System files corrupt

apd007 · 16-08-2008, 15:47

I've spent all morning trying to get my laptop to boot up, problem is a couple of files in c:\windows\system32\config have got corrupt. I've followed the instructions from the MS website and got my laptop to boot so far, but then it turns around and says passwords are incorrect and reboots. Can't get in to safe mode for the same reason and can't boot the recovery CD as it now won't accept my admin password.Used Puppy to restore the original security files and now back to square one. Any ideas?

cjb · 16-08-2008, 16:22

Try a google for ntpasswd, and see if that can change/blank the admin password for you. It's a boot floppy/CD.

**mannyo** · 16-08-2008, 16:40

Config is the hardware part of the registry, and usually if thats corrupt its a reinstall time. I asume you have already tried pressing F8 and then selecting the last good config option.

You can try and fix it by doing a repair install over the current one, no need for the admin password

You will need an XP home/pro CD, and also a valid CD key.

1) boot from XP cd (not vendor recovery disc as this WILL wipe everything).
2) press enter to install xp (not R)
3) on the next screen xp setup will find your existing setup and ask if you want to attempt a repair, press R now.
4) setup will continue to the end prompting for answers along the way.

apd007 · 17-08-2008, 10:59

Thanks for the answers. CJB, looks like a useful application that, I'll certainly give it a try. With regards to a full rebuild, thinking about going with Linux on it instead as it will give me access to my stuff on the NTFS partition.

apd007 · 19-08-2008, 20:51

It WORKS!!!!

Taken a bit of work, following instructions from the MS web site but having to do all the fixes in DOS instead of safe mode was fun.

Just hope the BSOD doesn't come back, has been ok tonight so far though.

Mouse · 19-08-2008, 21:50

If BSOD comes back. Then may i sugest your hard drive is stuffed, get any data off of there before this happens. Glad to see you all sorted.

apd007 · 19-08-2008, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mouse

If BSOD comes back. Then may i sugest your hard drive is stuffed, get any data off of there before this happens. Glad to see you all sorted.

Sadly, I suspect this is the root cause of all the issues I've been having over the last few days.

Still, suppose it's not bad, 4 years out of a laptop.

Wardy · 20-08-2008, 21:20

Could you post which MS links you used to fix please. I've got a couple of machines in that appear to have a very similar fault to what you describe.

The fact I have two here with very similar symptoms makes me think it could well be the result of a Windows update/patch/fix.

Cheers,
Steve

apd007 · 20-08-2008, 21:31

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

That's the one I've been using. When you've done part one and you're on to part two you may find you still need to use DOS or a runtime version (e.g. Puppy) as it still might not boot. I've got my laptop now booting but it still keeps BSOD after a bit of time, leading me to suspect the HDD.

With regards to the possibility of an update causing the issue, I know when SP3 came out there were a number of reports of it causing BSOD, however, I waited a bit of time before installing it and have been using it for a couple of months now without trouble. Only updates I've done recently are AVG8 and also Firefox 3, don't know how this compares to your experiences.

cjb · 20-08-2008, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mouse

If BSOD comes back. Then may i sugest your hard drive is stuffed, get any data off of there before this happens. Glad to see you all sorted.

Either that or RAM. Give it a run of Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool as well.

Wardy · 20-08-2008, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by apd007

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

That's the one I've been using. When you've done part one and you're on to part two you may find you still need to use DOS or a runtime version (e.g. Puppy) as it still might not boot. I've got my laptop now booting but it still keeps BSOD after a bit of time, leading me to suspect the HDD.

With regards to the possibility of an update causing the issue, I know when SP3 came out there were a number of reports of it causing BSOD, however, I waited a bit of time before installing it and have been using it for a couple of months now without trouble. Only updates I've done recently are AVG8 and also Firefox 3, don't know how this compares to your experiences.

Cheers for the info. These are all other people's machines, with leads me to suspect some outside force as they're all used differently, by different people and have different components etc - no common factor.

Cheers,
Steve

cheezemonkhai · 21-08-2008, 01:13

HDDs all fail eventually, 4 years is a pretty good life for a laptop drive if it's actually used on the move or just not on a desk all the time.

Aspman · 21-08-2008, 09:26

Hard Drives - 2.5" Laptop IDE Drives - Ebuyer

Easy job and cheaper than a new laptop.

apd007 · 02-10-2008, 17:13

I've just installed the drivers for my wireless laptop card after being ok for about a month and guess what has just started happening........

Wardy · 02-10-2008, 17:51

What card is it? And did you install with the latest driver download package (if available)?

Steve

apd007 · 02-10-2008, 17:52

Linksys WPC54G Version 1.2. Yeah, I'm using the latest drivers, downloaded them this afternoon.

BTW, how did you get on with the computers you were looking at?

Wardy · 02-10-2008, 18:01

Did you jump straight to XP SP3 when you re-installed? I did this on the ones I had problems with, and I've not had any phonecalls.... yet!

I'm convinced it was a buggy Windoze patch/update and my theory was that in jumping straight to the Service Pack, I might avoid anything again (one laptop, two desktops - nothing connecting/linking them etc, no patterns).

On the Linksys issue - might this help? Go straight to the horse's mouth, so to speak, by downloading drivers for the chipset that the card uses? WPC54G ver 1.2 Driver needed - LinksysInfo - Community Forums for Linksys Devices

Steve

apd007 · 02-10-2008, 18:11

Yeah, went straight from XP XP1 to SP3, and everything has been fine. Installed the Linksys card = BSOD!.

Thanks for the link for the drivers btw

, been looking for it as there used to be a definite driver for version 1.2 cards that has gone missing off the Linksys website.

To Be Continued.........

Wardy · 02-10-2008, 18:23

No worries, fingers crossed

From the tone of the posts on that link, it might be like you're not the only one to have issues with Linksys drivers

Steve

apd007 · 02-10-2008, 18:35

. It's gone into a BSOD loop and doesn't want to boot now!

Wardy · 03-10-2008, 01:20

Is rollback an option? Or boot in Last Known Configuration? Or go into Safe Mode with Networking and then remove/uninstall the device in Device Manager?

Steve

apd007 · 03-10-2008, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wardy

Is rollback an option? Or boot in Last Known Configuration? Or go into Safe Mode with Networking and then remove/uninstall the device in Device Manager?

Steve

Sadly, no, no and no.

Ironically, it did BSOD on me as I was typing my original reply

, however, I'm hoping that was just because I forgot to reboot after an update.

As it wouldn't boot even into safe mode properly I ended up reimaging the hard drive. Since installing the Broadcom drivers though I have managed to download wirelessly all the updates from XP SP1 to SP3 and install them.

Wardy · 03-10-2008, 12:55

Blimey, what a pain! Sincerely hope this is the end to your troubles now, and that the Broadcom version does the trick....

Steve

16-08-2008, 15:47	#1
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	System files corrupt I've spent all morning trying to get my laptop to boot up, problem is a couple of files in c:\windows\system32\config have got corrupt. I've followed the instructions from the MS website and got my laptop to boot so far, but then it turns around and says passwords are incorrect and reboots. Can't get in to safe mode for the same reason and can't boot the recovery CD as it now won't accept my admin password.Used Puppy to restore the original security files and now back to square one. Any ideas? __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

16-08-2008, 16:22	#2
cjb Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Walsall Posts: 2,828 Members Car: Leon TDI DSG or Lupo 16v Sport Thanks: 198 Thanked 222 Times in 209 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Try a google for ntpasswd, and see if that can change/blank the admin password for you. It's a boot floppy/CD. __________________ -- Chris ---------------------------------------------------- The Devil may care, but I don't mind.

16-08-2008, 16:40	#3
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage, Herts Posts: 12,731 Members Car: Octavia 2.0 TDi Elegance Thanks: 81 Thanked 539 Times in 494 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Config is the hardware part of the registry, and usually if thats corrupt its a reinstall time. I asume you have already tried pressing F8 and then selecting the last good config option. You can try and fix it by doing a repair install over the current one, no need for the admin password You will need an XP home/pro CD, and also a valid CD key. 1) boot from XP cd (not vendor recovery disc as this WILL wipe everything). 2) press enter to install xp (not R) 3) on the next screen xp setup will find your existing setup and ask if you want to attempt a repair, press R now. 4) setup will continue to the end prompting for answers along the way. __________________ Manny 2005(55) Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi, retrofitted maxidot, columbus, RS6 Syle wheels my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

17-08-2008, 10:59	#4
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Thanks for the answers. CJB, looks like a useful application that, I'll certainly give it a try. With regards to a full rebuild, thinking about going with Linux on it instead as it will give me access to my stuff on the NTFS partition. __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

19-08-2008, 20:51	#5
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt It WORKS!!!! Taken a bit of work, following instructions from the MS web site but having to do all the fixes in DOS instead of safe mode was fun. Just hope the BSOD doesn't come back, has been ok tonight so far though. __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

19-08-2008, 21:50	#6
Mouse Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 461 Members Car: Furby VRS Thanks: 88 Thanked 37 Times in 35 Posts	Re: System files corrupt If BSOD comes back. Then may i sugest your hard drive is stuffed, get any data off of there before this happens. Glad to see you all sorted. __________________ Black Magic Fabia v/RS *Skoda Fabia VRS ! Practical & Exciting !*

20-08-2008, 21:20	#8
Wardy Vanishing Point Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Usually somewhere around Manchester or Cheshire... Posts: 13,511 Members Car: Octavia vRS 2.0TFSi Images: 6 Thanks: 631 Thanked 539 Times in 515 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Could you post which MS links you used to fix please. I've got a couple of machines in that appear to have a very similar fault to what you describe. The fact I have two here with very similar symptoms makes me think it could well be the result of a Windows update/patch/fix. Cheers, Steve __________________ - 18s : Maxidot : Jumbo Pack : Cruise : PDC "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

20-08-2008, 21:31	#9
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting That's the one I've been using. When you've done part one and you're on to part two you may find you still need to use DOS or a runtime version (e.g. Puppy) as it still might not boot. I've got my laptop now booting but it still keeps BSOD after a bit of time, leading me to suspect the HDD. With regards to the possibility of an update causing the issue, I know when SP3 came out there were a number of reports of it causing BSOD, however, I waited a bit of time before installing it and have been using it for a couple of months now without trouble. Only updates I've done recently are AVG8 and also Firefox 3, don't know how this compares to your experiences. __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

21-08-2008, 01:13	#12
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 17,310 Members Car: Thanks: 184 Thanked 730 Times in 670 Posts	Re: System files corrupt HDDs all fail eventually, 4 years is a pretty good life for a laptop drive if it's actually used on the move or just not on a desk all the time. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

21-08-2008, 09:26	#13
Aspman Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,577 Members Car: Octavia VRS TFSI Thanks: 16 Thanked 86 Times in 76 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Hard Drives - 2.5" Laptop IDE Drives - Ebuyer Easy job and cheaper than a new laptop. __________________ The TazZone Forums

02-10-2008, 17:13	#14
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt I've just installed the drivers for my wireless laptop card after being ok for about a month and guess what has just started happening........ __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

02-10-2008, 17:51	#15
Wardy Vanishing Point Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Usually somewhere around Manchester or Cheshire... Posts: 13,511 Members Car: Octavia vRS 2.0TFSi Images: 6 Thanks: 631 Thanked 539 Times in 515 Posts	Re: System files corrupt What card is it? And did you install with the latest driver download package (if available)? Steve __________________ - 18s : Maxidot : Jumbo Pack : Cruise : PDC "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

02-10-2008, 17:52	#16
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Linksys WPC54G Version 1.2. Yeah, I'm using the latest drivers, downloaded them this afternoon. BTW, how did you get on with the computers you were looking at? __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

02-10-2008, 18:01	#17
Wardy Vanishing Point Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Usually somewhere around Manchester or Cheshire... Posts: 13,511 Members Car: Octavia vRS 2.0TFSi Images: 6 Thanks: 631 Thanked 539 Times in 515 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Did you jump straight to XP SP3 when you re-installed? I did this on the ones I had problems with, and I've not had any phonecalls.... yet! I'm convinced it was a buggy Windoze patch/update and my theory was that in jumping straight to the Service Pack, I might avoid anything again (one laptop, two desktops - nothing connecting/linking them etc, no patterns). On the Linksys issue - might this help? Go straight to the horse's mouth, so to speak, by downloading drivers for the chipset that the card uses? WPC54G ver 1.2 Driver needed - LinksysInfo - Community Forums for Linksys Devices Steve __________________ - 18s : Maxidot : Jumbo Pack : Cruise : PDC "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

02-10-2008, 18:11	#18
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Yeah, went straight from XP XP1 to SP3, and everything has been fine. Installed the Linksys card = BSOD!. Thanks for the link for the drivers btw , been looking for it as there used to be a definite driver for version 1.2 cards that has gone missing off the Linksys website. To Be Continued......... __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

02-10-2008, 18:23	#19
Wardy Vanishing Point Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Usually somewhere around Manchester or Cheshire... Posts: 13,511 Members Car: Octavia vRS 2.0TFSi Images: 6 Thanks: 631 Thanked 539 Times in 515 Posts	Re: System files corrupt No worries, fingers crossed From the tone of the posts on that link, it might be like you're not the only one to have issues with Linksys drivers Steve __________________ - 18s : Maxidot : Jumbo Pack : Cruise : PDC "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

02-10-2008, 18:35	#20
apd007 Oops! :( Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The 2nd biggest city in the whole of England. Posts: 3,413 Members Car: Octy II vRS Thanks: 63 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Re: System files corrupt . It's gone into a BSOD loop and doesn't want to boot now! __________________ Support Briskoda join Freedom ======> Was :- Skoda 120LSE Yellow 1.2 ~ 60 BHP? Then :- Mk I Skoda Octavia Blueline 1.9 TDi 90 BHP. Now :- Mk II Skoda Octavia vRS Black 2.0 TFSI. 200 BHP. + Skoda Felicia LXi Green 1.3 67 BHP

03-10-2008, 01:20	#21
Wardy Vanishing Point Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Usually somewhere around Manchester or Cheshire... Posts: 13,511 Members Car: Octavia vRS 2.0TFSi Images: 6 Thanks: 631 Thanked 539 Times in 515 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Is rollback an option? Or boot in Last Known Configuration? Or go into Safe Mode with Networking and then remove/uninstall the device in Device Manager? Steve __________________ - 18s : Maxidot : Jumbo Pack : Cruise : PDC "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

03-10-2008, 12:55	#23
Wardy Vanishing Point Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Usually somewhere around Manchester or Cheshire... Posts: 13,511 Members Car: Octavia vRS 2.0TFSi Images: 6 Thanks: 631 Thanked 539 Times in 515 Posts	Re: System files corrupt Blimey, what a pain! Sincerely hope this is the end to your troubles now, and that the Broadcom version does the trick.... Steve __________________ - 18s : Maxidot : Jumbo Pack : Cruise : PDC "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

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