System32 corrput insert disk....

[TweakerXP]

I have a system that has thrown me a curve....

I got this Dell Dimension 4600 that had the System 32 Corrupt Insert BootDisk error.

I'm like ok... I'll do the command line thing of making temp folder and copy and delete and reinstall the system,software,sam, security and default files.

99.99% of the time it has brought back the users system to normal working state. NOT this time. It came back up like a fresh install but none of the programs will work. I get this "can not find path or directory ...blaaaa blaaa" The start menu, instead of having the users name at the top, has ...OWNER???!!! Weird.

The users data is there when you go into windows explorer, so that i'm not worried about that.

But how do I get Windows back to a normal working state? System restore doesn't work, as I said none of the programs work.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[BipolarBill]

Don't bother with all of that command line nonsense. Put the Dell "Installation files" CD in and repair:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Keep in mind that the hard drive may have bad sectors. If this fails, you need to slave the drive in another system and retrieve the user's data. Replace the drive and reinstall.

[TweakerXP]

BPB... I'll give it a try and see. I'll report back later .

BPB, I just got my MCP cert how do I add it to my name here?

Thanks

[BipolarBill]

Upper left of this page > User cp > Edit Signature.

Congrats!

[Midknyte]

You should run a hard drive diag before you waste time repairing files. I typically run seatools, no matter which vendor. If the hard drive passes, then move on to running a repair install.

[TweakerXP]

Well I'm at a loss here on what to do. I can't get the computer to do anything. I have tried to see it there was some security setting that was blocking access to the files but everything is blocked....


"Windows Cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

I get this error whenever I click on anything.

Question....

What If I use the Windows disk and create another partition on the hard drive, copy everything over to that partition and then go back and delete that partition that is scewed up?

Do you think that would work? Becasue I can't download any kind of fix for this or run any programs.

Thanks

[Sterling_Aug]

Creating a new partition, copying everything over, then deleting the old partition will do nothing to help you get the PC to boot.

It sounds like the hard drive is dead. You need to run a diagnostic program as already mentioned above.

Get ready to buy a new hard drive and install Windows from scratch if the drive fails the tests.

[TweakerXP]

Aug,

The funny thing about this is that I can go into Windows Explorer and the data is there. I just don't understand why I can't do anything else.

Yep... I'm guessing your right, new HD

But it's like I can see it and touch it but that is all. That just ain't right.... LOL

I'll run the test and see what I can come up with.

Back later... game's on ESPN!!

ROLLLLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Thanks guys....

[TweakerXP]

Just tried to run the Seatools... No go!! Same error message...

Tried run line command... same error message.

I think it's toast...

I have managed to get a external hd attached and I'm copying files off the old system on to the external.... looking for new hd.

Thanks guys for your help.....

[Midknyte]

Just tried to run the Seatools... No go!! Same error message...

So you downloaded the seatools.iso or UBCD and booted from it?