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[EVOLOVER69]

Hey guys,

BACK STORY
As you guys can tell from the topic i got a "/windows/system32/config/system missing or corrupt" error a few days back. I attempted to fix this via Britec's "Config\System Missing - Running System Restore from Recovery Console" (

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPdgMtbQavM

). I managed to successfully restored to an earlier time; RP610 where RP612 was the latest (one that caused the problems).

PROBLEM
Windows finally booted up BUT now the following has occured:

- I had to activate windows before startup which i did with internet connection

- I have a NEW USERNAME now! it says "Owner" on my startup menu along with "Owner" my documents etc.......(how ever in the sustem properties in control pannel windows is still registered under my name

- My destop is gone save for a few icons mainly exe files (some exe for games etc. that i had there before are still there but folders that i had on desktop along with a lot of other exe files are missing)

- Add or remove programs in control pannel has NO PROGRAMS installed now BUT I can still see my old programs on the harddrive in c:/ program files....launched from the exe in the root folder the games and stuff are still working...

- Microsoft Office is not working "action is only valid for products that are currently installed" even though i can locate the installation on my HDD under c:/program files

- System Volume Inforation folder is "EMPTY" when i hover my mouse over it and i cant access that folder

- When i go to documents and settings > my username (previously used) folder it says access denied....here is the scary part; when i right click and go to properties it says that its EMPTY!! (I have all my uni stuff in it, and its the highest priority to get back)

- When I open system restore it has no restore points other than when i booted up!

- Even Internet Exploer is missing plugins that I installed ages ago like adobe flash etc. and the TABS DONT WORK even though its clearly Internet Explorer 8. When i open a new tab and type in a web adress it says action cancelled and then a popup text bubble saying tab has been recovered comes up......also all my favourites are gone....etc

-However the free space on HDD appears to be the same as before (6.39 GB) indicating (I hope) that my files are still there.

can you guys help please? I have a lot of irreplacable things (like my uni stuff) in my original my documents folder that i want back....Is there anyway to get it back? or possibly restore to another time that has everything the way it was meant to be?

thanks in advanced guys.

cheers,

EVOLOVER69

SYSTEM
Windows XP Home Edition
Service Pack 3
Version 2002

COMPUTER
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
2.00 GB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

P.S. Sorry for bombardment of info, just trying to give you guys as clear a picture as possible....also the MY DOCUMENTS folder has all my university stuff in it! So yer really desperate.....

[BJseal91]

EVOLOVER69
I have read your fourm and it sounds like you reinstalled the operating system ising the disk did you call an account called owner when you registerd it.

in order to get your files back I dont know where you are at if the folder is there and states you do not have the permission to enter the folder then it sounds like you are on a limited account

check to see what rights you have using control panel user accounts and selecting your account it should say Administrator if it says limited then you are only on limited access that is why you can not access the folder.

when you see you folder with your name on it dose it contain any documents inside it I.E dose it have any KB / MB / GB


size inside it knoppix is the best recovery as long as the folder contains information you can also access it though the command prompt by tpying cacls "C:\users\Username" /e /g Owner:F

also what operating system are you using ?>

[EVOLOVER69]

Hey BJseal91,

Thanks for the quick reply mate. I'm running windows XP service pack 3, version 2002.

......umm all i did was follow Britec's "Config\System Missing - Running System Restore from Recovery Console" (

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPdgMtbQavM).....no

I didnt even get an option to call the account anything  :-\.....it just asked me to activate windows when windows XP booted up and i did. When i go to control pannel > system it still says its registered to my previous name not "Owner".

As for the "Owner" user account, i just checked it up and it says its computer administrator  :-\

As for the folder "local disk c:/documents and setting/-----my username---" when I right click > properties its says its EMPTY! :o 0kb/mb/gb, the creation date is the only thing correct...

BUT funny thing is my free harddrive space is exactly the same as before at 6.39GB.......Should i try to restore again?? how can i restore with knopix?? should I use ultimate boot CD thingy??

I havent shut down my computer in 2days for fear of loosing my files....is it safe to try these recovery stuff?? sorry i'm only adequately computer savvy

[Britec]

i found this and looks like its the same problem as your having, follow these steps to solve your problem

How to restore after pc recovery

I recomend printing this before moving your computer into safe mode.

""Before you complete the process""

Click START

Click MY Computer

Double click the main hard drive (C:)

Click DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS

--mouse over all the user in this folder, the one that shows empty, and once clicked on does not give you premission to open is the folder you want to use when completing the process. This should be the user (user name) you had before the restore, is may have a .PC(with numbers behind it)

--write down and remember this folder name


1. Shut down the computer.

2. Turn the power on, and when the blue HP or Compaq screen appears, press F8 to display the Windows Advanced Options Menu .

3.Use the arrow keys to move up to Safe Mode and press Enter .

4.Press Enter on Microsoft Windows Whistler Personal or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition .

5.Click Administrator and, enter your password (if necessary) or press Enter .

6.A window will appear to prompt for confirmation to keep operating in Safe Mode .

7.Click Yes .

8.Click Start and My Computer . Then, double-click the main hard drive ( C: ) and Documents and Settings .

9.Right-click the folder name of the user account and click Properties . (This is the folder you found and wrote down before starting this process)

10.Click Security .

11.Click Advanced . On the Owner tab,(third tab over) click the checkbox to select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects option.

12. Click Apply .

13.Click Yes to the security message.

14.Click OK .

15.Click OK again.(you should start to see the files being transferred that your trying to access)

--Restart your computer in normal operation.

--Login to your user name

--make a new folder on your desktop and name it "BINGO", open that folder and create a folder named "FOUND IT"

click START

click MY COMPUTER

Double click the main hard drive (C:)

click DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS

--from here go to any user that does not contain adminstrator, or all users in the file name

(if you don't find the folder your looking for exit out of that user and choose another until you find the Folder)

--once you open each user

click DESKTOP

--look through the desktop folder, your looking for the folder BINGO open that and you should see the folder FOUND IT, this is the user that you want to copy all your lost files from the old user to.

--Wirte down this user name

Exit back to the DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS folder

--- at this point you should see all the users folders again, however when you click on the user folder you used the process on (the first folder you have written down) that folder will now open.

--From here you need to move your files back from (the first folder you have written down) to your currently operating user name (the second folder you have wirtten down)

--you should see all of your desktop, my music, my pics, my movies, (in the first folder you have written down) however until you move these files from the old user to your current user the computer will not always find them in your basic progams(ie.--windows movie maker, media player, ext.)

--with some of the folders it may be easier to move them first to a desktop folder and then reorganise them from there.

This should work you will get your lost docs. back however you may still need to reinstall some progams that you lost. Moving your files back to your new user can be another interesting issue, however you should for now have all your lost info recovered. Feel free to e-mail me or post any questions or if you need more help.

[EVOLOVER69]

Britec!

YOU ARE A LEGEND!!! EVERYTHING IS WORKING AGAIN!!  :o :o......i thought i lost everything!

THANKS A LOT MAN!!

i would kiss you if i could right now hahaha

thanks heaps  ;D ;D

[BJseal91]

Glad the problem is gone and you are fixed and working

[Britec]

Your welcome mate, glad you got it sorted, hope your going to stick around the forum