Computer's missing a file

[Chyron]

So it won't start up, I have an Emachine T2482...1.8 gig proccesor...736
megs of ram... 80 gig harddrive. Here's what happened, I was running System
Mechanic to check out any problems I might have had on my machine...it's
been freezing sometimes lately, so I thought a good cleaning might help
it...well about 10 minutes in, the computer froze...I couldn't get it back
up so I had to turn the power off. Well when I tried to boot back up, I get
this black screen with these words....

"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair this file by stariting Windows Setup using the
original Setup CD-Rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

Ok...I don't have the recovery cd...but I do have a laptop running the same
home version of XP as the desktop.I did follow those directions, and it
leads me to an *a* prompt. Is there anything I can do?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

So it won't start up, I have an Emachine T2482...1.8 gig proccesor...736
megs of ram... 80 gig harddrive. Here's what happened, I was running
System Mechanic to check out any problems I might have had on my
machine...it's been freezing sometimes lately, so I thought a good
cleaning might help it...well about 10 minutes in, the computer froze...I
couldn't get it back up so I had to turn the power off. Well when I tried
to boot back up, I get this black screen with these words....

"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair this file by stariting Windows Setup using the
original Setup CD-Rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

Ok...I don't have the recovery cd...but I do have a laptop running the
same home version of XP as the desktop.I did follow those directions, and
it leads me to an *a* prompt. Is there anything I can do?

You can use any bootable XP CD to get to the recovery console. You can
also use a bootable Linux CD or attach the drive to another system to
perform the basic file copy tasks at the link below. You just need to
adapt for the precise method you've used to gain access to the drive.
What you probably can't do is use a DOS or Windows 9x boot diskette, as
those won't understand NTFS and won't access the hard disk.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

HTH
-pk

 

[createwindow]

Hi Chyron,

The recovery console "is" just a prompt. Its critical to get to that
point on your broken machine. An XP install CD that boots will work.
Others may have suggestions on that. Anyway, once there (at the
recovery prompt) give the command chkdsk /r
This may restore everything to normal.

Hope that helps.
CreateWindow
http://mymessagetaker.com
The while-you-were-out message program you have been looking for!

 

[createwindow]

And *reboot* - I forgot to mention!

CreateWindow

 

[createwindow]

And I also forgot to mention that the file system (. nothing) is your
system registry (system hive group).

CreateWindow

 

[Chyron]

I have a working laptop. Can I create a startup disk/cd from that?

 

[Script]

I have a working laptop. Can I create a startup disk/cd from that?

If your laptop has a floppy drive, you can make a startup floppy disk set.
[Requires 6 blank floppies]
Download here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-5039-4955-bcb7-4fed408ea73f&displaylang=en

 

[Script]

Note! - the top Download says for XP Pro.
Downloads for XP Pro with SP2, and for XP Home with SP2 are at the bottom,
under "What Other's are Downloading".