Trouble:

These type of error messages comes when Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in windows registry.

Most of the windows users who face this type of problems could not start windows, see the error messages like some mentioned below:

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE

Let’s see how can we fix this computer trouble

Fix:

This type of error usually occurs when some of the system files got corrupted, due to which windows does boot.

You need to repair windows using the windows XP setup cd using the windows recovery console, Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into “Recovery Console” by pressing “R“. Enter the administrator username and password.

Note: If you are not sure about the administrator password don’t type anything and press Enter.

After entering the correct username and password for the admin account you will see command prompt

Enter the following command at the command prompt.

“copy %windir%\Repair\system %windir%\System32\Config” and press Enter

Try restarting your windows to check if the problem is solved and If the above does not work, then again boot into “Recovery Console” and give following commands: (one by one)

fixmbr
bootcfg /scan
bootcfg /rebuild
fixboot

We hope the solutions provided above will help you fix the trouble, if it does not let us know through comments.

This content is just a summary, read the full article at ©2010 TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles. All Rights Reserved.

Error message on startup “Windows\System32\config\system” file missing or corrupt is a post from TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles

One of Trouble Fixers reader, Pritam, reported a problem saying “After installing RAM display comes but OS did not load. and system restarts automatically“.

Strange co-incidence is that today only I bought some new RAM for one of my friends computer and I too faced such issue. I tried installing it on my computer and my computer also did not boot with new RAM. It was restarting again and again and again, not loading windows.

One thing I realized on comparing the RAM module which I am using and the new one is the number of Memory Chips on memory module.

Let us see in details.

Fix:

On observing closely,I found that there are 8 Memory chips on the new module on front side and no chip on the rear side as you can see in the above picture .

The module which I am using is having 8 chips on front and 8 at the back.

This simply means that each chip on new RAM is high density chip and contains twice the memory as compared to the old module. Due to this high density memory, my old motherboard is not able to read it properly and thus is not booting normally.

So next time you want to upgrade ram, be sure that the one you are buying is compatible with the old computer that you have. See this post for some more precautions before buying a RAM.

I didn’t have such good luck. Now I will find some of my friend whose computer can handle it, or I will get back to the vendor and ask him for a replacement with a compatible version.

This content is just a summary, read the full article at ©2010 TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles. All Rights Reserved.

After installing new RAM display comes but Windows does not load is a post from TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles

One of our readers, Mehraj, sent us a problem saying whenever he powers on his computer, the computer does not boot. It show error message like “Unmountable Boot Volume or STOP 0×000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME” message.

It can really trouble someone a lot if the computer refuses to boot at all. In such cases the computer even does not start even in safe mode.

The main reasons behind such problem are:

• Incompatible BIOS settings
• Faulty or incorrect bus-cable
• Boot sector virus attack
• Corrupt boot sector

Lets us see the ways to sort these problems:

Fix:

Lets go one by one:

• Incompatible BIOS settings: This can be a problem when the actual disk supports a particular DMA mode and BIOS is configured for higher settings. In such case, you can try to reset the BIOS to default settings and save changes. Restart the computer. It may fix the trouble.
• Faulty or incorrect bus-cable: Bus cable is very important for proper functioning of drive. In case the disk is configured to use 80 pin UDMA cable and you are using a regular 40 pin DMA cable, it may cause such errors. Check your bus cable which connects hard drive to motherboard. Replace if it is faulty or of wrong type.
• Boot sector virus / Corrupted boot sector: If your boot sector has become corrupt because of some disk problem or virus problem, in such case, you need to run a repair setup for windows.

See this post for detailed steps on how to run a repair setup for Windows XP.

Tip: Keep your virus definitions updated to prevent boot-sector virus attacks.

This content is just a summary, read the full article at ©2010 TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles. All Rights Reserved.

Windows cannot mount Boot Volume is a post from TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles

One of readers faced this trouble, when Windows XP refuses to boot due to changed or corrupted boot.ini file.

This error may appear if the Boot.ini file is missing, damaged, or contains incorrect entries of the operating system.

This is how error seems like at the time of boot: (see the image below)

Invalid Boot.ini

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

Lets see how can we repair the altered or damaged boot.ini file.

Fix:

Follow the procedure below to repair original boot.ini file

1. Firstly arrange a Bootable Windows XP setup CD.
2. Boot from bootable Windows XP setup CD and press R to enter recovery console which allows to restore the corrupted boot.ini file to original.
3. Now enter your administrative username and password, when you get the command prompt type the following command “bootcfg /rebuild” (without double quotes) and press Enter.
4. Bootcfg utility on the Windows XP setup CD will scan your drives for any Windows XP installations and then display the results which you can select to repair the corresponding boot.ini file.
5. The first prompt asks to Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All). type “Y” (without double quotes) and press enter.
6. The next prompt asks to Enter Load Identifier ” This is nothing but the name of the operation system which appears at the time of Booting ” :type Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition or simply Windows XP and press Enter.
7. Now it will ask to Enter OS Load options: type /Fastdetect and press Enter.
8. Take the Windows XP bootable CD out from the tray and Type exit and then press Enter to restart your PC.

The above solution provided will help to fix the trouble!

This time your Windows XP should start normally with out any problems, if you still have any concerns regarding this problem or solution, please leave a comment.

This content is just a summary, read the full article at ©2010 TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles. All Rights Reserved.

Windows does not start due to error message: " Invalid Boot.ini File" is a post from TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles

Have you ever seen “NTLDR is missing, Press any key to restart” during boot up ? One of our reader got this problem suddenly at the time of booting windows. Due to this, the windows does not boot.

What is NTLDR ?

NTLDR (NT Loader) is the boot loader for all releases of Microsoft’s Windows NT operating system up to and including Windows XP.

This message NTLDR is missing indicates that the boot loader is either corrupted or missing due to some reason.

Let’s see how we can fix it.

Fix:

There are two approaches to fix the missing boot loader in windows XP.

If your Windows is installed on FAT32 Partitions:
1. Boot your computer with a Win98 startup floppy.

2. Now, copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files from the i386 directory on your floppy to your windows installation drive (e.g in “c:\” in case the windows is installed on c:).

If your Windows is installed on NTFS Partitions:
1. Arrange for the bootable Windows XP setup CD.
2. Boot from CD select R=Repair option, by pressing R key during the setup.
3. Select the windows installation.
4. You need to enter in the administrator password when requested, if you had not set any password for the administrator account just press enter without typing.
5. Type the following commands to repair the bootloader, where X is the drive letter for your CD / DVD drive.
COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\:
COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\
6. Eject CD-ROM and type exit to restart.

We hope this helps to fix the trouble.

This content is just a summary, read the full article at ©2010 TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles. All Rights Reserved.

NTLDR missing or NTDETECT.COM not found in windows XP is a post from TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles