Error booting up Windows XP Professional

Hi, i have this problem:

I have Windows XP Professional instaled in my PC, using
the NTFS file system, and i havent any problem before but
one day when i tried to boot up my computer, this message
appear:

"The file WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM was not found or
is corrupt, use the original CD and run the installation
program, and then pres "R" to begin the repair"

I do what that message said, but i cant fix my Windows XP.
In the console mode, i can see the file "SYSTEM" in the
right location (WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\), so maybe its
corrupt, in that case, what i have to do to get a new copy
of that file from my Windows XP CD?

I already use the command CHKDSK /p /r and my hard disk is
ok. When I tried to use the FIXMBR command, the command
says that my hard drive might have a problem, but i have
access to the drive, so the command recommends not to
continue. This command erase all my hard drive?

ps. My PC is a Intel Pentium 4 (2.8 MHz) with 256 RAM and
40GBytes of Hard disk capacity.

Thanks a lot for your time. Im writing from Lima - Perú
(Latin América)

The message you are receiving is for the recovery console. Try a Repair
Install as follows instead:
NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

When the system boots, a few screens into the process you may see a message
instructing you
to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a countdown. When
you see this be sure to
hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction and the system fails
to boot from the CD, it's too
late, you'll need to reboot and try again.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console. ***The selection you want at this screen is
"Setup Windows,"
NOT "Repair Windows Installation.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair option, only an option to
reinstall. We have discovered that sometimes this is caused by damaged
boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also note, in the
instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you have placed the XP CD,
replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on your system, "K" is
simply an example.

Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is the section I told
you to skip above. In this case, you will need to get to the Recovery
Console to perform the function below), and if the CD letter is say K: give
these commands

COPY K:\i386\ntldr C:
COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:
(two other files needed - just in case)
ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini
DEL C:\boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild

Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if you can access XP as
sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini. If you still cannot access
XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install instructions at the beginning
of this message.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP which will allow you to perform the
above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.


--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Fernando Bárrig Jó" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:047001c4907f$daa99650$a401280a@phx.gbl...
Hi, i have this problem:

I have Windows XP Professional instaled in my PC, using
the NTFS file system, and i havent any problem before but
one day when i tried to boot up my computer, this message
appear:

"The file WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM was not found or
is corrupt, use the original CD and run the installation
program, and then pres "R" to begin the repair"

I do what that message said, but i cant fix my Windows XP.
In the console mode, i can see the file "SYSTEM" in the
right location (WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\), so maybe its
corrupt, in that case, what i have to do to get a new copy
of that file from my Windows XP CD?

I already use the command CHKDSK /p /r and my hard disk is
ok. When I tried to use the FIXMBR command, the command
says that my hard drive might have a problem, but i have
access to the drive, so the command recommends not to
continue. This command erase all my hard drive?

ps. My PC is a Intel Pentium 4 (2.8 MHz) with 256 RAM and
40GBytes of Hard disk capacity.

Thanks a lot for your time. Im writing from Lima - Perú
(Latin América)

An easier way to resolve your issue would be once in
recovery console at the c:\windows prompt is to type in
the followint command without the quotes:

"copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config"
When prompted to replace the file click yes. Exit recovery
console and you should be able to boot into windows once
again

>-----Original Message-----
>The message you are receiving is for the recovery
console. Try a Repair
>Install as follows instead:
>NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files
intact, if
>something goes wrong during the repair install, you may
be forced to start
>over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have
your data backed up,
>you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
>
>Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive
and you have an
>actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
>CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined
below. If the
>system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure,
you need to enter
>the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first
screen usually has
>instructions that if you wish to enter set press a
specific key, when you
>see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the
boot sequence, if
>the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the
boot sequence. Save
>your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The
system will reboot.
>
>When the system boots, a few screens into the process you
may see a message
>instructing you
>to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a
countdown. When
>you see this be sure to
>hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction
and the system fails
>to boot from the CD, it's too
>late, you'll need to reboot and try again.
>
>Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You
will see a reference
>asking if you need to load special drivers and another
notice that if you
>wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console)
depress F2. Just let
>setup run past all of that. It will continue to load
files and drivers.
>
>Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will
come to a screen
>with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair
Windows Installation
>using the Recovery console. ***The selection you want
at this screen is
>"Setup Windows,"
>NOT "Repair Windows Installation.
>
>The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want
and requires you to
>press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user
agreement. Setup
>will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon
finding your
>version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current
installation or
>install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair
installation. From there
>on, follow the screens.
>
>Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair option,
only an option to
>reinstall. We have discovered that sometimes this is
caused by damaged
>boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also
note, in the
>instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you
have placed the XP CD,
>replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on
your system, "K" is
>simply an example.
>
>Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is
the section I told
>you to skip above. In this case, you will need to get to
the Recovery
>Console to perform the function below), and if the CD
letter is say K: give
>these commands
>
>COPY K:\i386\ntldr C:
>COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:
> (two other files needed - just in case)
>ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini
>DEL C:\boot.ini
>BootCfg /Rebuild
>
>Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if
you can access XP as
>sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini. If you
still cannot access
>XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install
instructions at the beginning
>of this message.
>
>If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite
limited. You can
>either purchase a retail version of XP which will allow
you to perform the
>above
>among other tools and options it has or you can run your
system recovery
>routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your
drive, deleting all
>files but will restore your setup to factory fresh
condition.
>
>
>--
>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>Windows Shell/User
>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>"Fernando Bárrig Jó"
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>news:047001c4907f$daa99650$a401280a@phx.gbl...
>Hi, i have this problem:
>
>I have Windows XP Professional instaled in my PC, using
>the NTFS file system, and i havent any problem before but
>one day when i tried to boot up my computer, this message
>appear:
>
>"The file WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM was not found or
>is corrupt, use the original CD and run the installation
>program, and then pres "R" to begin the repair"
>
>I do what that message said, but i cant fix my Windows XP.
>In the console mode, i can see the file "SYSTEM" in the
>right location (WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\), so maybe its
>corrupt, in that case, what i have to do to get a new copy
>of that file from my Windows XP CD?
>
>I already use the command CHKDSK /p /r and my hard disk is
>ok. When I tried to use the FIXMBR command, the command
>says that my hard drive might have a problem, but i have
>access to the drive, so the command recommends not to
>continue. This command erase all my hard drive?
>
>ps. My PC is a Intel Pentium 4 (2.8 MHz) with 256 RAM and
>40GBytes of Hard disk capacity.
>
>Thanks a lot for your time. Im writing from Lima - Perú
>(Latin América)
>
>
>.
>