Windows XP SAM (Security Accounts Manager) is a database registry file storing user’s passwords and uses hash format. A Windows XP installed computer might fail to start if the file goes missing or damaged. For solving such problems, use the file backup provided you have backed up the system state or try to copy it using parallel installation. However, if none of the measures works, perform clean Windows XP installation and restore data from backup. In case of valid backup unavailability, a hard drive recovery software can help extracting all your lost files and folders.

For instance, a Windows XP Home or Professional Edition installed computer might prompt the following error when you try to start it:

“Security Accounts Manager initialization failed because of the following error: A device attached to the system is not functioning.
Error Status: 0xc0000001.
Please click OK to shut down this system and reboot into Safe Mode, check event log for more detailed information.

Starting the computer in Windows Safe Mode doesn’t help and prevents you from accessing the stored files.

Cause

Windows XP SAM file is either missing or damaged.

Solution

You cannot use any Recovery Console method as it requires authentication that SAM provides.

Following are the recommended solutions to the given problem:

  • If you have backed up system state using Windows Backup utility, use it to restore SAM through Automated System Recovery Wizard or Restore Wizard
  • Perform parallel Windows installation and execute the following set of commands using command prompt:
  • copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
    delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
    copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
  • Replace the SAM file by reinstalling Windows XP. Restore data from backup

At times, backup cannot restore desired set of files. To deal with such situations, windows hard drive recovery utilities are available to prevent rework. Hard drive recovery software are graphically rich applications with suitable recovery features to provide safe, comprehensive and robust data recovery. These tools are specially designed to scan a logically crashed drive to locate missing data.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is a reliable and fully-competent utility designed to recover lost files for Windows 7 RC1, Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000 based systems. It is a non-destructive windows hard drive recovery application providing advanced and impressive set of features. The tool supports complete recovery of data for FAT32, VFAT, NTFS and NTFS5 file system drives.