Getting into a non bootable HDD?

Fuzz

Fuzz

Fuzz

Soldato
Joined
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Basically I have been given the task of fixing someones laptop this weekend.

When booting it comes up with the error

\windows\system32\config\system missing or corrupt.

Stick in the dell :rolleyes: setup disc he gave me and try and boot from that and it comes up with the error

file \i386\ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded
The error is code 4


-----

Two ways I can see of getting into it.

Unplug the HDD and slave it into another machine
or
make a bootable disc that works!
however here my skills end, I've neve made a boot disc before and after google searching for a boot disc I managed to dowload a zip file but when unpacked it said some information would be lost int he copy to CD-R.:confused:
Healp
 
if you make a bootable disk you still may not be able to read it if the disk is NTFS ( i know there are apps for this but its painful and long winded)

I would go with your 1st option, make it a slave in another machine, copy what you need off it, put it back in the original machine, format it and re-install.

Interesting your getting "file \i386\ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded" looks like it cant read that file from the CD...is it quite scratched ?
 
Right.. I'm into the HDD via a caddy I just bought. (slaved into my desktop)

Is there a way of over writing all the boot folders and files on it, as I'm not sure exactly what he wants saved off of it!

First things first I think I'll check for Viri.


Andy
 
well, depening on if you can boot off the cd, stick it back in the original machine and see if you can repair the existing windows install.

OR, and this it what I'd do

Scan disk in caddy for viruses, spyware etc. then zip, copy, or backup the whole drive to your drive, stick it back in the original machine, install windows again and if your friend needs anything off it refer to your backup and burn it to CD/DVD for him
 
Can't boot off a CD no matter what I try, hence going out to buy the caddy just now.

I think you may be right.. copy everything to desk, Format HDD, reinstall and reload his stuff, hope I find it all. :o


Andy
 
223 critical objects so far LOL doesn't look promising, may be just MRU's but who knows with his kids let loose on it. :D
 
eek !

make sure you run virus and spyware on the pc its connected to aswell just incase it spreads !
 
seems to lock up when it gets to 228 detected things during the current operation "deep scanning G:\windows\system32\driver\etc


well actually just the scan seems to hang.
Can still access the disc and use dektop PC fine.

Found a spare 80GB HDD anyway so have enough space to copy the whole disc over. :D
 
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might be worth deleting that folder and re-running scans.

I can't image your friend will need any files from the folder .. .
 
chkdsk says there is no problem

well I was watching it run through everything without issue, then I looked away for a sec (cat walked in. :D) when I looked back it was gone...
Assume that to be all OK.
 
no, you need to watch it. if you didnt specify the /f parameter it will say there were errors but it won't fix em

It could've said this:

060906.gif
 
Hmm, USB'd it back into the laptop and booted..

Got further than it did last time but now BSOD..

STOP: 0x000000007B (0xf7A4D528,0XC00000034,0X00000000,0X00000000)

That means zilch to me. :D
 
dude, just copy things like the documents and settings folder, program files folder off it and format it.
 
OK got everything I needed off it and in disc management formatted the main HDD and removed the partition (Dell recovery info area I believe) that was 3 GB ish

So I now have an unallocated 70 odd GB disc with a 78MB partition left on it.
I think that's normal... anyway

Thought I'd aced it so put it all back together in the laptop.
XP Pro disc in the drive for a fresh install, goes through blue setup screen installing various drivers etc
Finished that and as soon as it says
Starting windows...
It BSODs "problem has been detected and pc shut down to prevent damage etcetc..

Don't suppose it's an overheat issue, or does that BSOD tell you its temperature related?

No temperature info in the BIOS :(
 
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