Scarecrow248
asked on
after restoring SYSTEM got a password problem ->SOS!!!
My notebook hp (compaq nc4000) first could not start up because of the corruption of file "system". I got this message
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\S
So i plug my hdd into my friend's notebook (Twinhead) (as i don't have CD-ROM on my notebook) to boot from a WindowsXP disk in to Recovery Console and copy file "system".
cd c:\windows\system2\config
ren system system.bak
copy c:\windows\repair\system
exit
Plug the hdd back into my notebook and turn it on. WIndows started but i got another message:
WHEN TRYING TO UPDATE A PASSWORD THIS RETURN STATUS INDICATES THAT THE VALUE PROVIDED AS THE CURRENT PASSWORD IS NOT CORRECT.
After a few seconds, computer restarted and the same thing happended. I guest it's because i did'nt copy the files "sam" and "security" but now i can not go back to Recovery Console, as it requests an admin's password although there was not any password before.
Can somebody tell me what to do? Any help would be very appriciated!!!!
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\S
So i plug my hdd into my friend's notebook (Twinhead) (as i don't have CD-ROM on my notebook) to boot from a WindowsXP disk in to Recovery Console and copy file "system".
cd c:\windows\system2\config
ren system system.bak
copy c:\windows\repair\system
exit
Plug the hdd back into my notebook and turn it on. WIndows started but i got another message:
WHEN TRYING TO UPDATE A PASSWORD THIS RETURN STATUS INDICATES THAT THE VALUE PROVIDED AS THE CURRENT PASSWORD IS NOT CORRECT.
After a few seconds, computer restarted and the same thing happended. I guest it's because i did'nt copy the files "sam" and "security" but now i can not go back to Recovery Console, as it requests an admin's password although there was not any password before.
Can somebody tell me what to do? Any help would be very appriciated!!!!
SOLUTION
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ASKER
thank you very much, Elvin!
1st variant: i can't do a fresh install. There was only 1 directory in my hard disk (C).
2nd variant: i've tried it already but i got the same message " WHEN TRYING TO UPDATE A PASSWORD THIS RETURN STATUS INDICATES THAT THE VALUE PROVIDED AS THE CURRENT PASSWORD IS NOT CORRECT." and computer restarted after a few second.
i've tried to used a USB portable hard disk. Plug my hard disk in and connect to a PC by USB port. Unfortunately my portable hard disk's interface was broken before, so the PC could not recognise my hard disk.
Do you have any other suggestions?
1st variant: i can't do a fresh install. There was only 1 directory in my hard disk (C).
2nd variant: i've tried it already but i got the same message " WHEN TRYING TO UPDATE A PASSWORD THIS RETURN STATUS INDICATES THAT THE VALUE PROVIDED AS THE CURRENT PASSWORD IS NOT CORRECT." and computer restarted after a few second.
i've tried to used a USB portable hard disk. Plug my hard disk in and connect to a PC by USB port. Unfortunately my portable hard disk's interface was broken before, so the PC could not recognise my hard disk.
Do you have any other suggestions?
ASKER
oh, i think i missunderstood you.You meant do a fresh install in a new directory, not a new partition, right?
Well it doesnt have to be a new partition, it can be the same one. If your original installation was 'c:\windows' then when setup asks you for the folder to install to,, change the default name to something like 'winxp'
everything will work as normal and you can takke ownership of your previous user account files/folders quite easily.
as for your second commment, you say you tried logging into safe mode as administrator and leaving the password blank ? If the blank password is not accepted then an admin password MUST have been set on your machine as XP does not have an admin password set when you install it.
Cheers
Elvin
everything will work as normal and you can takke ownership of your previous user account files/folders quite easily.
as for your second commment, you say you tried logging into safe mode as administrator and leaving the password blank ? If the blank password is not accepted then an admin password MUST have been set on your machine as XP does not have an admin password set when you install it.
Cheers
Elvin
ASKER
Thank you Elvin!
I understood what you mean.
1. I've just tried to install windows to a new folder c:\windowsp . The process gone smoothly. It copy file to the folder and then restarted from the hard disk but then there was just an empty blak screen. Damn, i can't understand the problem for my Windows CD is quite normal. I usually use it to install windows
2. There is noway to set a blank password for admin in Safemode. As soon as the windows logo has appeared the "lass.exe - system error" message (When trying....correct) appeared and computer restarts. i think it's because i didn't copy SAM file from windows\repair to system32\config so now i don't have the right authentification :(
but thank you for your help, Elvin
I understood what you mean.
1. I've just tried to install windows to a new folder c:\windowsp . The process gone smoothly. It copy file to the folder and then restarted from the hard disk but then there was just an empty blak screen. Damn, i can't understand the problem for my Windows CD is quite normal. I usually use it to install windows
2. There is noway to set a blank password for admin in Safemode. As soon as the windows logo has appeared the "lass.exe - system error" message (When trying....correct) appeared and computer restarts. i think it's because i didn't copy SAM file from windows\repair to system32\config so now i don't have the right authentification :(
but thank you for your help, Elvin
ASKER
sorry but i don't really understand why you sent me that link, nobus.
I've tried all that stuff. That's why i got the lass.exe - error message and can not go back to Recovery Console because of password problem.
The problem is now more serious that i can't connect my hard disk to other computer s by USB port to copy data. Other computers can't recognise my hard disk.
Question:
1. Is the problem with the files in system32\config make the disk unreadable? (normally we don't need to install windows in hdd, just format it and copy data to it, so i think the problem with the files in system32\config can make this kind of problem)
2. How can i get back the data in hard disk in this situation?
Any help would be very appriciated!!!!
Scarecrow
I've tried all that stuff. That's why i got the lass.exe - error message and can not go back to Recovery Console because of password problem.
The problem is now more serious that i can't connect my hard disk to other computer s by USB port to copy data. Other computers can't recognise my hard disk.
Question:
1. Is the problem with the files in system32\config make the disk unreadable? (normally we don't need to install windows in hdd, just format it and copy data to it, so i think the problem with the files in system32\config can make this kind of problem)
2. How can i get back the data in hard disk in this situation?
Any help would be very appriciated!!!!
Scarecrow
SOLUTION
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maybe this can help :
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
you can also try downloading knoppix, burn it to a cd, and boot from it to access your data : www.knoppix.org
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
you can also try downloading knoppix, burn it to a cd, and boot from it to access your data : www.knoppix.org
well thats the first thing he did BUT it shows a good point on that page its right here
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. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives.
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. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives.
ASKER
Thank you very, guys. I think i've understood the problem with OEM.
Just wanna have the last question before closing this topic. Hope you can help me.
I've decided to buy a new hard disk (Toshiba 2,5") because some first sectors in my old hard disk was demaged. (I've repaired it using some hdd tools but anyway it works not so well)
But my laptop (hp compaq nc4000) doesn't have any CD-ROM or floopy disk. So i still don't know how to make a fresh install of Windows XP on my new hard disk.
I've tried using an external CD-ROM that plug into laptop by card but that kind of CD-ROM is recognised only after Windows start up.
Could you guys tell me what i can do in this situation?
Thanks alot
Just wanna have the last question before closing this topic. Hope you can help me.
I've decided to buy a new hard disk (Toshiba 2,5") because some first sectors in my old hard disk was demaged. (I've repaired it using some hdd tools but anyway it works not so well)
But my laptop (hp compaq nc4000) doesn't have any CD-ROM or floopy disk. So i still don't know how to make a fresh install of Windows XP on my new hard disk.
I've tried using an external CD-ROM that plug into laptop by card but that kind of CD-ROM is recognised only after Windows start up.
Could you guys tell me what i can do in this situation?
Thanks alot
you can use a 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor cable to connect the disk to a working XP IDE cable, format the drive in FAT32, and copy your XP cd to a folder on it. Note the location of the setup file
Then connect it as only disk, boot from a win98SE floppy, and issue the sys C: command
Put it then in the laptop, boot from it, it will go to the C:> prompt; go to the setup file and run it.
Then connect it as only disk, boot from a win98SE floppy, and issue the sys C: command
Put it then in the laptop, boot from it, it will go to the C:> prompt; go to the setup file and run it.
why not just plug the hdd into your friends computer like you did last time and install it from there it will not tamper with his system at all as long as you point to the correct drive.
The next time you have a problem like the one that started all this use the registry hives located in system volume information if you have xp restore turned on and you should be able to get it back up and running in no time.
ASKER
Sorry Venom. your answer has helped me too but i did not see the function "Split points"
ASKER
but i have to give some more comments that installing a new windows using another type of computer doesn't help. I've tried to do a fresh in stall using the notebook Twinhead, and then HP Pavillion xf255 then plug the hdd back into my nc4000. In both cases i got a blank black screen.
I've learned that i can use an Anvanced port Replicator to plug CD-ROM to notebook to install Windows but it's very expensive. Until now i didn't find any solution for my situation.
Thanks all of you.
I've learned that i can use an Anvanced port Replicator to plug CD-ROM to notebook to install Windows but it's very expensive. Until now i didn't find any solution for my situation.
Thanks all of you.
take the I386 folder and place it on the harddrive
i wasnt thinking clearly when i stated that motherboard would lock up ok what you are going to do is use partition magic to create a small partition about 1 gig then plug the harddrive into another computer and copy the files into that partition then what you are goin to do is boot up to a dos cd and run setup.exe.
make sure it is placed in the computer you are wanting to install it to when you run the setup
ASKER
well, i've tried to copy a whole Windows installation disk into my hard disk but it's impossible to boot the system (i think BIOS can't find the the MBR on the hdd).
I think creating a small partition to copy files in is not so different from what i did. The problem is that the notebook even don't have a floopy disk to boot from disket (or disk) so you can't choose the setup.exe to run.
I think creating a small partition to copy files in is not so different from what i did. The problem is that the notebook even don't have a floopy disk to boot from disket (or disk) so you can't choose the setup.exe to run.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thanks alot for your help, Nobus.
Things soud a bit complicated so i need to ask you something more:
1. What do you mean issue the command sys C: ?
2. Where can i copy the files smartdrv.exe and himem.sys from?
3. Should i copy these files to the partition i copy the folder i386 to , but outside that folder?
4. After copyping these files should i do like this:
- Create a 2 txt files on the partition where i want to install windows, name them config.sys and autoexec.bat
- in the config.sys add a new line: "device=himem.sys"
- in the autoexec.bat add a new line: "c:\smartdrv"
Things soud a bit complicated so i need to ask you something more:
1. What do you mean issue the command sys C: ?
2. Where can i copy the files smartdrv.exe and himem.sys from?
3. Should i copy these files to the partition i copy the folder i386 to , but outside that folder?
4. After copyping these files should i do like this:
- Create a 2 txt files on the partition where i want to install windows, name them config.sys and autoexec.bat
- in the config.sys add a new line: "device=himem.sys"
- in the autoexec.bat add a new line: "c:\smartdrv"
1- well, you can do it when you boot from a bootable floppy, like the win98SE floppy at www.bootdisk.com. Afterformatting the C: drive as FAT32, (check if the partition is active) you are at the A:>prompt. just type sys C: which will transfer the system files to the C: drive.
2- from the internet, a working win98 PC, or even on some bootable floppies or :
http://www.techadvice.com/specs/files_st.asp?fnid=242 himem.sys
3- copy them to C:
4-Yes
to add further, i tried it yesterday on a drive, just to be sure about the steps - it worked !
you need the himem file to be able to start the smartdrv file, and smartdrv is needed to speed up the file to disk copy
2- from the internet, a working win98 PC, or even on some bootable floppies or :
http://www.techadvice.com/specs/files_st.asp?fnid=242 himem.sys
3- copy them to C:
4-Yes
to add further, i tried it yesterday on a drive, just to be sure about the steps - it worked !
you need the himem file to be able to start the smartdrv file, and smartdrv is needed to speed up the file to disk copy
ASKER
can you give me the link to download smartdrv.exe too. i could not found it on http://www.techadvice.com/info/
Thanks a lot
Thanks a lot
ASKER
i found it
ok - waiting
ASKER
as i understood if i plug my hard disk into another computer by USB port and my hdd is recognised as disk F so when i reboot the computer using boot disk, i have to type: sys F: (A:\> sys F:) . Am i right?
ASKER
Well i've plug my hdd into another notebook. Boot up using floopy disk. Typed "sys C:" and got this message "Bad command or file name"
I've downloaded boot files from the website you gave me: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and send it to floopy disk but it doesn't work so i createda floopy disk like this:
- right click the floopy disk
- Format
- chose Creating MS-DOS boot disk
I've also tried to plug the hdd back into my old notebook hp and start up but i got the message "no system disk"
I've downloaded boot files from the website you gave me: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and send it to floopy disk but it doesn't work so i createda floopy disk like this:
- right click the floopy disk
- Format
- chose Creating MS-DOS boot disk
I've also tried to plug the hdd back into my old notebook hp and start up but i got the message "no system disk"
ASKER
i've got it, Nobus. Thank you very very much.
I'll tell you more about the details later 'cause i'm busy at the moment
I'll tell you more about the details later 'cause i'm busy at the moment
Nono- you have to plug the disk to laptop as only disk, or to a pc as only disk. Then it becomes the C: drive.
anyway, usb drives won't work with dos, and cerrtainly not from a bootable floppy.Creating a boot disk is ok, as long as you have the needed files.
waiting for the details - -
anyway, usb drives won't work with dos, and cerrtainly not from a bootable floppy.Creating a boot disk is ok, as long as you have the needed files.
waiting for the details - -
ASKER
Well, i've done everything as needed. I've transfered system files (from Win98 SE boot disk)to my hard disk then plug it back to my hp and turn on the computer. Computer boot up in DOS and ask me where the Windows file. I directed to C:\i386. Setup process started copying files, and them prompted me to pess Enter to restart computer. But when computer restarted i got an error message "NTLDR is missing".
I checked my hard disk. DTLDR.com was there -> It's wierd.
I trying again using a Win98SE_OEM. Hope it will work.
I checked my hard disk. DTLDR.com was there -> It's wierd.
I trying again using a Win98SE_OEM. Hope it will work.
sorry for the delay; i just retried the whole procedure - it works without a hitch.
did you select to change the partitioning over to NTFS ? i did not - that can be a problem
did you select to change the partitioning over to NTFS ? i did not - that can be a problem
ASKER
i still get the message "NTLDR is missing" but when i plug my hard disk to another notebook (the one with floopy disk that i used to transfer system files to my hard disk) and turn on, intall process starts normally.
So i think it should be some problem with my notebook but i can't explain it :(
So i think it should be some problem with my notebook but i can't explain it :(
it is a compaq - well i've got the experience not all compaqs accept installing another OS. They only take the recovery CD's.
for the NTLDR missing, the standard things to try is :
FIXMBR C:
FIXBOOT C:
for the NTLDR missing, the standard things to try is :
FIXMBR C:
FIXBOOT C:
ASKER
Ok, i've tried like this:
Plug my hard disk back into the computer with the cdrom. Boot the computer using the Windows CD, supported by hp (together with the compaq). Enter R to go to Recovery Console
1. Frist attempt
fixmbr C:
fixboot C:
Plug the hdd back to my compaq, turn on -> error: "NTLDR missing"
2. Second attempt
fixmbr c:
fixboot c:
copy e:\i386\ntdldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
bootcfg /rebuild
Here, e is the CD-ROM drive. i got an error message at the last step (bootcfg /rebuild). It's said that it's maybe a problem with the hard disk. I check hdd using "chkdsk /r". First i saw 100% disk checked. Then again some other checks run but it stayed at 0% and then computer suddendly turned off.
I pluged my hdd back into my compag and turned on. Again i got "NTDLDR is missing" :(
Plug my hard disk back into the computer with the cdrom. Boot the computer using the Windows CD, supported by hp (together with the compaq). Enter R to go to Recovery Console
1. Frist attempt
fixmbr C:
fixboot C:
Plug the hdd back to my compaq, turn on -> error: "NTLDR missing"
2. Second attempt
fixmbr c:
fixboot c:
copy e:\i386\ntdldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
bootcfg /rebuild
Here, e is the CD-ROM drive. i got an error message at the last step (bootcfg /rebuild). It's said that it's maybe a problem with the hard disk. I check hdd using "chkdsk /r". First i saw 100% disk checked. Then again some other checks run but it stayed at 0% and then computer suddendly turned off.
I pluged my hdd back into my compag and turned on. Again i got "NTDLDR is missing" :(
did you test this drive yet ? pick any of these :
http://www.disk-utility.com/hard-disk-low-level-format.html
btw - if you like to split points, or reallocate them, ask a mod in the help section to reopen this Q
http://www.disk-utility.com/hard-disk-low-level-format.html
btw - if you like to split points, or reallocate them, ask a mod in the help section to reopen this Q
...or try this setup on the pc, to see if the setup works correct
ASKER
Well, i got a program HDD Low Level Format Tool 2.21.1108 (developed by HDDGURU) and have it formated my hard disk. Aftera couple of hours running i saw a message "Seek error occured at offset 2147483648".
This message is repeated many times in a second and the process stay at the same point already a half of day.
What does the message mean?
If "End task" the program will the hard disk be totally damaged?
This message is repeated many times in a second and the process stay at the same point already a half of day.
What does the message mean?
If "End task" the program will the hard disk be totally damaged?
i will not comment on that tool, since i don't know it.
Why not use the manufacturer's tools?
>> Seek error occured at offset 2147483648 << normally, this means a seek operation was not terminated successfully (the heads did not reach the wanted position) - practically, it can mean your drive is bad.
Why not use the manufacturer's tools?
>> Seek error occured at offset 2147483648 << normally, this means a seek operation was not terminated successfully (the heads did not reach the wanted position) - practically, it can mean your drive is bad.
ASKER
ok, i understood. Thank you very much, nobus.
In this case, it's better to bring my hdd to guarantee.
>>Why not use the manufacturer's tools?
I've searched for some tools from Toshiba but they don't support tools as other manufactures.
Thanks again for your help, nobus.
In this case, it's better to bring my hdd to guarantee.
>>Why not use the manufacturer's tools?
I've searched for some tools from Toshiba but they don't support tools as other manufactures.
Thanks again for your help, nobus.
>> I've searched for some tools from Toshiba << i did not know they made disks; but is it this one :
http://www.expansys.be/product.asp?code=114575
you canb try the maxtor and Hitachi tools, i believe they work on most disks
http://www.expansys.be/product.asp?code=114575
you canb try the maxtor and Hitachi tools, i believe they work on most disks
ASKER
there is important information on hard disk that i can't make a fresh reinstall.