Windows 2000 system files fucked?

[MoonMan]

So I come home from work today and my brother starts out a greeting with "I have some bad news.."

Basically, my computer is fucked again. It was freezing up when he started a game, so he restarted. He said the desktop items werent working, so he restarted again. This time, it stopped him while trying to boot up. It gives this error before Win2k completely starts up saying there was an error with "\WINNT\system32\config\SYSTEMced"

It then says that I can repair it by inserting a Win2k CD or floppy disk and pressing 'r'.

Here is where it gets yucky. Basically, IT WONT RECOGNISE MY WIN2K CD. I inserted the CD, tried rebooting it with the CD in, tried the DVD drive too. Sometimes with the DVD drive it hangs, but usually it goes straight to the error message. Now I know some people are going to tell me my harddrive is fucked, but I won't accept that. I'm not sure what fucked the system folder, but I don't believe it has anything to do with a faulty hd.

My Windows 2000 CD is also legit. It *should* work, it came with my Visual Basic book that I bought for school. Could it be that it isn't bootable and that is why the computer isn't detecting it? (Btw, I know for sure that the boot order is CD first, harddrive last because I went into my BIOS several times to check.) Also, I've tried Safe Mode and it is the same shit.

What can I do? Would a Windows 2000 system repair floppy do the trick since the CD isn't working?

Any ideas at all? Please?

edit: sorry for having the word 'fucked' in the title. I hadn't realized it would look bad on the main page when I made the post.

[MoonMan]

http://www.duxcw.com/faq/win/2krecov.htm <- I wish I had done this. I'm an ass for always being so unprepared.

Does anyone know a place to download it, perhaps a universal way to do it? I'm just pulling shit from the air right now.

[cpugeniusmv]

from your link:

An Emergency Repair Disk can be made by inserting a floppy in a Windows 2000 computer and clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup, Emergency Repair Disk

it probably makes a backup of your registry on that disk, so someone else's recovery disk probably wouldn't help.

that 'system' file is a part of the registry.

don't you still have that CD i sent you? it doesn't work?

when are you going to upgrade to XP? :P

[MoonMan]

from your link:
it probably makes a backup of your registry on that disk, so someone else's recovery disk probably wouldn't help.

that 'system' file is a part of the registry.

don't you still have that CD i sent you? it doesn't work?

when are you going to upgrade to XP? :P

I immediately looked for the CD you sent me first. That was TOP priority! But the fucking CD was missing from the case. I went ballistic looking for it, and had no luck. Then I remembered I got one with my VB book. I'd rather use your CD, and I am SO fucking mad I don't have it anymore.

XP doesn't work on my system btw. :-P

Maybe this is a lot to ask.. in fact, it is too much to ask.. but could you send me another Win2k CD?

I love you cpu, did I mention that?

[cpugeniusmv]

I immediately looked for the CD you sent me first. That was TOP priority! But the fucking CD was missing from the case. I went ballistic looking for it, and had no luck. Then I remembered I got one with my VB book. I'd rather use your CD, and I am SO fucking mad I don't have it anymore.

XP doesn't work on my system btw. :-P

Maybe this is a lot to ask.. in fact, it is too much to ask.. but could you send me another Win2k CD?

I love you cpu, did I mention that?

i will if you promise you won't lose this one :)

[MoonMan]

i will if you promise you won't lose this one :)

I won't. I promise. Seriously.

The gods have tested me, and I have failed miserably. Do you still have my address?

[cpugeniusmv]

I won't. I promise. Seriously.

The gods have tested me, and I have failed miserably. Do you still have my address?

yes, i'm delivering this one by hand so i can pummel you with an inflatable hammer.

[mfgbypooter]

Is this the same brother who "updated" a game for you not to long ago? I think I'd password protect my machine if I were you so's he couldn't do any more damage while you arn't around.

[MoonMan]

Is this the same brother who "updated" a game for you not to long ago? I think I'd password protect my machine if I were you so's he couldn't do any more damage while you arn't around.

Yeah it's the very same brother. I believe he is somehow at fault for this, but I cannot be sure.

[cpugeniusmv]

get one of those invisible electric fences

[MoonMan]

Naw, I think I'm just going to get a club and beat him savagely until the pain in my head goes away.

[evilmegaman]

bart's pe builder sounds like something that might do the trick. But I don't know. could be wrong...

[MoonMan]

Alright cpu, I got the disk (thanks!) and was able to get to the Windows 2000 repair area.. however it cannot locate my Windows 2000 files. >_< It seems my only other option (that is apparant to me) is to use an emergency floppy disk. I don't have one.

Can my poor harddrive full of everything I forgot to backup be saved? Or must I format?

[cpugeniusmv]

If Windows doesn't want to repair itself, then reinstalling is your only option.

The best thing to do is to resize the partition on your drive right now so we have room to make another partition to install Windows on. From there you can get any files you need from the old partition and back them up, and then delete that partition.

Unfortunately I don't think that Windows 2000 disk will let you resize a partition non-destructively. I have a CD that can do it, it's only about 30 MB if you have a friend with a CD Burner :P