T23 can't choose F11 Restore option on boot-up

[nablur]

My t23 came with 2000 pro installed and my registry got corrupted. Upon bootup, I receive a physical memory dump message and it just loops and never completes the completes the routine.

I was told about the F11 option for I can only see the F1 and F12 option. I choose F1 and go into the setup menu. My cursor goes right over the setting to Enable F11 and won't let me toggle it.

I've downloaded the retore file from IBM's website and tried to choose alternate boot device (CD), but it doesn't do anything different.

Does anyone know how to force a restore? Do I need to use a difference device to boot from?

I'm totally stuck and can't figure out what to do next.

Thanks to anyone for your help.

[tfflivemb2]

I have a feeling that you can't add the option at this point. I think that you have to have already enabled it, but I could be wrong.

As a side note, are you able to boot into Safe Mode?

Do you know what parts of the registry were corrupt and what caused it?

You might be able to repair the problems from within Safe Mode.

[Kyocera]

Find someone that has Win2k or 2k server and copy these files:
Boot.ini
NTLDR
NTDETECT.COM

Copy to a floppy, or create a bootable CD, this will allow you to boot the system.
XP has these same files but I have never used them to boot a 2000 system so I can't speak for that.

[dsvochak]

I was told about the F11 option for I can only see the F1 and F12 option. I choose F1 and go into the setup menu. My cursor goes right over the setting to Enable F11 and won't let me toggle it.

There are a couple of reasons the F11 product recovery prompt will not appear. First, the service partition is still available and the master boot record has been altered. Second, the service partition is no longer available. That is, you don't have one.

If you do have a service partition, go here for the IBM Service Partition repair diskette: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4QER6R

If you don't have a service partition, Kyocera's suggestion may work.

If all else fails, there are members here who can provide you with copies of the T23 W2K recovery CD's.

[Kyocera]

My suggestion is for simply booting into the OS. If you can get in there you can see if you have the partition with disk mgmt. If you have/get some partitioning software you could view what is on the disk to determine if the recovery partition is still there.

It appears that a lot of people have been in your shoes and for some reason or another can't get the system to boot to start the recovery process using the downloaded rescue media from IBM. Don't quite know why they have it if it only works in limited case scenarios.

[nablur]

Thanks for the help. I think the comment about the partition not being there makes the most sense, since the option is not available to me in setup. I can't enter safe mode, as when I press F8 the machine freezes.

I put my Win2k disc but it wouldn't boot and I can't seem to use the Make boot DOS application that I found on the disc.

I am going to try a different disc from a friend and try it again.

Thanks.

[nablur]

I wanted to post the actual boot-up error message that I am getting.

C0000210 registry file failure. The registry cannot load the hive (File):
\systemroot\system32\config\software or its log or alternate.

It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

Beginning physical memor dump, etc....

[nablur]

I ended up wiping it all out and loading XP on it.

Thanks for all the great input.