Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
My computer won’t start and it says – the Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: windows\system32\config\system”. I have a ThinkPad T60 computer and I am currently studying abroad in a different country away from home and I do not have the original CD for Windows…Is there any way I can get this fixed or solve it without the CD? Please write back if you can, it’d be much appreciated!
Usually on ThinkPad laptops you can repair or reinstall window from the hidden recovery partition. Turn on the laptop and press on the blue Access IBM button to activate the recovery wizard. Press on the button as soon as Lenovo (IBM) logo appears on the screen. You’ll see a few different options in the recovery menu. First, try repairing Windows. If it doesn’t help, reimage the hard drive back to factory defaults.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I started my computer and the following message came up: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM I understand that a reboot disk can fix it but I do not have one. Is there a way I can download it or are there any other options I can take?
March 1st, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Paul,
I think you can attempt to repair Windows but again, you’ll need at least the installation CD.
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:03 am
If you are using Vista, there’s so called Recovery Disk that allows you to boot your computer with the most basic features to fix some errors in your OS.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I have windows xp and i have the same problem without any disks is there any way i could fix my computer if u do please mail me at ciaran95 AT hotmail.co.uk
May 13th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I have a Toshiba Satellite A55 Laptop. Whenever I go to boot it up it starts off at the screen where you select Normal or safe mode. Whichever mode I select It goes on to the Windows XP loading screen, and then completely restarts. Before this problem it also froze every time windows loaded. I just re-installed the operating system (windows xp) and I was wondering if buying a new hard drive would fix the problem.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:31 am
What would cause my laptop, and my desk top, to produce the message windows root>/system 32/intoskrnl.exe? The screen says that windows is missing or corrupt but it was working just fine.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:27 am
My Satellite L35 has been doing something similar with one of the drivers, and it also started happening with my Acer. I have the recovery DVD for my Satellite, but I really don’t want to clear my C drive. There are things saved on there that I can never get back. Pictures, documents, programs, etc. that cannot be recovered. My Acer is only a few months old so I didn’t have a lot on there when I used the Erecovery (love this feature). My sister has had a similar problem with her Satellite and she’s told me there is a way to recover the system without erasing the C drive. How can I do it?
September 20th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I have an acer laptop and I have no idea how to fix this problem everytime i turn it on it goes to this same stupid screen…”Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \system32\hal.dll. Please re-install a copy of the above file. If anyone has any advice for fixing this problem that doesnt include using the cd it came with because I no longer have that than please email me at alikat92@yahoo.com thanx!
November 15th, 2009 at 3:14 am
Hi, I have a Toshiba R15 with Windows XP. It doesn’t boot, it says that \system32\hal.dll is missing. I have a recovery disc, but nothing happens when I put in. Is there something special I should do?
November 15th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Mariam,
You understand that running the recovery disc will erase everything from the hard drive, right?
1. Insert the recovery disc into the optical drive.
2. Restart laptop and when you see Toshiba logo on the screen press F12. This will take you to the boot device menu.
3. Select CD/DVD drive from the boot menu and press enter.
4. The laptop will start booting from the recovery disc.
5. Follow instructions on the screen.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
after i hit f-12 it went thru all of the promts then it came up with the same error again would a scratch on my cd recovery disk do that??????????????
December 13th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I also have a similar problem; when I turn on my desktop computer I get a message that reads: could not start file missing or corrupt, Windows root>1system 32\hal.d11, reinstall a copy. I don’t have a copy I don’t even know what that windows root…..stuff means. Can you please help?
April 19th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I have a laptop and when I turn it on it says that a file is missing or corrupt….. I do not have the disc the computer it came with…… I would just like a way to be able to use my computer….. Yeah…..
April 20th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Lulu,
This could be memory related failure. It’s possible that one of the memory modules in your laptop is bad.
Try removing memory modules one by one and test the laptop with each module separately. The laptop should start properly when the faulty module is removed.
If you are getting same error with each memory module, I guess you’ll have to reinstall Windows.
It’s possible that you can reinstall Windows from the hidden partition on the hard drive. You’ll have to read the user’s manual to find out if there is such an option.
First, test your laptop with each memory module.
August 1st, 2010 at 8:18 am
Every time I try to start up my advent laptop it says windows file is missing. I have the disks and have tried to use the disks and reinstall windows and it seems to be working but when its all finished it says And error has occurred and the following changes could not be made. I want to be able to fix my computer without using the turn to factory settings as I have very important files that I wish to keep. Any help would be greatly appreciated.