Boot Failure Using XP Pro SP2

[Ken]

Anyone have an idea o­n how to repair the Windows XP Pro
SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but
whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the
following error message:

"Windows could not start bcause the following file is
missing or corrupt:
Windows\System32\Config\System
You can attempt to repair this file by starting
Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start repair."

Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents
Windows XP from starting."

I tried this cut and past method of substituting the
files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,
software, sam, security, and default) for those in the
c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o­nce again,
instead of starting, I receive the error message noted
above.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ken

 

[Bryan Martin]

I beleve this to be due to a virus as I recently had to clean up a clients
pc w/the same symptoms. My only option was a in place install. I also did
the steps you show below but after the install I notice that the virus had
removed alot of the files needed for the OS.

Bryan Martin
(e-mail address removed)

Anyone have an idea o­n how to repair the Windows XP Pro
SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but
whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the
following error message:

"Windows could not start bcause the following file is
missing or corrupt:
Windows\System32\Config\System
You can attempt to repair this file by starting
Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start repair."

Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents
Windows XP from starting."

I tried this cut and past method of substituting the
files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,
software, sam, security, and default) for those in the
c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o­nce again,
instead of starting, I receive the error message noted
above.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ken

 

[Ken]

Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
exists.

 

[Herb Fritatta]

Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
exists.

You're probably screwed. Unless you have a slipstreamed install CD you
won't be able to do a repair install. Ironically, the
corrupted-registry issue that has befallen you was a problem with with
the original release of XP, and was fixed with SP1. Maybe SP2 unfixed
it. BTW, having a slipstreamed disk didn't help me--I wound up having to
wipe and clean install. Good luck.

 

[Bryan Martin]

See if this works for you

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&c2coff=1&selm=O65U#t51CHA.2868@TK2MSFTNGP12

Bryan Martin
(e-mail address removed)

Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
exists.

 

[Bryan Martin]

If what I sent doesn't work you should be able to go into the recovery
console and remove the "windows" directory.

 

[Rock]

Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
exists.



clean up a clients


install. I also did


that the virus had

Create a slipstreamed windows install disk with SP2. Then do the repair
installation with that.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm