help, i have "corrupted my operating system"

[youngbuckwithapickuptruck]

probably windows 10 or something

my laptop crashed and while it was restarting/repairing itself, it turned off. i turned in back on and logged in but some operating system stuff is non-functional. i guess now some 'operating system files' are 'corrupted'

>i cant open 'new folder' on desktop cuase "an attempt was made to refrence a token that does not exist"
>when i try to click on the start menu, the cursor turns to a loading icon and nothing opens
>I can still access the "run program prompt" via ctrl+alt+delete

how do i reboot computer back to older version a month ago or so?
halp?

 

[RonD]

Type in Control Panel
Open control panel
type in Recovery
open Recovery

Should now have "restore" option from older version

You may have been hit with a trojan/virus, unless you have been playing around with registry files

 

[youngbuckwithapickuptruck]

according to

https://www.nielit.gov.in/gorakhpur/sites/default/files/Gorakhpur/olevel_1_ittnb_b4_27mar_AKT.pdf

i can open 'control panel' by opening the "run new task" or "run dialog" prompt
when i typed 'control panel' and hit enter, i recieved the error message
::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}
An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist"
what do i do? take it to a computer mechanic?

 

[97RangerXLT]

if you have a usb stick with your version of Windows, you can boot to that usb stick and instead of installing windows again, choose repair when it boots up.

And yeah, computers don't like being turned off when in the middle of a critical update... Always do o/s updates when plugged into the a/c adapter.

AJ

 

[youngbuckwithapickuptruck]

"if you have a usb stick with your version of Windows "
I do not.
i received the laptop from an IT friend. i suppose he could mail me a copy of windows on a usb stick, yes?

 

[Jazzer]

Assuming it’s Windows 10, try

https://www.ubackup.com/windows-10/system-restore-windows-10-command-prompt.htm

-Jazzer

 

[Bgunner]

Open a command prompt and run as administrator. To do this just type, without quotes, "CMD" right click on command prompt and select Run As Administrator.

This will open a small black window, in side this window type without quotes "sfc/scannow" and press enter. This may take some time to complete

This is Windows System File Check and repair. This will scan, auto install and fix corrupt system files. This works for any windows OS since Vista, maybe before but I have little experience with XP. No need to use a backup, just incase you don't have one old enough, no need for an OS reinstall or windows on a USB drive.

Its a handy little command when the OS files start to become corrupt.

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

Describes how to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista.

support.microsoft.com

 

[youngbuckwithapickuptruck]

^^^oh, i tried that the other day and it said system was fine. ill try it again right now and see exactly what it says.

F'n broken truck, broken computer, lol

***EDIT***
tried it again, computer read
C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc/scannow

Begining system scan. This process may take some time.
Begining verification phase of system scan.
Verification 8% complete.

Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

C:\WINDOWS\System32
so i tried it again and received the same message at 8% completion

 

[youngbuckwithapickuptruck]

okay, none of that stuff, worked.
my gf held down the windows key during boot up, and we tried a few different troubleshooting options and the symptoms got a little better but the computer is still faulty and crashing

sooooo considering my gf has a working laptop right next to her,
could we download some sort of windows file from windows website on her computer, load it onto a usb drive, then boot up my computer using that usb drive?
will my registered copy of windows on the faulty computer still be valid?

we asked her IT dad what to do and he said "take it to geek squad" and we responded "were tying to save money" and he responded "throw it away, ill send yall a new one" /facepalm
...and my mother keeps telling me to buy a new truck, lol

 

[RonD]

You most likely have a failing hard drive so no amount of DIY is going to fix it

Try this forum: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/

They may be able to point you to a download, to a USB stick, that has a minimal operating system that can run from the USB stick in Safe Mode so you can recover some of your files
Then install a new hard drive and reload windows

Hard drives have a motor that spins a disc, the disc stores the operating system and files
This type of setup is OK for PCs(computers that are NOT portable), but they are doomed to failure in the long run
If used in a Laptop its even worse because laptops get dropped or thrown around all the time, no matter how careful you are, lol

If you replace the hard drive use a Flash Drive, larger version of a USB stick, no moving parts
They do not hold as many files, so get a 2nd one that can plug into a USB port to just store files on if needed

 

[mikkelstuff]

or buy a Mac!

 

[fastpakr]

or buy a Mac!

And this is helpful with a hardware failure in what way?

 

[Fast Eddie]

I have something you can try though you're probably looking at paving the box and starting over with a new install. In regard to the latter, try to grab the product key just in case it's not stored in bios (as new ones are).
Command: wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey.
If this command returns nothing, your license is digital and I know no way of retrieving it for you outside of the original purchaser. You can see if the product key is on the bottom of your machine and legible.

Next, run the following command then go to C:\Windows\Logs\DISM. Grab dism.log and post it here. Compress it if it's large.
Command: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

That's all I have for you short of a rebuild. Good luck.

 

[youngbuckwithapickuptruck]

^^^will follow your instructions after lunch!

"You most likely have a failing hard drive so no amount of DIY is going to fix it "
uggggghhhh

i took my laptop on a roadtrip with me a few months back
gf said to keep it under her seat and i was like "no, you cram too much stuff down there, the seat is always moving back and fourth, etc..." and she insisted it would be fine.

 

[Fast Eddie]

"gf said to keep it under her seat and i was like "no, you cram too much stuff down there, the seat is always moving back and fourth, etc..." and she insisted it would be fine. "

Sorry man, that's not it. The hard drive will 'park' itself during shutdown so, if the machine was powered off that wouldn't do it. Two easiest ways to corrupt a hard drive: drop it while it's running or interrupt a critical update.