XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

[Guest 3 Cats]

Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new updates.

Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because the following

file is missing or corrupted:" \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How do I

continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the Windows

Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in RAID 0.

Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's job?

Thank you very much for your help.

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

 

Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to

this newsgroup, please.

 

What updates did you install?

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

 

3 Cats wrote:

> Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new

> updates. Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because

> the

> following file is missing or corrupted:" \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

> I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

> initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How do

> I

> continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the

> Windows

> Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in RAID

> 0.

> Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's job?

> Thank you very much for your help.

[Guest 3 Cats]

Re: XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

 

My Windows version is WinXP SP3, 32 bit. My Windows Update is set to

automatically download and install updates. Since the computer won't boot, I

can't give you the precise updates, but since I update daily, it would be

very recent offerings. I will try to do more detective work to be more

specific about the updates. Do you have any idea why repair will not proceed

through Recovery Console? My installation disk is for WinXP SP1. Does that

play a role in the inability of Recovery Console to perform repair? Thank you

for your help.

 

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to

> this newsgroup, please.

>

> What updates did you install?

> --

> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

>

>

> 3 Cats wrote:

> > Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new

> > updates. Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because

> > the

> > following file is missing or corrupted:" \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

> > I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

> > initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How do

> > I

> > continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the

> > Windows

> > Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in RAID

> > 0.

> > Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's job?

> > Thank you very much for your help.

>

>

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

 

I cannot answer your questions without having hands-on access to the

machine.

 

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

 

Support for Windows Update:

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport

 

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in

the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft

subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with

security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is related

to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB123456), if

possible.

 

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary

for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web

site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

 

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through

your usual support contacts.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net

 

3 Cats wrote:

> My Windows version is WinXP SP3, 32 bit. My Windows Update is set to

> automatically download and install updates. Since the computer won't boot,

> I

> can't give you the precise updates, but since I update daily, it would be

> very recent offerings. I will try to do more detective work to be more

> specific about the updates. Do you have any idea why repair will not

> proceed

> through Recovery Console? My installation disk is for WinXP SP1. Does that

> play a role in the inability of Recovery Console to perform repair? Thank

> you for your help.

>

> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

>> Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to

>> this newsgroup, please.

>>

>> What updates did you install?

>>

>> 3 Cats wrote:

>>> Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new

>>> updates. Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because

>>> the

>>> following file is missing or corrupted:"

>>> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

>>> I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

>>> initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How

>>> do

>>> I

>>> continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the

>>> Windows

>>> Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in

>>> RAID

>>> 0.

>>> Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's

>>> job?

>>> Thank you very much for your help.

[Guest Andy]

Re: XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

 

On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:10:00 -0700, 3 Cats <3

Cats@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new updates.

>Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because the following

>file is missing or corrupted:" \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

>I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

>initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How do I

>continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the Windows

>Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in RAID 0.

>Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's job?

>Thank you very much for your help.

 

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from

starting

<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us>

[Guest 3 Cats]

Re: XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

 

Thank you Andy. I followed the protocol listed for 307545/en-us, but

tragically, when I typed the first copy command into the Recovery Console, I

received an access denied response. I will try Windows Update support as

suggested by PA Bear or take the desktop to my local repair shop if all else

fails. Thanks again.

 

"Andy" wrote:

> On Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:10:00 -0700, 3 Cats <3

> Cats@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

> >Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new updates.

> >Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because the following

> >file is missing or corrupted:" \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

> >I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

> >initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How do I

> >continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the Windows

> >Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in RAID 0.

> >Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's job?

> >Thank you very much for your help.

>

> How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from

> starting

> <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us>

>

[Guest 3 Cats]

Re: XP Pro won't boot after Windows Update

 

Good News! PA Bear,

I changed the boot sequence in the bios to another disk in the system that

used to be the C drive and had windows still installed, but is now used as a

slave drive. Once the system booted with this drive, I shut the system down,

changed the bios back so that the RAID array was once again the C drive, and

now the system boots just fine. Whether the Windows Updates had anything to

do with this episode is still unclear to me. The updates that I downloaded on

9-12-08 wereKB890830, KB956080, KB954326, KB951944, and KB938464. Thank you

for your help.

 

3 Cats

 

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> I cannot answer your questions without having hands-on access to the

> machine.

>

> Start a free Windows Update support incident request:

> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

>

> Support for Windows Update:

> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport

>

> For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in

> the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft

> subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with

> security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is related

> to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB123456), if

> possible.

>

> For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary

> for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web

> site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

>

> For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through

> your usual support contacts.

> --

> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net

>

> 3 Cats wrote:

> > My Windows version is WinXP SP3, 32 bit. My Windows Update is set to

> > automatically download and install updates. Since the computer won't boot,

> > I

> > can't give you the precise updates, but since I update daily, it would be

> > very recent offerings. I will try to do more detective work to be more

> > specific about the updates. Do you have any idea why repair will not

> > proceed

> > through Recovery Console? My installation disk is for WinXP SP1. Does that

> > play a role in the inability of Recovery Console to perform repair? Thank

> > you for your help.

> >

> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> >> Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting to

> >> this newsgroup, please.

> >>

> >> What updates did you install?

> >>

> >> 3 Cats wrote:

> >>> Life was good until 2 days ago. Then Windows Update downloaded 5 new

> >>> updates. Now Win XP Pro 32 won't boot. "Windows could not start because

> >>> the

> >>> following file is missing or corrupted:"

> >>> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.

> >>> I used my XP Installation Disk to load Recovery Console and typed "r" to

> >>> initiate repair. The system then just sits at the C:WINNT> prompt. How

> >>> do

> >>> I

> >>> continue with the repair to get the system to boot? Do you think the

> >>> Windows

> >>> Update is unrelated? My C drive is a RAID array with 2 SATA disks in

> >>> RAID

> >>> 0.

> >>> Do Raid drivers need to be loaded before Recovery Console can do it's

> >>> job?

> >>> Thank you very much for your help.

>

>