Microsoft Windows provides the most reliable operating environment to its users. It enables easy switching between applications, encapsulates the best interface metaphors, has universal hardware support, and much more. One of its most powerful features is 'Registry'. Windows Registry is a central database that stores settings for all the computer hardware and software. Nearly everything in your system depends on this registry for running processes, saving data, and communication with other parts etc. If the registry or any of its components get corrupt, your hard drive becomes inaccessible. In such circumstances, you need to go for hard drive recovery to recover back all your lost or inaccessible data.
For instance, when you start your Windows 2000-based computer, you may come across anyone of the following error messages:
“Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM”
OR
“System hive error”
For instance, when you start your Windows 2000-based computer, you may come across anyone of the following error messages:
“Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM”
OR
“System hive error”
Cause:
The causes responsible for the above error messages are as follows-
The causes responsible for the above error messages are as follows-
- The problem usually occurs while you are performing a Windows 2000 setup. It probably happens due to a Promise Technology, Inc. ATA66 PCI controller that is installed in your system.
- The System sub-key that contains boot information is damaged or possibly missing.
This would prevent you from successfully booting your computer and accessing the valuable information stored therein. You can still restore your lost data using an updated backup. However, if the backup is missing, you should follow the below mentioned resolution steps to perform hard drive data recovery.
Resolution:
Try these steps to resolve the issue and perform Windows hdd recovery-
- If the problem is encountered while installing Windows 2000, try removing the Promise Technology, Inc. ATA66 PCI controller card from the system.
- Run Recovery Console from a Windows 2000 bootable disc. Run the following commands at the console:
‘cd system32\config’
‘ren system system.old’
‘ren system.alt systemalt.old’
Try copying the System hive from ‘%SystemRoot%\Repair’ using the following command:
‘copy c:\winnt\repair\system c:\winnt\system32\config’
Exit the Recovery Console by typing ‘exit’ and reboot the system.
- Try to shrink the size of the System hive.
If the above resolution steps are unable to solve the problem, you need to format your system and reinstall Windows. This would completely erase all the drive data. Any attempt to overwrite the drive now may only add to the problem and make the data completely irrecoverable.
At this stage, you should free download data recovery software of a reputed company and use this software to recover all the formatted drive data. These software safely and efficiently recover any lost, deleted, or formatted files, documents, emails, songs, videos etc. from all Windows-based systems.
