Getting "c:\windows\system32\config\system"

[Uzidengineer]

Hi,

A Dell computer, XP home, 5 years old.
Worked fine but the other day it "broke"
I can't boot. I'm getting a message that
"c:\windows\system32\config\system" is missing or corrupted.

Having Dell's Reinstallation CD-ROM
I tried to "repair" but it rejects my administrator password.
No, I didn't forget. It must be something that Dell did
when installing the XP rather the account I created when I
first used the computer.

Any idea (including buying a commercial "boot/repair" CD)
Thanks,
Uzi
12/30/07

 

[Leonard Grey]

"How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us

 

[Leonard Grey]

As sincere as he seems, I would be suspect of this post.

Dell is a hardware assembler. Their warranty and support is limited to
the hardware they delivered to you. Beyond instruction in the use of
their recovery software, Dell provides very limited software support,
usually only if you have installed software on the instructions of a
Dell support tech or from the Dell website and that has been approved
for your specific model of computer, or in the very unlikely event that
the factory download is in some way defective or inappropriate.

Moreover, this is a public newsgroup. Anyone who posts here is doing so
on their own and not as the representative of a third party.

 

[Stan Brown]

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:35:13 -0500 from Leonard Grey

As sincere as he seems, I would be suspect of this post.

What tipped you off? The forged From address and message-ID? The fact
that he's posting from giganews and dell.com doesn't appear anywhere
in the headers?

 

[Richard]

Dell has there own support forums at www.dell.com which have been very
helpful to me. I see no reason to look elseware.

 

[Leonard Grey]

I was trying to be polite. I don't know what this guys up to - sounds
like a con to me.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Indeed, the Dell Community Forums provide excellent support for Dell
products. In less time than you would spend waiting on hold for a script
reader, you can have your questions answered by Dell representatives and
very knowledgeable users.

 

[Stan Brown]

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:40:28 -0500 from Leonard Grey

I was trying to be polite. I don't know what this guys up to - sounds
like a con to me.

I know you were -- hence my smiley. Laughing with you, not at you.