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Using ERD Commander System Restore to recover an Unbootable Windows System

When your PC won’t even boot as far as Safe Mode or fails when you try and boot in Safe Mode it halts on start-up with a screen like this:

image
hal

  • Windows could not start because the following files is missing or corrupt
  • WINDOWSSYSTEM32CONFIGSYSTEM
  • WINDOWSSYSTEM32CONFIGSOFTWARE
  • WINDOWSSystem32Hal.dll missing or corrupt: Please re-install a copy of the above file.

ERD Commander System Restore is extremely useful in such circumstances.

To obtain ERD Commander see: Free ERD Commander 2007 for Windows XP

  1. To boot from the Bootable ERD Commander CD, the boot order needs to be changed, so that the computer will try and boot from the ERD Commander CD before the hard drive
  2. It is often possible to change the boot order by pressing F12 or F8 just after the system starts to power up.
  3. If the system won’t boot from the ERD Commander CD – you need to change the boot order in the bios.
  4. Just after the system starts, press Del or F1 to enter the Bios. The boot order can be set usually from the Advanced Boot Configuration menu.
  5. If the bios is password protected, open the PC and remove the CMOS battery for a moment or so. This should remove the password protection (and all other bios settings – which will need to be set up again – usually only the Date and Boot order are essential)
  6. Allow the system to boot up from the disk
  7. The ERD boot manager will start – select the installation you wish to attach to (i.e. to repair)  
  8. Select System Restore

Select System Restore - ERD Commander

System Restore - ERD Commander

System Restore - ERD Commander

System Restore Point - ERD Commander

complete System Restore - ERD Commander

This video shows how MsDART for Vista and Windows 7 boots up, revealing a range of tools:

MS DART for Windows 7 and Vista System Recovery Options

Notes:

The ERD System Restore Wizard does not perform a complete System Restore operation as the Windows System Restore of Windows XP SP2.

The ERD System Restore Wizard does NOT restore the following information:

  • ACL changes on files and folders support
  • SAM Password hashes
  • Attribute changes
  • Alternate data streams

Therefore, once the Windows XP SP2 system is back online, it is recommended that you execute a Windows System Restore from a restore point of your choice. The ERD System Restore Wizard should be used to perform the bare minimum of actions that will enable a Windows XP system to start.

Note that the ERD System Restore Wizard is only supported on Windows XP SP2. Windows Server 2003 does not implement the Windows System Restore

3 Responses to Using ERD Commander System Restore to recover an Unbootable Windows System

  1. Alan April 22, 2011 at 8:16 pm #

    System Restore is part of ERD Commander. To obtain ERD Commander see: Free ERD Commander 2007 for Windows XP

  2. shivani July 10, 2011 at 1:08 pm #

    hi
    My system was giving config corrupt error and was not booting I used MSDART50 and performed system restore. The system is now working but i am unable to perform system restore.
    As per the article:

    “The ERD System Restore Wizard does not perform a complete System Restore operation as the Windows System Restore of Windows XP SP2.

    The ERD System Restore Wizard does NOT restore the following information:

    * ACL changes on files and folders support
    * SAM Password hashes
    * Attribute changes
    * Alternate data streams

    Therefore, once the Windows XP SP2 system is back online, it is recommended that you execute a Windows System Restore from a restore point of your choice. The ERD System Restore Wizard should be used to perform the bare minimum of actions that will enable a Windows XP system to start.”

    why is the system not performing system restore. in case i cannot perform system restore will there be any adverse impact on the working of system

    thanks

    • Alan July 10, 2011 at 10:14 pm #

      If your system is working, after an ERD Commander system restore, I haven’t found it necessary to then do another System Restore from within XP, despite those warnings. I am usually just relieved to have the system working again. Sometimes System Restore on Windows XP malfunctions, in my experience, so if it won’t restore to an earlier restore point, I wouldn’t worry at the moment.

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