Re: Winnt\sys32\config\systemCED Error

The Dell cd that you have there is the real McCoy. For all intents and purposes it's almost identical to a Genuine Microsoft cd, except that it only works on Dell computers. Other than that you wouldn't know the difference when you use it.

You are on the right track, check the boot order in the BIOS and then try to boot the computer with the cd and see if you can get to the setup screen where you get the option to install or repair Windows. From there things should go well, or as well as can be expected given the circumstances. Whichever method you end up using to repair the installation don't forget to reapply Service Pack 4 and patch with the Security Rollup Package. Given that we don't know the age of her registry backup don't take chances not applying or reapplying the patches. I find it easier to download and burn these 2 big items to cd first, it makes things go a lot faster when you do the fixing part. Good luck.

John

PS. I don't want to throw to much information at you, but after you fix her pc you should make her aware of the importance of regularly making an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) and backing up the registry at the same time, if she isn't already aware. That is one of the only reliable way of backing up the Windows 2000 registry, it should be done regularly, that way when problems arise you have recent registry backups to work with. She can look in her Windows help files for more information on how to do it.

ColTom2 wrote:

*Hi John:*
** * I have the Dell CD in hand and it's a Dell "Operating System" Reinstallation CD W2K + SP2 green in color. You asked me previously was it a service pack CD and I replied no, but it is a SP2 CD if that makes any difference.*
** * I was also able to create the setup disks (4) and have then also.*
** * I thought the first thing that I would do is to access the BIOS and see what drive is bootable first and then either use the CD or the setup disks accordingly. What worries me is that Dell tried yesterday using the Dell Reinstallation CD, as mentioned and could not resolve her issue.*
** * If you have any thoughts and/or recommendations at this point on how I should proceed I sure would appreciate them. I am scheduled to go over to her house tomorrow after lunch. Again thanks for all your help. *
** *ColTom2*

"ColTom2" <nomailaddress@xxxxxxxx <mailto:nomailaddress@xxxxxxxx>>
wrote in message news:%23LYUGhf7GHA.4288@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
*HI John:*
** * I will most likely get the OS CD today and then go over to where
the computer is tomorrow. I will try and make the setup disks just
to have as a backup before I go.*
** * If I have any other questions I will post later today
accordingly. I can't begin to express my thanks to you for all your
detailed info. No doubt that you have worked on Dell computers
before with Win2000 and this same problem.*
** * Again thanks and I will keep you posted as to status and/or outcome.*
** *Thanks again.....*
** *ColTom2*

"John John" <audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote in message
news:%23q936La7GHA.4276@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On all the Dell pc's that I have seen when the computer boots
you see a
message telling you which key to press to enter the Setup Program
(BIOS). The documentation here says to press F2.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4300/syssetup.htm#1097056
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4300/

I'm quite sure that the CD she has is a complete Windows 2000
operating
system cd, it works the same as a genuine Microsoft cd. If it
can't
boot either the cd is defective (scratched, dirty) or the cd-rom
drive
is defective, or the BIOS is not set properly.

As I said earlier, I have often found the quality of the repair
to be
less than acceptable or desirable when the replacement hives are
really
old. Also, I have seen occasions where nothing could be done on
the
drive without first running a chkdsk /r . That is a command that I
don't like to run unless all avenues have been exhausted. If
you can't
get the installation up to an acceptable condition an in-place
upgrade
is the next thing to do:

How to perform an in-place upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292175/

You will have to reinstall the latest service pack and
hotfixes. DO NOT
connect the unpatched computer to the internet without a properly
configured firewall! As installed Windows 2000 is EXTREMELY
vulnerable
to worms and virus if not properly protected. These are what I
would
consider as bare minimum on a new Windows 2000 installation:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp4/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/rollup.mspx

The security rollup package contains the critical MS03-049 patch.

John

ColTom2 wrote:

> *Hi John:*
> **
> * She told me that she has the original Win2000 OS CD that
came with
> the computer some years ago, so I assume it is not a Service
Pack CD.*
> **
> * You would think that Dell would have gone into the BIOS
and set it up
> to boot on CD, but I have no idea as to what transpired. Dell
apparently
> got it to do something, but she said the same error about
booting came
> back etc. I hate trying to work through someone else like
this and I
> apologize for doing so. Her husband is a close friend of mine
is the
> only reason. If they were closer I would have already gone to
their
> house and checked things out myself, which I most likely will
do tomorrow.*
> **
> * You would not know by chance how to access the BIOS on a
Dell 4300
> would you? I assume F2, F12, or Delete. but really do not
know. I need
> to know the BIOS settings before I try anything as you well
know. Her
> husband can meet me in Savannah tomorrow with the OS CD and I
thought
> that I would try and make the setup disks from it and then
later go to
> their house, check the BIOS and go from there.*
> **
> * One thing that worries me is that she might have corrupted
her
> Registry hive beyond repair, so if you have any comments
about this
> please forward.*
> **
> * Again thanks so much for all you help...*
>
> "John John" <audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx> <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> wrote in message
news:uhzQqaZ7GHA.3452@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Did she go in the BIOS and set the computer to boot to
the CD first?
> The Windows 2000 cd is bootable and the computer should
boot from it,
> but you have to change the boot order in the BIOS and
have the cd as
> the
> first booting device. Only if she can't boot with the cd
should she
> need the floppies in lieu of the cd. Are you sure she
has a Window
> 2000
> Operating System (or reinstallation) cd? Maybe she is
trying to use a
> service pack cd instead.
>
> John
>
> ColTom2 wrote:
>
> > *Hi John:*
> > **
> > * She has tried inserting the Windows 2000CD and
accessing the
> Recovery
> > Console per telecon apparently with Dell, but the
computer does
> nothing
> > when she inserts the CD. This was why I thought
possibly of using
> setup
> > disks etc. She just cannot get it to boot up even with
the CD.*
> > **
> > * Do you think setup disks would work even if the
Win2000 CD
> will not?*
> > **
> > *Thanks*
> >
> > "John John" <audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > wrote in message
news:u09mdMZ7GHA.3284@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > If she has a Windows 2000 cd she doesn't need to
create a set
> of floppy
> > disks, forget about them as she can boot the
computer with
> the Windows
> > 2000 cd then access the Recovery Console and
attempt the
> repairs as per
> > KB269075. For information on the RC see:
> >
> > Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/229716
> >
> > John
> >
> > ColTom2 wrote:
> >
> > > *Hi John:*
> > > **
> > > * I apologize for the misinformation, as she has a
> Windows 2000 Pro
> > > Edition Operating System CD and not a Recovery
CD. Sorry
> about this.*
> > > **
> > > * I have read your referenced
> > > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/197063 article
on how to
> create a
> > set
> > > of setup disks, but must admit I am not at all
sure of the
> procedure
> > > even after reading it. It never mentions when
or how to insert
> > the blank
> > > floppy etc in making these disks. *
> > > **
> > > * I have a Sony desktop Windows MCE computer
so could you
> please
> > > explain in detail somewhat how I would go about
creating
> these disks
> > > from her Win2000 CD using my Sony and also
accessing the
> Recovery
> > > Console. A step by step explanation would be
most helpful.*
> > > **
> > > * I really appreciate your effort in this matter.*
> > > **
> > > *ColTom2*
> > > * *
> > >
> > > "John John" <audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > > wrote in message
> news:OwW6aaY7GHA.2384@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > She will have to make the disks with
another computer,
> also with
> > > recovery disk that she has there is no
saying what is
> or is
> > not on
> > > there
> > > so I can't say if she can make a set of startup
> diskettes or
> > start the
> > > Recovery Console with it.
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/197063
> > > Maybe
> > > the recovery disk can boot the Recovery
Console, or
> she could
> > just
> > > borrow a Windows 2000 cd for the repairs.
> > >
> > > "Mount the disk", put it in another
computer as a second
> > (data) disk
> > > and
> > > do the instruction in KB269075 from the
working Windows
> > installation
> > > instead of the Recovery Console. If her
Windows 2000
> is on a
> > FAT32
> > > partition she can do it from a Windows 9x
computer, if her
> > Windows 2000
> > > is on an NTFS partition she will have to
mount it in a
> > Windows 2000/XP
> > > machine because Windows 9x cannot read
NTFS. An NT4
> computer
> > can also
> > > do it providing that it has later service
pack to read
> newer
> > Windows
> > > 2000 NTFS version. In a case like that the
working
> Windows
> > is like a
> > > "Super" Recovery Console with all the bells
and whistles.
> > Another way
> > > to do the repairs is via a parallel
installation on her
> > computer, a
> > > Windows installation on another partition
or disk.
> > >
> > > I should mention that the outcome of the
repair depends
> > greatly on how
> > > old the registry hive that she will be
using (to
> replace the
> > corrupt
> > > one) is. If she never or rarely made
Emergency Repair
> Disks
> > the hives
> > > may be so old that the outcome might be
completely
> > unsatisfactory, but
> > > she will be able to at least salvage her
data files. One
> > thing about
> > > working from a parallel installation is
that you can
> see the
> > damaged
> > > hive and see how big it is. If the problem
is one of size
> > you can try
> > > to reduce the size instead of switching it
for an old
> hive.
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > > ColTom2 wrote:
> > >
> > > > *Hi John:*
> > > > **
> > > > * All she has is a Recovery CD so how
would she
> ever make
> > a set of
> > > > Startup Diskettes when the computer will
not boot?
> Also I
> > do not
> > > follow
> > > > your last comments about mounting her
disk in another
> > Win2000/XP
> > > computer?*
> > > > **
> > > > *Thanks*
> > > >
> > > > "John John" <audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> <mailto:audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > > > wrote in message
> > news:%23NkV6aX7GHA.4996@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Error Message: Windows Could Not
Start Because the
> > Following
> > > File Is
> > > > Missing or Corrupt:
> \Winnt\System32\Config\Systemced
> > > > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269075/EN-US/
> > > >
> > > > You will have to borrow a Windows
2000 CD or
> make a set of
> > > Startup
> > > > Diskettes to use the Recovery
Console. Or you can
> > mount her
> > > disk in
> > > > another Windows 2000/XP machine to
do the repair.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > > >
> > > > ColTom2 wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > *Hi:*
> > > > > **
> > > > > * I have a friend who has a Dell
4300 running
> > Windows 2000
> > > Pro and
> > > > > cannot get her computer to boot.
She has
> even tried
> > > reformatting,
> > > > but
> > > > > now gets this
Winnt\sys32\config\systemCED error
> > and will
> > > not go
> > > > > further. The entire system is
locked up at
> this point.*
> > > > > **
> > > > > * Sorry to say she does not have
a bootable
> floppy
> > or CD
> > > disk.*
> > > > > **
> > > > > * Any help and/or
recommendations will
> greatly be
> > > appreciated.*
> > > > > **
> > > > > *Thanks,*
> > > > > **
> > > > > *ColTom2*

.

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