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Forums › Microsoft Windows › Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition is giving me problems


9 posts

Wannabe Geek


Topic # 58570 15-Mar-2010 07:48
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Hey all

I recently installed Windows XP Media Center Edition on a new seagate 200 GB Hard drive for my computer . It worked for the first couple
of startups, but after that, it started failing to start properly.

This is what happens:

1) I press on button on my computer
2) It loads the HP start screen
3) It says 'We apologies for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change may have caused this'. It then gives my a list of options to start it up, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with COmmand Prompt, Last Known Good Configuration, and Start Windows Normally.
4) ALL OF THESE FAIL!!! I am: a. sent back to the start of the process or b. given the error message 'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM You can attempt to repair this by inserting the original setup CD and pressing 'r' at the first screen to start the repair. I am then sent to the start of the process
5) Occasionally, it works and I can start my computer 

What should I do? I have tried to start the repair, but it gave me a list of commands, none of which seemed to be the right one.

PLEASE HELP!!! 

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BDFL - Memuneh
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  Reply # 307288 15-Mar-2010 09:28
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Is there some hardware you have not loaded the appropriate drivers for perhaps?

Is this a SATA drive? Have you loaded the SATA drivers provided by the motherboard/adapter manufacturer?




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9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 307499 15-Mar-2010 19:19
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Ummm... What?

 
 
 
 


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  Reply # 307515 15-Mar-2010 19:50
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I would start by downloading memtest86+ from http://www.memtest.org/ and running that for a while to test the RAM.
Also go to your HDD manufacturer's website and download their HDD testing software and test your hard disk drive.



9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 308831 18-Mar-2010 16:26
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OK, problem.

My Computer has now started randomly rebooting, and now it ALWAYS gives the error message:

Windows could not be started because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

you can attempt to repair this by inserting the original setup CD rom and pressing r at the first screen 

204 posts

Master Geek
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  Reply # 308847 18-Mar-2010 17:31
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Have you got a working laptop / desktop that you can burn a CD on?
Alternatively, have you got a windows boot CD?

First thing I recommend is trying to boot off a CD and running a disk check on the machine.

chkdsk /f from a command prompt.

cheers,
AS




I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH

204 posts

Master Geek
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  Reply # 308849 18-Mar-2010 17:38
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Also, try this...


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545




I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH



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Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 308879 18-Mar-2010 19:22
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OK, got a temporary solution from: http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/error-on-bootup/1321.html

But it's happened twice, what are the chances it will happen again?

I'm just about to try the chkdsk /f quandum... 

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  Reply # 308890 18-Mar-2010 19:58
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If it happened twice it will happen again. Something is causing that specific area to get corrupted. It could be a device driver, a failing HDD, bad memory. You will have to test some of these things.




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204 posts

Master Geek
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  Reply # 308944 18-Mar-2010 22:30
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I suspect (clearly without any firm proof) that this issue is being caused by your PC shutting down before the HDD gets the time to write its cache to disk...there was a KB article / hotfix for this as well.

How did the chkdsk go? And, is your OS fully patched?

cheers
AS




I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH



9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 308988 19-Mar-2010 07:27
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chkdsk didn't turn up any problems, is there another program, and I'm not sure about patches, how do I find out?

204 posts

Master Geek
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  Reply # 309036 19-Mar-2010 10:29
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Run windows update to get patches

http://update.microsoft.com




I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH



9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 309180 19-Mar-2010 15:54
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Umm... I can't get Internet on that computer, and it doesn't work on my Mac...Embarassed

204 posts

Master Geek
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  Reply # 309183 19-Mar-2010 15:57
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Whoa...back up.... :-)

Is it back up and running yet?

Why cant you get internet on it? (IF the answer to question above is no, then ignore this one)




I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH



9 posts

Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 309194 19-Mar-2010 16:10
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The fix from the link I posted is CURRENTLY working, and I can't get internet because my computer has no wi-fi.

Umm so low tech... 

204 posts

Master Geek
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  Reply # 309195 19-Mar-2010 16:12
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plug in a network cable...usually a blue thing that plugs into the back of your internet router. :-)




I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code

#BOFH

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