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Answer» Hi guys,
I'm looking at a Compaq Presario C304NR notebook PC for the owner. It will not boot up. It begins to load Windows but stops and displays an error box. The error box says "The system is not fully installed. Please run setup again." At this point, the Windows desktop background, one with a Compaq logo, is displayed. CLICKING on the OK button in the error box just causes bootup to start over and go back to the same screen.
It will not start in Safe Mode. Also, if I try to start with the last know good configuration, it immediately stops and says, "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOW\system32\config\SYSTEM". It continues: "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."
Neither I, nor the owner, have a Setup CD-ROM. However, I can probably borrow a Win XP Home Edition CD from someone. I did put a gparted disc in the CD-ROM drive and determined that the hard drive has a recovery partition on it. I'm just not sure what's the best approach to trying to start a recovery installation from that partition without being able to boot Windows.
I accessed the CMOS Setup Utility and ran a hard drive diagnostic tool which reported no problem with the hard drive. Its report said: "(Quick) Pass"; (Comprehensive) Pass"; and "(S.M.A.R.T) Pass". This was a positive sign, since the owner mentioned dropping the computer and believes that's when the problem started.
Any suggestions on the best way to proceed with this? I believe the owner is not concerned about recovering any files on the computer; however, I want to verify this with him. Again, I can probably borrow a Win XP CD to do a repair installation. The computer has the Win XP product key on the bottom. Or, if I can download some hard drive management tool and create a bootable CD that I could use to reinstall Windows from the Recover Partition, what tool do you recommend?
I may be offline for a few hours, but will check back as soon as possible.Regarding the message from last known good, you can do the following:
Either borrow the XP CD or download the recovery console .iso (http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?showtopic=150212) and burn it to disc.
Boot to the recovery console
At the command prompt type:
ren c:\windows\system32\config\system system.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config
Reboot
However, because you only get that message from Last Known Good I'm not sure this will work for you. You may be relegated to borrowing the XP CD (must be the same version as is installed) and do a repair install.Thanks, I'll try that and let you know how it goes. Okay. Good luck.Also, if you want to try the recovery partition, it shouldn't need Windows running to access.
I don't have Compaq info, but on my Acer there are two steps:
1) Ensure Recovery is enabled in BIOS Setup. Restart the system.
2) When the Acer logo is showing, press + to enter the recovery process. Refer to onscreen instructions to perform system recovery.The problem with using the recovery partition is it won't do a repair install on most machines...it'll only take the machine back to Day One status which means all data is gone...
Better off with a CD and This Method...Agreed. As I mentioned in my post above, a repair install will likely be required. Still, no harm in trying to replace the corrupt hive first just to make sure.What I wonder is how did the drive get so bad? Are you sure it isn't on it's way out? You may want to run the drive tools from the manufacture's web site....
Quote from: Spoiler on March 02, 2010, 11:01:37 AM What I wonder is how did the drive get so bad? Are you sure it isn't on it's way out? You may want to run the drive tools from the manufacture's web site....
Just curious - what makes you think there's anything wrong with the hd?I am not saying it bad. I just wonder if it is bad. You have a old Celeron laptop that has been kicked around and one day it starts to give errors like it can't read part of the drive....
QuoteThe error box says "The system is not fully installed. Please run setup again."
All I am saying is before you waste a lot of time trying to fix it just make sure the drive is worth it. It maybe fine but for the time it takes to burn a CD with the drive tools it may save you a lot of time trying to fix it.
Well, the easier method would be to boot to the recovery console and run chkdsk /r. But based on the error message(s) described, the hd would not be my first guess. No harm in checking though.I agree with you Allen. In most cases chkdsk will fix things right up. Maybe checking the drive at this point is overkill.
Anyway, good luck Soybean
The first post said HD is good:
QuoteI accessed the CMOS Setup Utility and ran a hard drive diagnostic tool which reported no problem with the hard drive. Its report said: "(Quick) Pass"; (Comprehensive) Pass"; and "(S.M.A.R.T) Pass".
Good catch...
You're our new shortstop now that Spring Training has started....
An update on this:
The only way I could run the recovery procedure was basically as jkolak mentioned:
Quote from: jkolak on March 02, 2010, 05:54:55 AMAlso, if you want to try the recovery partition, it shouldn't need Windows running to access.
I don't have Compaq info, but on my Acer there are two steps:
1) Ensure Recovery is enabled in BIOS Setup. Restart the system.
2) When the Acer logo is showing, press <Alt> + <F10> to enter the recovery process. Refer to onscreen instructions to perform system recovery.
During a call to HP to inquire about getting a recovery disc from them for this computer, I LEARNED that pressing F11 during startup will start the recovery process. I ran that and it APPEARED to be doing a successful reinstallation of Windows until the very end when it just stopped, said please wait, and displayed an hour glass. After waiting about 1 1/2 hours and no progress occurring, I shut off the power.
Oh, I should have stated that, before running the recovery process, I put a Linux Ubuntu disc in the DVD drive, ran Ubuntu off the DVD drive and retrieved hundreds of photos and some other files the owner very much wanted to preserve. I copied those files (2.1GB worth)to a flash drive and then used my laptop to burn them to a DVD.
After discussing the situation with the owner and suggesting, receiving concurrence on, an installation of Ubuntu, I installed Ubuntu. The computer worked fine with Ubuntu. I also informed the owner an recovery disc can be ordered from HP if he decides he'd like to go that route.
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