HOWTO: Recover from a corrupt System32 folder

Just recently (in the last few hours), I had cause to learn how to recover from a corrupted windows\system32 folder, so I will share it with the world, so that this experience will not be in vain.

You know you've got this problem if you get error messages like:

cannot find ......... hal.dll

when windows boots up.

You will need the following for this procedure:

1. Your windows install disc
2. Any special driver disks you might need for SATA controllers etc.
   
3. The administrator password for your pc
4. Patience

Here goes...

Put your windows install disc into your CD/DVD drive, and reboot the machine, making sure that you boot into the windows cd rather than your hard-drive. Eventually you will be given the choice to run the recovery console by pressing R. Press "R". Next choose the windows installation you want to log into (usually you only have one) so press "1" (or the number of the installation you want if you have multiple installations), then the "Enter" key. You will then be prompted to enter your administrator password, and after that you will be presented with something like:

C:\WINDOWS>

Now you want to type "chkdsk /p /r", then the "Enter" key, which will run some tests and hopefully recover your system32 folder. After it is done you should remove the windows install disc from your computer, and restart the machine. Hopefully now your windows should be back up and running.

If it doesn't work, you may have something more serious wrong with your hard drive. I suggest that you get onto someone else's computer and check out the manufacturer's website for some sort of diagnostic tool to test the state of the hard-drive.



NB: I am not a tech support person, and as such I don't offer any guarantee that the above will work in any or all situations. If you have questions leave a comment, but I don't guarantee to be able to help you.