAM. The RMA process for the motherboad will take 10 to 15 business days, meaning that I'll be without a mid-range PC (I still have my 667MHz PC backup) for about a month. This, of course, means NO GAMING. GRR.

By the bye, when I spoke with an Antec tech today, he said that my situation isn't a strange one; apparently AMD processors carmelize power supply leads on occasion. Now I have to suspect my CPU as well. Arg. >_<

Anyway, that's the update. From a simple (ha!) registry corruption to returning three hardware components, it's been a terrible finals week.
 
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since motherboard had a swolen caps aparenlty its best to change it, that'll also mean u need a new power supply, but i think it won't have anything to do with cpu, hopefully not.
 
The plan as it stands now:

- RMA the motherboard
- RMA the RAM
- RMA the power supply

- Get and install new motherboard
- Get and install new RAM
- Get and install new power supply
- Install new DVD-R/W drive (w00t!)

- Get back to gaming!

The good news is that the way is (pretty much clear). The bad news, aside from the cost of shipping, is that this process will take up to a full month. Yuck.

In the meantime, I'll be using my Win98 box (which I'm on right now) and Ember's PC. Perhaps I can install Starcraft on her computer...*muses*
 
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