A CMD Prompt Error Has Ravaged My System. Advice?

Mulsiphix · 22 Feb 2014

Was having some issues emptying the Recycle Bin. I found this article which tells you how to empty it via the command prompt. I rebooted into Safe Mode with Command Prompt and attempted to type in "rd /s c:\%systemdrive\$Recycle.bin" but something went wrong.

A comment on that same article says:

"Note that if someone mistypes this by putting a space after either the colon or backslash, most of the drive will be deleted, ending with lots of applications crashing then either a BSOD or reboot, followed by “NTLDR is missing”."

I must have typed something wrong because it started to delete files from the Windows directory immediately. I recently deleted a copy of Windows XP for my drive so I assumed this was what it was targeting. About a minute later I figured it out and immediately rebooted the computer. Booting into Windows in Safe or Normal mode yields a BSOD.

Windows Version: Windows 7 Home Premium w/ SP1 (all updates installed)
BSOD ERROR: PROCESS1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED
STOP: 0x0000006B (0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Obviously Windows has lost a lot of core files. Is there any reason I should attempt to try and recover the system or will so much damage be done to other programs (who store files in the Windows directory) and Windows that a fresh install is my only real option?

MilesAhead · 22 Feb 2014

This is the type of thing where a backup image such as made by Macrium Reflect or another program would bail you out(for future reference.)

You might try a portable undelete such as Puran File Recovery if you can get hold of a boot image and put the image and Puran on a USB. Don't install on HD as that may overwrite deleted files. Puran is supposed to have folder recovery. It may be worth a shot if you can get someone to help with the USB stick prep.

If you recover many files then you might try sfc /scannow if the system boots or from repair disc.

Mulsiphix · 22 Feb 2014

I have a second Windows 7 PC here. At one time I made a drive image (from the now inoperable PC) and cloned it onto this PC. Using Windows Backup, would a System Work? if not, is there anyway to clone the Windows (though not the registry) files from the computer and overwrite the files in the drive on the crippled PC?

I tried using a Windows 7 System Repair Disc but it says it cannot automatically fix the installation.

MilesAhead · 22 Feb 2014

Perhaps someone familiar with Windows Backup will advise you. I've always used Macrium or Paragon or EaseUS imaging programs. If you have broadband and download Macrium Reflect Free you can use it to make a WinPE boot USB or CD. The WinPE download runs about 370 MB though.

Just for chuckles I'd boot it and try that Puran folder restore. You haven't much to lose.

cmmtch · 22 Feb 2014

Here's a tutorial on extracting files from a system image when you don't want or need the entire system image recovery

System Image - Extract Files Using Disk Management[2]=Backup Restore

I have used the Windows recovery and system image with no problems, some use other 3rd party programs but if you've already got that capability existing in Win7 for what you need why use something else. Good luck

Ztruker · 22 Feb 2014

You used "rd /s c:\%systemdrive\$Recycle.bin"
Should have been "rd /s %systemdrive%\$Recycle.bin" (no C:\ and need second %)

%systemdrive% == your boot drive, normally C:

Mulsiphix · 23 Feb 2014

I used Macrium today to create a rescue disk, used YUMI to put it on a USB stick, added the portable version of Puran to it, and was then unable to run Puran because it needed a dll that wasn't available. Any other ideas? Are there other ways or programs to create bootable images that can also undelete files?

MilesAhead · 23 Feb 2014

What Dll?

See this thread:
Data Recovery Puran works Great

Mulsiphix · 24 Feb 2014

The Dll is oledlg.dll. I downloaded it from a website, added it to the puran folder, and now it is working. I just started a scan so we'll soon know if anything can be salvaged. Thank you very much for all of your help so far MilesAhead.

MilesAhead · 24 Feb 2014

Glad you are making progress. I just noticed this Puran program(I used their defragger for some time.) If it works well for you I'll experiment with it. :)

A CMD Prompt Error Has Ravaged My System. Advice?

A CMD Prompt Error Has Ravaged My System. Advice?

Files from system image