“Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt” error on startup
Today I was scheduled to repair Toshiba Satellite Pro M10-S405 laptop with a “software problem”. The customer complained that he is getting the following error right after he turns on his laptop.
ERROR
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
System32\Drivers\ntfs.sys
I started the laptop and got the above mentioned error right away. Restarted it again and on startup a different file was missing:
System32\Drivers\pci.sys
If you search on the internet for these errors you will find a lot of tips how to fix it. Unfortunately, on most websites this error is mentioned only as a software problem. They say that you can fix it if you replace corrupted files from a Windows CD using a recovery console. I guess in some cases you can fix the problem by replacing corrupted files, but from my experience I know that these kinds of errors are very often caused by a faulty memory module.
I started testing the memory on the laptop with Memtest 86+ utility and the memory failed right away. The laptop had 2 memory sticks installed. I tried to eliminate a bad stick by removing and installing modules one by one into different slots on the system board. The same pattern occurred on startup:
- the laptop booted to Windows fine when only slot 1 was populated (tried both memory sticks)
- the laptop wouldn’t boot at all (there were no video) when only slot 2 was populated
- the laptop booted with a missing file error when both memory slots were populated
Unfortunately, it this case the error was caused by a defective memory slot on the system board, not just a bad memory stick. To fix the problem I had to replace the entire system board.
Conclusion: if you get a missing file error on startup and replacing the corrupted file doesn’t help, check the memory sticks on your laptop.
Entry Filed under: Everyday Laptop Repair
August 1st, 2007 at 1:09 pm
when I turn on my computer the system turns on with the toshiba logo and on the bottom of screen it says
Press(F2) to enter setup,(F12) to enter multiboot selection menu
its a toshiba satellite L35 the fan comes on the hard drive light comes on for a brief second..and then the only light on is the power light ..when I press F2 it says entering setup please wait and gets stuck and only power light is on..someone mentioned flashing the memory or bios
June 17th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Randall,
You can press F8 key as soon as Toshiba logo appears on the screen. On a working laptop it should take you to the screen with boot options.
BTW, in this post I covered some common problems with a Satellite A60 or A65 notebooks.
June 15th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Okay I don’t know about my memory drives, I haven’t checked those yet but before I do, I would like to know how to start in safe mode, I don’t see that option.
When I turn on my laptop, I get the Toshiba logo screen, then it goes black and I get the “Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys” message. However, occasionally it’s a different driver (isa…something.sys) missing.
My laptop is a Toshiba Satelite A65-S126 System Unit
April 24th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
leon,
Start the laptop and press F8 as soon as Toshiba logo appears. From the menu select Last Known Good Configuration and press Enter. It might help if you have a software related problem.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:56 am
when i turn on my laptop i get a error message “we apologize for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully. a recent hardware or software change might have cause this” how do i fix this on my toshiba laptop. please help
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
i have a toshiba lap top that has always worked great, all the sudden it wont work at all and pops up this message that says system32\DRIVERS\sapnp.sys is missing
help!!!!!!!!!!!
March 30th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
i’ve found the way to remove! =D but unfortunately, it’s my slot that has got problem..sigh..
March 30th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
hi.. i’m having the same problem with my M10 right now, but i don’t know where to try and remove the memory stick, anybody can give me some idea on where M10 memory stick is? Thanks lots!
March 26th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Help! I spilled just a little bit of water on my toshiba L25 laptop keyboard when the power was on. It immediently turned itself off and won’t work at all now. Did this mean that it shorted out? Is there any possiblitly that it will work again after drying out?
December 31st, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Un_known,
I think you have a bad memory module. Test the memory.