Can't get into Windows

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

Whenever I start my pc I get the following message

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

When I boot from the windows cd and it starts loading the files it gets a BSOD with 'Unmountable boot volume' so I cant get to the recovery console or reformat windows.

This happened a few months ago. I changed motherboards but the problem persisted so I gave up.

Someone help please!

Obviously the problem points to the HDD but its never had any problems before. Its a western digital raptor x 150gb

slyfox2151 · Apr 12, 2011

spixel said:
Whenever I start my pc I get the following message

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

When I boot from the windows cd and it starts loading the files it gets a BSOD with 'Unmountable boot volume' so I cant get to the recovery console or reformat windows.

This happened a few months ago. I changed motherboards but the problem persisted so I gave up.

Someone help please! Obviously the problem points to the HDD but its never had any problems before. Its a western digital raptor x 150gb

i have had a very simmiler problem, same error could not mount volume ect..

what OS are you using? vista or 7? try changing the Sata config to AHCI or IDE.

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

windows xp

i will try changing the sata stuff in bios

slyfox2151 · Apr 12, 2011

spixel said:
windows xp

i will try changing the sata stuff in bios

i think i had this issue when i was trying to setup my raid array..... i cannot remember what i did to fix it......

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

i changed the sata mode from IDE to ACHI and it still crashes if I try to start windows... but if I try to load the windows cd to repair/reformat it doesn't BSOD but the computer restarts after the files are loaded and when it restarts it doesn't go into windows installation screen it just trys to load windows as normal and gets the error saying config/system missing or corrupt.

scaminatrix · Apr 12, 2011

Boot from Windows XP setup disc and select Repair using Recovery Console in menu.

In Recovery Console, type "fixboot" (without the "") and report back

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

I am booting from the disk but I cant get to the part of it where you can use the recovery console

scaminatrix · Apr 12, 2011

Sorry, my fault I skimmed the OP.
Download Hiren's BootCD and use one of the MBR Tools. I would start with "MbrFix 1.3" and try others if unsuccessful.

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

My windows installation is like this http://howtoformatacomputer.com/format-windows-xp.

I can get to step 3 but then it restarts after that before I can get to the accept user agreement. I've reformated many times before so I'm a bit confused to why this is happening now

What does hirens boot cd do ?

scaminatrix · Apr 12, 2011

Hirens does lots of things, it's a collection of tools used to fix a ton of problems. I've had your problem countless times before (with slight variations) and Hiren's is your best bet.

Give it a go, it's a CD that many people keep in their arsenal for problems like this and many others.

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

anyone else got any susgestions?

basically, windows wont load without an error and I cant boot my windows cd

scaminatrix · Apr 12, 2011

Have you tried Hiren's? If so, what happened?

spixel · Apr 12, 2011

Nope, I don't know how to use it or how it can help me

Which tool from hirens would help me ? http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

I will download the individual one at give it a try

brandonwh64 · Apr 12, 2011

Here is the direct LINK

scaminatrix · Apr 12, 2011

Don't bother with MBRfix, it's for advanced users only.
Hiren's has a tool called "Bootfix Utility". I think this is more for you. I can't find bootfix utility at a reliable place elsewhere so you should download the whole of Hiren's BootCD and select "bootfix utility" from the "MBR Tools" section and use it.

If you try to download some of the tools from Hiren's individually, you're most likely going to end up with a German language version or a virus or something. Some of them are discontinued so they're hard to find from a reliable source.

cool_recep · Apr 12, 2011

You have this nice fast system with DX 10. Why are you stuck at XP? Upgrade to windows 7. When it crashes, system tries to repair itself automatically and usually succeeds.

freebie · Apr 12, 2011

I'd run the check disk utility on hirens if i was you before a reinstall. in hard drive tools its the first link, something like hdat, run a repair and report back.

erixx · Apr 12, 2011

Can't get into windows! Try the Doors! (of perception, of whatever at hand)

I know: useless prick....

alexsubri · Apr 12, 2011

Did you try reading here?

I suggest upgrading to Windows 7....as much as I loved XP, it's waayyy past it's time

erixx · Apr 13, 2011

plug the hard drive in another computer (as a second hard drive!) try to copy your files and then delete first partition (or all).

Remount in your problem computer and reinstall XP or whatever.

Think about what messed with your MBR...

Processor	Intel i5 2500k @ 4.2ghz
Motherboard	Asrock z77 Extreme4
Memory	8GB Corsair LP 1600mhz
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte gtx570 + Evga gtx570 HD
Storage	Corsair Force GT 120gb
Display(s)	Samsung 931bw
Case	Cooler Master Cosmos S
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair vx550
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64

System Name	MRCOMP!
Processor	5800X3D
Motherboard	MSI Gaming Plus
Cooling	Corsair 280 AIO
Memory	64GB 3600mhz
Video Card(s)	GTX3060
Storage	1TB SSD
Display(s)	Samsung Neo
Case	No Case... just sitting on cardboard :D
Power Supply	Antec 650w

Processor	Intel i5 2500k @ 4.2ghz
Motherboard	Asrock z77 Extreme4
Memory	8GB Corsair LP 1600mhz
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte gtx570 + Evga gtx570 HD
Storage	Corsair Force GT 120gb
Display(s)	Samsung 931bw
Case	Cooler Master Cosmos S
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair vx550
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64

System Name	MRCOMP!
Processor	5800X3D
Motherboard	MSI Gaming Plus
Cooling	Corsair 280 AIO
Memory	64GB 3600mhz
Video Card(s)	GTX3060
Storage	1TB SSD
Display(s)	Samsung Neo
Case	No Case... just sitting on cardboard :D
Power Supply	Antec 650w

Processor	Intel i5 2500k @ 4.2ghz
Motherboard	Asrock z77 Extreme4
Memory	8GB Corsair LP 1600mhz
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte gtx570 + Evga gtx570 HD
Storage	Corsair Force GT 120gb
Display(s)	Samsung 931bw
Case	Cooler Master Cosmos S
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair vx550
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64

System Name	Benny
Processor	Phenom II 1055t @ 3.3GHz; 300x11; 1.380v; NB 2700; HT 2400
Motherboard	ASUS Crosshair IV Formula (2002 BIOS)
Cooling	Thermalright TRUE 120 Black + 2 Xilence Red Wing PWM 120mm (push/pull) + polycarbonate fan holders
Memory	8GB GeIL Ultra 2133MHZ C9 running at 1600MHz @ 7-7-7-21 1T 1.5v
Video Card(s)	MSI Twin Frozr II GTX470 @ Stock w/CPU fan cable-tied on, as one of the GPU fans broke.
Storage	60GB OCZ Agility3 (OS);500GB WDC Grn; 1x1TB WDC Blk (Backup)
Display(s)	ASUS PA823Q
Case	Silverstone Raven 2 (all cables custom sleeved with velcro mod on side panel...)
Audio Device(s)	X-Fi (Onboard) + Harmon Kardon HK6100 amp powering JVC HA-RX700's with Zalman mic
Power Supply	Corsair HX650W
Software	Win7 Pro x64
Benchmark Scores	No benchies so making this space useful! Corsair M90, Logitech G19. Phobya FlexLight LED's (gawjus)

System Name	GS43VR 7RE
Processor	Core i7 7700HQ
Motherboard	MSI GS43VR 7RE
Cooling	Stock
Memory	8 GB DDR4 2400 MHz
Video Card(s)	GTX 1060
Storage	Samsung 950 PRO
Display(s)	14" IPS
Case	Metal
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC 898
Power Supply	Adapter
Mouse	Rival 100
Keyboard	SteelSeries
Software	Windows 10 Version 1703

Processor	Intel Q6600 3.2 ghz (356 * 9)
Motherboard	ASUS P5B Deluxe WIFI/AP
Cooling	Corsair h60 with extra fan (push/pull)
Memory	6gb DDR2-800mhz (Kingston Blue Hyper X 2x2GB) (Kingston Ram 2x1gb) @ 5-6-6-18
Video Card(s)	Nvidia Gtx 280 XFX
Storage	2 x Crucial c300 64gb ssd (raid 0) \| 2 x Wd 320gb (raid 0)
Display(s)	2 x 23" AOC e2343f led monitors
Case	Coolermaster Elite 430
Power Supply	Powercool 750w Modular PSU
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

System Name	2K Gamer
Processor	AMD 8370 @ 4.5GHZ
Motherboard	ASUS Pro Gaming / Aura 970
Cooling	Corsair H60 AIO
Memory	16GB G. Skill RipJaw @ 1600MHZ
Video Card(s)	Zotac AMP! GTX 1070
Storage	Samsung 600 Gig HDD (Raid 0 @ 7,500) / WD 1TB Blue @ 7,200 / PNY 128 GB SSD For Linux
Display(s)	27'' ASUS 144MHZ G-SYNC Read 1400p Gaming Monitor / 23'' LG LCD Flatron W2361VG 1080p @ 50,000:1
Case	NZXT Source 530
Audio Device(s)	Onboard 7.1 HD Realtek
Power Supply	750w Corsair HX
Mouse	Cougar Gaming Mouse
Keyboard	Saitek Eclipse
Software	Windows 10 64bit Education Edition

Can't get into Windows

Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!!