PC won't boot up - deleted necessary file

[cleary71]

Hi,

I was cleaning up my PC, deleting what I thought was unneeded files, while in safe mode. When I rebooted my PC it will not boot up. I get and lsass.exe - system error Object Name not Found. I tried using my Sony System Recovery CD's that came with it, but it wants to delete everything and reformat my PC. I was hoping to just get to the System Recovery file and go back a day or two. Any help, if any is possible, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

[joe43wv]

If you can get a hold of a Windows XP disc of the same ver. you are running, whether it be Pro. Home, or Media Edition, just put the disc in and try repairing the installation, I've seen this fix 95% of the issues I've ran into. If you need help on how to run the repair feature let me know.

Edited May 9, 2008 by joe43wv

[cleary71]

A friend of mine was able to drop off his version, but I get to a screen where it asks me my administrative password. I don't believe I ever set one up the last time I reformatted.

[joe43wv]

Okay your going through the wrong way. The way I go in is like this:

When asked to Install or repair choose INSTALL.

From there it'll go through the usual Do you agree blah blah blah,

Then it'll search for previous installations of your OS, it will then find your install and ask you if you want to repair that install or not, tell it REPAIR then it'll do a reinstall of your OS while keeping ALL your files intact.

[cleary71]

Joe,

Here is the latest . . .

I chose INSTALL like you said

I selected C Drive to create a partition in the unpartitioned space

It then says that there is an existing OS on that drive and if I continue all files, subfolders, user accounts, applications, security and desktop settings will be deleted. "My Documents" may also be deleted.

[joe43wv]

Okay you shouldn't create a partition it should have asked you if you wanted to repair an install automatically, but since it didn't we can try another route. When you went to repair at the beginning and you said it asked for a username and password did you try to just enter through the password part? If not try just entering through it and see what that'll do for you.

[cleary71]

I don't believe I ever setup a password from Admin. I did try all my usual passwords and even just hit enter hoping that would be the same as blank.

I guess there is no way to come up in DOS just short of my error. I tried safe mode DOS, but it came up with the same error. I then loaded a Windows 98 disc just to get to DOS, but it doesn't recognize the C: drive. I was hoping to just copy the missing file to the directory, but I guess I am in a catch 22 with that.

[joe43wv]

Have you tried hooking that drive to another system to make sure the drive is good. From the sounds of things it may be your drive that's having issues, I could be wrong but it couldn't hurt to check the drive.

[jaclaz]

What you want to try doing is a Repair install, see if you can follow EXACTLY this article:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

jaclaz

[angrypenguin]

Personally I've had very limited success using the 'repair' feature of XP (well actually none at all!) For some reason I've only come accross one instance where it was actually offered, not quite sure what's with that!

If you can't get a repair to work, then do a backup of data & a clean reinstall. Either use your hard drive in a friends PC or download UBCD4Win (www.ubcd4win.com) and use that to back up your data. Often a reinstall can be quicker than trying to fix the problems in situations like this (although repair is worth a shot if you can get it to work).

The 3rd option is the one you were originally intending (ie copy files to your hard drive). This can be done with XP Recovery console. But you will have to manually copy and decompress the file(s) needed. And if you don't put them in the right place, chances are it still won't work. Even if you get it right, who knows whether there are other important files you've deleted that Xp needs?!?

For future reference there are a number of great apps that will delete useless files off your PC and not destroy it! Whilst it always pays to backup important data, there is a much better chance of everything going ok if you use a tried and tested app, rather than just wildly deleteing stuff yourself! Try CCleaner (www.ccleaner.com)

Edited May 11, 2008 by angrypenguin