| Author |
Message |
    
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 444
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 6:38 pm: | 
|
My neighbor's Compaq laptop needs help that's beyond my abilities and CD-roms.
Turn it on and it says that the Config/sys file is missing or corrupt. Asks for the start up disks that my neighbor can't find.
It's running XP.
Any ideas where to take it or if someone can make a house call?
thanks! |
gettinoffadaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 689
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:10 pm: |
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have you tried booting into safe mode and doing a system restore? |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 445
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:47 pm: |
|
Is that f4?
The error msg is Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrurpt - \widows\system32\config\system
you can attempt to repair this file by starting windows setup using the original set up cd rom. Select r at the first screen to start repair. |
gettinoffadaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 691
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:12 pm: |
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F8 always worked for me. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 446
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 8:39 am: |
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Sorry - it's been years since I've needed to know that. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 448
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 10:59 am: |
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Ok - spoke to the tech guys at work, The registry is corrupted and the fix on Mircosoft's TechNet is for non-OEM installed OS's and not for the faint of heart.
Can any recommend a place/person who can remove the hard drive from the laptop, make it an external hard drive and move the data off it to some form of potable storage to be named later?
|
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14200
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:12 am: |
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You can buy an enclosure for the drive from http://www.geeks.com which allows you to connect it with a USB cable.
|
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1521
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:35 am: |
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I have that enclosure, you can borrow it if you like. I'm travelling right now but will be back in Maplewood on Friday. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 449
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
|
Thanks Case - I will let them know. One of their sons is in IT support, but in DC. He's coming soon for a visit. I would rather have him deal with it just in case something goes horribly wrong.
I will PL you if he feels he can do it.
Thanks! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7416
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 7:18 pm: |
|
I have a Compaq Quick restore disk for a Presario 5190. Not a lap top, but the quick restore files may be similar. Let me know if you want to give it a try. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 451
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:10 pm: |
|
Thanks Joan - Case has the laptop and while it cannot be ressurected - he has managed to save most to all important stuff. We'll know for sure tomorrow.
My neighbor is so happy!!!
Thank you Case!
Four words for all of you - and you know who you are - back up your data! |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 9:19 pm: |
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Yeah, backups are SO important... I have the original quick restore discs for this thing, but in Compaq's language "quick restore" means "wipe it out and start over"... no biggie. This thing is pretty old, I don't like the sound of the hard drive - it was time.
But all the files have been recovered, which is great. |
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