Lsass.exe error - XP laptop won't boot up

[shawnh]

OK Starbuck, thanks... did all that and at the end of the OTL run it said I needed to re-boot in order to finish the process. So at that point I popped out the CD (so it wouldn't boot from CD), then exited OTL and did a shutdown. I rebooted and it presented 3 boot choices for me (as it has, ever since I tried to do that recovery repair thing):

 

Microsoft Windows XP home edition

Recovery Console

Microsoft Windows XP home edition

 

.. it only give like 2 seconds to make a choice here before it automatically goes ahead by itself with the 1st option the list. It did so and it then began to try to resume the blue screen "Setup is resuming..." process that the Recovery thing bombed out on. I immediately shut the system down at that point and booted up again to try the 3rd boot choice in the list. It went to the same thing so I let it go. It then gave the same old "Lsass.exe" error. But after that disappeared, something different appeared in a black screen:

 

 

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

 

\WINXP\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

 

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

 

... this is something new. Should I try this?

 

Thanks!

Shawn

[Starbuck]

Hi shawnh,

 

at the end of the OTL run it said I needed to re-boot in order to finish the process.

Yes it would do that because i added the [emptytemp] command which forces a reboot.

 

it automatically goes ahead by itself with the 1st option the list. It did so and it then began to try to resume the blue screen "Setup is resuming..." process that the Recovery thing bombed out on.

Normally the first option is the default option.

It is slightly confusing because you didn't remove the earlier OS.

 

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

 

... this is something new. Should I try this?

By all means give it a try.

This link will help you understand what to do.

 

http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=95574

 

it does state.. based on an article by Billy O'Neal.

I've actually known Billy for a few years now and can vouch that he knows what he's talking about.

 

I'll be in work until about tea time tomorrow, so won't be able to reply until about 6.30pm.

 

Edit:

because you already have the recovery console installed, just select this from the booting up options and then follow the instructions in the link.

[shawnh]

Well buddy, I followed those instructions and did the whole chkdsk /r (I had actually did a couple of these before I contacted you and they didn't help). It didn't do any good. Judging by that message I got last time:

 

""Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

 

\WINXP\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

 

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

 

... I was assuming that the "repair" process would allow me to selectively target the corrupted file and replace it with a fresh copy. Your friends instructions never hinted at that, it only said to do a chkdsk /r.

Anyway, after I did it and rebooted (without the CD in), it came up to the choices of OS:

 

Microsoft Windows XP Home

Recovery Console

Microsoft Windows XP Home

 

.. the 1st one was highlighted and it quickly selected it and proceeded. Almost immediately it came up with:

 

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINXP\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

 

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

 

... same as before. When I reboot again and quickly choose the 3rd option for OS, it takes me to a blue Windows XP window showing "Setup is being restarted...". Then it goes black and that same Lsass.exe error appears. Then it reboots automatically. I guess the Recovery Console or Repair is not gonna work eh? Time for Goku's suggestion?

 

Cheers

Shawn

 

P.S: During this last time when trying to run Recovery Console from the OS boot selections, it wouldn't work... it said:

 

"NTLDR is compressed

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart "

 

... so I had to put the OS CD back in and run the Recovery Console from that. I guess that really doesn't make a difference eh?

[Starbuck]

Time for Goku's suggestion?

You have nothing to lose.

If still no joy after that...... we'll have to seriously consider a reformat/reinstall, at least that will get you back working again.

[shawnh]

Thanks Starbuck. I'm a little concerned by this sentence on the website Goku suggested:

 

"Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. "

 

.. Now, my computer *did* have two copies of the OS on it - the original (OEM) in C:\WINDOWS (which was not operational), and the working one in C:\WINXP. This one was installed a few years back when I was having some problems with the computer. I'm 99% sure I would have used the original Compaq Windows XP OS CD's to do that installation. So does that make my C:\WINXP installation also an "OEM" installation? And therefore I can't use Goku's instructions?

 

Thanks

Shawn

[Starbuck]

Hi shawnh

 

So does that make my C:\WINXP installation also an "OEM" installation?

 

Yes it would seem so.

Because the discs are supplied by Compaq any installation with these will be an OEM.

An OEM license only allows you to use the software on the specific computer it came with. In other words, when that computer is old and slow and it is time to throw it away, that license must legally be thrown away as well. You can't transfer it to another system.

 

Maybe it's time to do a full reformat/reinstall and clear the hard drive so that you only have the one copy of the OS.

This will get you up and running again with a clean slate.

[Plastic Nev]

If I can just pop in here for a quick comment,

Reading through, am I correct in thinking that the only way the computer will work at all is only when the operating system disk is in the drive?

If so, this is making me a little suspicious of the internal hard drive itself as it would appear that the computer is booting off the disk in the CD drive and definitely not from the hard drive.

Either the original operating system installation is is on a bad sector, or worse the drive is showing signs of failure.

A complete re format, and then a fresh install may work as Windows will look for good sectors, but if the drive is failing anyway it just may fail to install again.

I may be wrong and miss reading things here but just my thoughts.

 

Nev.

[shawnh]

Thanks everybody... well I just decided to go ahead and do a full reformat and reinstall of XP. I had actually did a backup about a week before the laptop crashed, and while in the PE environment, I saved the rest of my important stuff to a USB stick. I was just tying to avoid the hassles of re-installing all my software and programs (of which there was a lot)... but ah well, it was time to just bite the bullet. It's an old old laptop anyway, and like Plastic Nev says, is likely just due for another failure. I even tried Goku's Registry Hive suggestion before the reformat, but it didn't make any difference.

 

So I'd like to thank everybody for helping me, you guys are great. Starbuck, thanks for your detailed attention.

 

Thanks!

Shawn

[Starbuck]

Hi shawnh

 

I'm glad you are up and running again.

Sometimes it comes to the point where a reformat/reinstall is the best answer.

It gives you that fresh start.

 

Safe surfing. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/033/b/3/Computer_addict__by_Sinister_Starfeesh.gif

[shawnh]

Yes I guess the time had come eh Starbuck. Thank you so much once again.

 

Cheers

Shawn