Overclocking Leads to Windows Corruption HELP!!!!

[PyroX1040]

My computer has messed up big time I'm getting the following error after I rebooted my computer from altering my ATI-Tool benchmarks to 625Mhz / 1000Mhz / 1450Mhz I believe... and It has crashed and giving me the following message...

The following file is missing or corrupt:
C:\Window\system32\config\system

Now it also says I can enter my original CD-ROM and try to fix it using my Windows XP 2003 Professional 64-Bit CD, by loading it from the CD-ROM and using their repair tool...

So after reading this I assumed there was a problem in the BIOS which then I immidently changed the BIOS back to the original settings, and then rebooted. I got the same problem again and crashed and then tried to changed it to boot from the Original CD-ROM and ran the repair program,

I then did the following,
1) Booted from CD-ROM into Windows Options
2) Selected option repair
3) Options to select enter the following folder to repair - C:\Windows
4) Upon selecting the C:\Windows option but the following happened
5) Received Blue Screen Of Death: Error: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
6) Stop: 0x00000050, (0xFFFFF980C9250FC8, 0x000000000000001, 0xFFFFF8000104A11D, 0x000000000000000 )

I've tried defaulting the BIOS, Re-installing Windows from scratch, but I get the same Error from step 5-6. Figuring I could have messed up my BIOS via ATI-Tool by overclocking my GPU I removed my graphics card Nvidia EVGA GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB, and after doing that I replaced it with and older Nvidia EVGA 7300LE 512MB, and after doing that no change, If you have any idea PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER OC'D THE CPU JUST THE GPU!!!!!

 

[hat]

My only guess is you have to do a total reformat..

 

[kwchang007]

Does the hdd sound ok?

 

[AsRock]

Sounds like a memory error so check each stick of ram you have one by one. Allso you might want to check the hard drive with ChkDsk all so. Like HELL it could even be the ram on your v card.

 

[PyroX1040]

Does the hdd sound ok?

Sounds like a memory error so check each stick of ram you have one by one. Allso you might want to check the hard drive with ChkDsk all so. Like HELL it could even be the ram on your v card.

...

HDD sounds ok as does everything else, not the RAM because the intial problem is the Corrupt or Missing file

C:\Windows\System32\Config\System

......

I can't even load past the ASUS loading screen.. it crashes after the post-bios message ^ error above...... RAM is fine checked on other computer and I also changed the Video card with an older version and it didn't fix it either..

I already removed the CMOS and reset it and even changed it.. didn't do anything, I flushed the BIOS and no luck....

Help !

Total reformat is a last result..

 

[AsRock]

Yes silly me saying it was the v card loool.. IF ya do a format make sure it's not the quick format as that don't fix errors on the disk.

 

[kwchang007]

I'd try and run a check disk. Did you have anything that might be able to alter the boot up? I mean I'm going out on a leg, but if you had something and it was changing that file and you crashed then that might be why. Oh and page fault in non paged area is something to do with memory mangement or page file mangement one of the two.

 

[PyroX1040]

I'd try and run a check disk. Did you have anything that might be able to alter the boot up? I mean I'm going out on a leg, but if you had something and it was changing that file and you crashed then that might be why. Oh and page fault in non paged area is something to do with memory mangement or page file mangement one of the two.

how would i run a disk check

 

[Widjaja]

Ohhhh, here comes the unwanted time consumption. . . .
Sucks aye?

I'm guessing you locked the PCI to 66Mhz when you were ocing right?
Apparently not doing that can lead to HDD corruption.

Been doing alot of studying on OCing lately.

The issue you have is the reason why I have dual boot XP.

 

[Firedomain]

have u tried other ram in your computer.

because generally PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA is a ram error.

i have 4GB & had this error ages ago, BSOD all the time, have you reset the bios back to defaults? & just out of curiosity, if you were OC'ing the VCard what did u change in the bios???

putting the ram into another computer most likely wouldn't show anything especially when its most likely an error when ur specific computer runs the ram.

i dont know how BSOD errors go so i cant say wether it could or couldn't b the vidcards ram, but i'd be guessing its not just coz i wouldn't expect it & coz a different vid card gets the same error.

as for corrupt files, the ram screwing up would deffinately bring that message coz the data is getting screwed up while its getting put through the ram.

ram is my 80% guess. if im wrong then im guessing HDD corruption due to the paging error..... otherwise i have no idea!

 

[PyroX1040]

Ohhhh, here comes the unwanted time consumption. . . .
Sucks aye?

I'm guessing you locked the PCI to 66Mhz when you were ocing right?
Apparently not doing that can lead to HDD corruption.

Been doing alot of studying on OCing lately.

The issue you have is the reason why I have dual boot XP.

the PCI was never altered... I gusse that could be a problem.. I assumed that ATI-Tool would do that for me.. but either way, is there any other way besides reformating, I'm going to try your ram switching thing later tonight but I'm just looking for any idea's in general

 

[PyroX1040]

have u tried other ram in your computer.

because generally PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA is a ram error.

i have 4GB & had this error ages ago, BSOD all the time, have you reset the bios back to defaults? & just out of curiosity, if you were OC'ing the VCard what did u change in the bios???

putting the ram into another computer most likely wouldn't show anything especially when its most likely an error when ur specific computer runs the ram.

i dont know how BSOD errors go so i cant say wether it could or couldn't b the vidcards ram, but i'd be guessing its not just coz i wouldn't expect it & coz a different vid card gets the same error.

as for corrupt files, the ram screwing up would deffinately bring that message coz the data is getting screwed up while its getting put through the ram.

ram is my 100% guess. if im wrong then i have no idea!

I'll try this but I didn't alter the BIOS I simply used ATI-Tool without touching the BIOS...

 

[imperialreign]

if you can get to WIN repair console from the installation CD - type in chkdsk (IIRC ) at C:\

does the BSoD say PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA every single time? That stop error is usually mem related. Considering you're on an ASUS board, if you have an option for Hyperpath3 in BIOS - try disabling it.

If you can get to WIN repair console form your installation disk . . . does it actually bring up C:\, or some other driver letter? If it does bring up C:\ - type in dir and see if it actually displays the directory listings on the drive. If not, or comes back with some kind of error - you might have to do a format/clean install from the XP disk.

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Don't reformat! Look here!

...and breathe!

 

[Firedomain]

that link looks pointless, unless u get past the page error & still have the system error.
the error is saying it cant find a file that should b in the memory or in a page file....
so most likely either a ram problem or HDD problem or simply a hardware related problem (did a tiny bit of research & vid ram can also cause this error, but if u tried another card then that cuts the VCard from the loop....

id suggest as a last resort befor going as far as reformat, if u have another computer to use chuck ur HDD in as a slave & run a disc check on it then.
that way ur not gonna get the error from it coz its not trying 2 boot from it!.

EDIT: if all else fails, check to see if you have memory caching in ur bios, if so, switch it off.
if u can get far enough, try to boot windows but press F8 continuously befor windows starts loading & then try going into last known good configuration.
if that fails try it again & go into safe mode. if that fails.....um...... i dunno......

 

[Widjaja]

Yeah thats another option.
If you have any important files etc on the HDD.
As FireDomain said run it as a slave under another PC then place the important file into the other HDD.

I know some of us freak out when this kind if crap happens and don't think of anything else but getting PC up and running as fast as possible, forgetting about the file on the HDD which can be copied still since it's just the PS which has shat itself.

@Pyro
You can only alter the PCI Mhz in BIOS IIRC.
I always do my OCing from BIOS when I decide to anyway.

Good luck.

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

@ Firedomain:

They don't call it the "Recovery Console" fur nuthin'!

 

[hat]

Maybe you overloaded the psu with the extra power draw from the overclocked cards, caused some instability at the worst of times...

 

[qwerty_lesh]

some asus models are commonly known to crap themselves on startup with more then 2gb of ram installed untill a patch is installed onto the operating system. ( i know for a fact that the striker does this, and other asus sli models)

did you set the system up to begin with yourself? (if reinstalling still causes the bsod, take 2 gb out)

my advice (prolly already suggested):

remove 2gb of ur ram
re seat the other 2gb, ensure they are in the correct ram slots (dual chan ect)
goto the recovery console, try a check disk.
if u get a bsod attempting this then;
(assuming ur using a sata disk)
try a check disk on ur hdd on another computer.

one common thing that can reset the registry hive which gives you the "cannot find.... .confi\system" is Last known good configuration, no doubt uve attempted this already, also if u havent botherd to turn ur system restore off, it could pay off, u can externally and manually restore the system hive from another machine.


another thing is since u have reset your bios, make sure that you have set it so that the drive sequence is exactly how it was for the last properly working state, if the sequence isnt the way it was xp is known to bsod from time to time because of drive letters changing around

 

[Firedomain]

with vista x64 u have to remove 2gb of ram...... i had that prob..... i'd try removing it anyway, even though ur not using vista x64...... hope u can solve your problem with some of these users suggestions.

good luck, ill b on & off my computer for like the next.... 11 hours probablly...

@ Dr. Spankenstein
yer, but the PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA error out of all likeliness wont be recoverable from the recovery console.
expecially if due to the error there unable to get that far.

 

[PyroX1040]

Currently swapping RAM from another computer to the failed one to check and see if it will clear the RAM Cache I doubt it will work but I'll try, now when the line comes up in the recovery program during booting from the CD-ROM It won't allow me to type more than 1 letter/symbol/number... and my only option is 1) C:\Windows ....

I'm going to try also to make it a slave drive and see if I can simply just go through the files and replace the corrupted one some how but other than that I've tried everything and thanks guys for all your help but in the end I'm probly gunna have to reformat and I might just to save time but I don't understand how a GPU overclock and screw it up

700 Watt power supply... simple small overclock but now I'm not going to OC it I've ordered a second GTX and I'm not sure if it will run with the 700 Watt supply but It should ^.^!

 

[Firedomain]

all your ment to type there is 1 & press enter.
generally the password can be left blank (just press enter when it asks for it)
once your in type "chkdsk c: /f /p /r" or if that comes back with unknown command or some crap type "chkdsk c: /p /r" hopefully it will fix the probs

goodluck trying 2 get it working again.
if all else fails i hope theres nothing to important on the HDD that u cant backup.

very strange errors though.
if u get the comp running & still have problems i'd suggest checking ur mobo manufacturers site & try & re-flash ur BIOS & get a newer version if its available.
unless u discover the reason everything shit itself!

goodluck.

 

[PyroX1040]

as soon as I type in 1 it goes to the BSOD...

I've recently made the HDD from the problem computer a slave on my other working computer, I'm not quite sure on how to fix the file I'm looking at the file that is supposedly missing or corrupt does anyone know where I can get a new C:\System32\Config\System file ?

 

[AphexDreamer]

Hey if worst comes to worst, look into this nice peice of software.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,25445-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

Its called ERD Commander 2005.

"Resurrect a dead system with this emergency software, which gets into unbootable systems.

You can wake up from the nightmare of having your PC refuse to boot. ERD Commander 2005 gives you access to all the files on a non-working PC. You can rescue your precious files with its this program's undelete function. More than that, with ERD Commander, you can reach the Restore points on the otherwise unusable PC, and perhaps even repair your system."

 

[PyroX1040]

Hey if worst comes to worst, look into this nice peice of software.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,25445-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

Its called ERD Commander 2005.

"Resurrect a dead system with this emergency software, which gets into unbootable systems.

You can wake up from the nightmare of having your PC refuse to boot. ERD Commander 2005 gives you access to all the files on a non-working PC. You can rescue your precious files with its this program's undelete function. More than that, with ERD Commander, you can reach the Restore points on the otherwise unusable PC, and perhaps even repair your system."

I've looked into it buy I can't find a pirated version and I don't feel like spending $150, this can be my final final resort if reformating doesn't work but I've made the current HDD a slave on a different computer and in the morning I plan to try:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

and see if I can't fix it,

If I can't I'll simply take the files I need and reformat !!!

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP FOLKS!!!!!