The Big Crash
I need some positive vibes, or rather, my computer needs some positive vibes…
I’m currently sitting at our PC, which is mainly the Hubby’s computer. I use a laptop we purchased a few years back, as it is easier for me to haul to and from work when needed, and anywhere else I would like to take it. Plus, I staked a flag on it when we bought it stating it was MY COMPUTER! (Okay, not really, but I might as well have…)
This morning, after a weekend of running the race as the turtle (it eventually got there – slow and steady, but I was missing the speed it used to have), I uninstalled two programs I do not use (outdated programs at that) and set it up to defrag just prior to leaving for work. Usually not a big deal and something you want to do when you aren’t using the computer, due to the time involved.
I came home to the following error 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 using the original setup CD-ROM.
Select ‘r’ at the first screen to start repair.
Umm, my computer didn’t come with a Windows setup CD-ROM. Windows was already installed. The programs I uninstalled were not even affiliated with Windows, so I’m baffled.
Called my father, AKA the computer tech geek in the family. Yes, it is not unusual that the computers are sold without the CDs now, but he may be able to score one for me by tomorrow. Yes, it is possible that all of the information is still safely in my laptop somewhere…
Hoping and praying that said CD is forthcoming and that all will be well, but for now, I’m stressed.
Have I mentioned ALL of Little Dude’s baby pictures and videos are pretty much on my computer(including his cute bathtime pictures and many more cuddly moments I haven’t yet shared)?
Don’t yell at me! I haven’t finished uploading all of them to Snapfish, yet, or Flickr, or doing back up CDs, and don’t get me started on the documents I would lose… Plus, I’ve just planted the bug in the Hubby’s ear that we need to look into prices on either a network hard-drive or back-up hard-drive, but I can only push one big computer purchase at a time and must we bring up my new toy?!?!?!?
**sigh**
Didn’t we just see this episode, only it involved my Palm Pilot?!?!?!?!? What is going on with all of my electronic gadgets, which are meant to make my life easier?!?!?!?!?!?
**sob**
OH NO! I’m hyperventilating for you! Girl, you NEED an external hard drive! And back up, back up, back up! OMG, I hope everything works out ok!
What you describe is an error in the operating system. i.e. There are files on the drive that have been corrupted or have otherwise gone missing, causing Windows not to load. This should not affect the rest of the data on your drive, you just need to be able to access it.
Be wary of “fixing” it before you recover your precious data.
I would suggest that you remove the drive and put it in another computer (a friends if necessary). It should show up as a second drive, allowing you to copy off you precious data before attempting to fix windows. I know it may sound like overkill … but think how valuable your data is.
Once that is done, the most reliable thing to do would be to do a fresh install, but that is optional.
PROTECT THE DATA FIRST!
If you want to contact me feel free to e-mail me, consider it payment for keeping me entertained on your blog.
I was going to suggest what Mr Geek suggested. My hubby sees this sort of thing all the time. He suggests bringing it to a computer fixing shop to let them do it. They’ll make sure everything will work fine for you.
There’s also a cd called a manufacturer system restore which would come from the place that built your laptop. That cd would wipe out everything. A simple Windows install shouldn’t wipe everything out, but only if you reinstall “on top” of the old system and not replace it.
Yeah. I don’t understand that gobbledygook either. He said it shouldn’t cost more than 150 bucks at a computer place. OR you can pay the gas money to drive up here, and Chris will fix it for free.
I love my readers! And, as my Dad is my tech geek aficionado, he is going to be looking at doing the two things described by Mr. Geek and Mamacheryl.
He is bringing home a CD to install Window XP over top of what I currently have, but he said that if that looks like it is going to override anything, he will dump my computer onto one of his many (I should mention here that my father runs his various computers with Windows and Linux, and our first computer was an old TI – he’s been doing this for a long time. It is just I’m trying to grab him before he leaves on yet another business trip tomorrow) computers, and we’ll try another route.
I’ll go the “free dad” route first, but trust me – you are all about to get emailed if things look sketchy.
He called me this morning, and he sounds pretty up-beat about it – just needs to stop saying the “most of the time,” as in, “most of the time these things are easily corrected and data is easily retrieved.”
I really think I need to consider moving my life to Macs, but I would lose him as my tech support, and I’m still not speaking enough tech geek speak.
I’m glad you have someone to help you!!!… I do suggest you at least upload all your photos and videos though, just in case… I am OBSESSIVE about mine and have all my photos uploaded to both Flickr and Winkflash. I don’t want to lose a single picture!
How incredibly frustrating. AAARGH…
Hope Dad can fix it.
OK. I will start with the confession that just the thought of loosing my data brings me out in a cold sweat! Everyone has their little phobias, this is mine!
Personally I only use flickr for Blog Pics, as it is not really feasible for me to upload all my Photos at Full Quality.
However a Network attached storage device is a convenient redundancy layer, but it is no substitute for off site backup.
I know off site backup sounds like the type of thing that only a business would consider but think about it. In the old days you had a fire you you may have been insured but it could not buy back your photos, videos etc. You don’t have to put up with that anymore.
It doesn’t have to be stored in a strong box or anything like that, you just need it so that both places are unlikely to be hit by the same problem. I have an external USB hard drive which costs very little (Even less for you guys in the US). I copy my data to the hard drive once per month, and take it to my work and put it in my desk.
Think about it, a thief breaks in to your house and steals your computer, what are the chances that he will leave your network attached storage device just sitting there flashing at him.
OK lecture over
Trust me, this is a nightmare for me. I’m tech geeky enough that I have way too much information on that little computer.
I know the lecture. I will be pricing out external hard-drives. The Hubby won’t like the added expense right now, but he’s going to like it even less if I take over his computer and if he has to support all of my stuff (which he would refer to as crap), and we lose all these pictures, our resumes, my school work, etc.
I consider myself fully lectured now. Can I just go back to being upset?