Uninstalled AVG now system wont boot

Hijpo

Hi all,

Got an oldish laptop to sort out. AVG was using huge amounts of memory so decided to uninstall it and put something else on like MSE. Uninstalled AVG, rebooted the laptop and now its saying system file is missing and wont boot into anything.

Any ideas why this file would decide to disappear?

I have a recovery disk but id like to understand what uninstalling AVG had to do with windows system files?

chin_grin

Had this before, you're going to have to download the avg repair cd.

http://www.avg.com/ww-en/avg-rescue-cd

Also do you know the name of the file it's "sticking" on?

Hijpo

Cheers for the link

c:\windows\system32\config\system

ASJ112

Have you tried Last Known Good Configuration ?


I'd also try find the Windows CD for the machine, will probably need it later.

Hijpo

it wont even give me last known good config,

It gets past post, screen stays blank for a minute then

Windows cant load because
C:\windows\system32\system
cannot be found

insert recovery disc and press r at the first option



Or something to that effect, iv inserted the recovery disc but it wants to fully reinstall instead of repair when i press the r option.
Booting to ubuntu now to get there data off, ill try the AVG disc after that ill full restore it.

Dont know why an AVG uninstall would make that file disappear though

DesperateDan

This is a total guess but it sounds to me like some kind of virus has deleted the system 32 folder (like the most important folder on the computer). Are you sure it is definitely related to uninstalling AVG?

Hijpo

It was running fine until i uninstalled AVG, prior to the uninstall (last night) i scanned with AVG, MBAM and Spybot. MBAM found some issues and got rid of them, installed service pack 3 and shut it down. Booted today to uninstall AVG, did the uninstall and after rebooting it threw that missing file at me.

ASJ112

installed service pack 3 and shut it down.

That's more than likely caused the problem. Heard of SP3 causing similar problems. If the AVG recovery disk, or any other one, lets you remove service pack 3 from add/remove programs, try that and I'd say it will go back to normal.

Hijpo

ill give it a go, cheers

Theres no option to remove SP3, looks like its just a matter of backing up there data and doing a full reinstall

Hijpo

Just giving the heads up on sorting this problem.

Still dont know how or why this file was corrupt/missing.

Nothing was working in terms of Last known good config and the Icon OS media wouldnt get me a command prompt or anything it would only let me do a full reinstall. In the end i created a bootable XP Pro disc, that gave me a command prompt and copied the C:\windows\repair\system to C:\windows\system32\config\system

Laptop now boots fine.