OMG!!! COMPUTER CRASHED!!! OMG!!!!

[}TCP{Snowbird]

Hi ladies and gentlemen. I am one of the most careful and protected computer guys, this side of Venus, but as it looks, something has invaded my system. (I would guess my new/old member of the household, my daughter.) I was playing lastnight and everything was fine, I turn my computer on tonight, and I get a blue screen. It could be a new bug that I do not know about, (VERY unlikely), or someone erased a system program.

systemroot/system32/config/SOFTWARE

Is there something I can do? I am writeing from my laptop/notebook now, and am researching as I am writeing.

I did a CHKDSK, and it did find "at least one mistake" on the drive. I also know that there are 2 "software datas in the file mentioned above. One is a .sav file and the other is a "text" data. HELP!!!!

***EDIT***

One of the great things with being with you guys, is that you care for one another. I was so frustrated with the computer, that I went into the game to see if one of "us" tcp were in to help me. I saw Coco, and I know that he is a wizard with the computer. So as I was trying to talk to him, my laptop was dieing. Oour conversation was broken off. He must have thought that my wife was stabbing me to death, and got blood on my computer, so he called Wolf. Mr.. wolf being the wiz that HE is, called me right away, to see if there was a way to wipe the blood off my computer to get it running again. What a family. Thanks guys for trying to help. And, yes,, everyone can call me ANYTIME they want. But you have to get through my wife first. Ask Wolf, it is not an easy "first Encounter of the third kind"

No man, she is really a nice person. Everyone would really like her.

[}TCP{Wolf]

Well she definitely sounds cute on the phone

But back to the topic...

Anything can get damaged at any time, we all know Windoze is a pile of shit anyway. Partition backups do a good job of avoiding any permanent long lasting reinstalling process though

[}TCP{Coco]

Hi Frank!

Yes, it was a nice gesture from Wolf to call you. But as it seems, the two of you didn't solve the problem!?

Well, I'm not sure about the files "software", "software.sav" and "software.LOG" in your systemroot/system32/config/ directory, but I doubt these are programs (I can't even read them at runtime, because they're locked). As the name of the directory ("config") states, they must contain configuration data. Maybe, these files hold the information you can usually find in Control Panel -> Software (as part of the Windows Registry). Therefore, it will be almost impossible to replace them with something one of us has on our harddrives.

I would say, the only way to restore them will be to find them somewhere else on the harddrive (Windows does backup important files - maybe these as well?), try to undelete or salvage them with a tool or possibly get them from a backup you made? Maybe, there's even a way to restore a Windows "System-Wiederherstellungspunkt" (sorry, don't know what it's called in English - "System Restoration Point" maybe?). But I doubt that's possible without being able to boot the system.

Sorry, don't know what else to do...

Coco.

[}TCP{Snowbird]

Thanks for your suggestions. I also was thinking of a backup file for this, and I believe you are right aboout the Control panel -Software thing. I went into the "DOS" through the windows disk, and found the files that are trying to be loaded. I am not sure if they are. I think there must be some type of crossed/messed up referance to some of the programs, also in "DOS" the C:\ programme file is locked. I find that very strange, and I could not use the "Attrib" tool to change it. It says I have admin rights to do it. :/ I will try later on. I still have my laptop and can at least write here.

Thanks again and I will keep you informed.

[Pitbull]

There should be an option to "repair" your OS from within the installation disk. I've never used it myself but I know the option is there. I'm assuming you have XP btw.

[}TCP{Coco]

Hi!

Yes, that's true. When booting from your Windows XP installation CD, you'll see a REPAIR option for your current installation. I'm not sure if it can really fix this (or what it does at all - probably checking all important system files), but maybe it's worth a try!

Coco.

[}TCP{Ghost]

What I heared is that windows makes image files periodically.
So when your pc crashes, you can simply boot to the last saved image file.. Never used this myself.. dunno how to do it.. but i heard it's possible..

[}TCP{Snowbird]

Yes, these things are all true. There is a repair console on the windows cd. And it is possible to repair things that do go bad, like the master boot record, or you can make/delete a new director. Things like this. But in the repair console, MS never put in a feature to read the image file that you saved inside of windows. (systemwiederherstellungs punkt). Thi s is done for a reason, I believe. This image file could be used to install windows on another computer. Dell got around this problem with there computer ysytems by placeing a "go back" function in between DOS and windows. As you turn the computer on, DOS loads first, then the "go back" and then the OS. I am fairly good with a computer and its insides, but this was beyond me to fix. Thanks guys for your help. i am reinstalling the system now. I have to hurry, so that I can make it tomorrow for the match.

[the_kay]

Well, there is a German tool you can try: Knoppicillin is a Knoppix-based GNU/Linux-Live-CD-System that checks your Windows for viruses, spyware (and some other maleware), and even hardware defects. (Download here)

And if you say, 'screw windows', you can always try (K)Ubuntu

[}TCP{Snowbird]

OK, thanks man, I will DL and have a "look-see".

I have already reinstalled windows, and am almost done with it now.