Hard drive failure

[munaf]

on booting i get this error message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\Windows\System32\Config\System

i am using win xp prof . service pack 0 . have Compaq pc with single hard
drive.
used windows installation CD to apply re-installation with Repair option . But
Repair option is not displaying!
A Fix will be much appreciated. Eagerly awaiting a response.

thanks much for your time and effort. regards

 

[Patrick Keenan]

on booting i get this error message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\Windows\System32\Config\System

i am using win xp prof . service pack 0 . have Compaq pc with single hard
drive.
used windows installation CD to apply re-installation with Repair option .
But
Repair option is not displaying!
A Fix will be much appreciated. Eagerly awaiting a response.

thanks much for your time and effort. regards

A Repair install often won't fix this. Instead, use the instructions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

You can use *any* bootable XP CD to get to the Recovery Console. Or, once
you understand what it is the directions are telling you, you can attach the
drive to another XP system and move the files around.

HTH
-pk

 

[munaf]

on booting i get this error message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\Windows\System32\Config\System

i am using win xp prof . service pack 0 . have Compaq pc with single hard
drive.
used windows installation CD to apply re-installation with Repair option . But
Repair option is not displaying!
A Fix will be much appreciated. Eagerly awaiting a response.

thanks much for your time and effort. regards

7.8.09--thanks for reply
tried that microsoft link.

in recovery console when i was on step 4 copy C:\windows\system32\config\sam

C:\windows\tmp\sam.bak\----this command did not copy? so could not proceed.

Also tried below steps:

C:\Windows>CD C:\system~1\_resto~1
C:\system~1\_resto~1\>dir

C:\system~1\_resto~1>cd rp23

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23>cd snapshot

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>copy _registry_machine_system
c:\windows\system32\config\system (read below3)

Overwrite system [y,n]: y

1 file copied

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>exit

these steps tooo did not not fix hard drive error and recovery console is
now asking for Password, though i have not set a password!

seems my ''computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive
on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist
previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you
may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original
registry hives.'' as stated on microsoft.com .

now i can not access my recovery console!
it says on microsoft.com to contact them and install the Q308402 hotfix.
i cant find their email on their website. do you have this fix.
will they charge money if i phone them?
please suggest if i can do anything to fix this problem soon asap.
thanks much for your time and effort. regards

 

[munaf]

7.8.09--thanks for reply
tried that microsoft link.

in recovery console when i was on step 4 copy C:\windows\system32\config\sam

C:\windows\tmp\sam.bak\----this command did not copy? so could not proceed.

Also tried below steps:

C:\Windows>CD C:\system~1\_resto~1
C:\system~1\_resto~1\>dir

C:\system~1\_resto~1>cd rp23

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23>cd snapshot

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>copy _registry_machine_system
c:\windows\system32\config\system (read below3)

Overwrite system [y,n]: y

1 file copied

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>exit

these steps too- did not not fix- hard drive error and recovery console is
now asking for Password, though i have not set a password!

seems my ''computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive
on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist
previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you
may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original
registry hives.'' as stated on microsoft.com .

now i can not access my recovery console!
it says on microsoft.com to contact them and install the Q308402 hotfix.
i cant find their email on their website. do you have this fix.
will they charge money if i phone them?
please suggest if i can do anything to fix this problem soon asap.
thanks much for your time and effort. regards

 

[Patrick Keenan]

7.8.09--thanks for reply
tried that microsoft link.

in recovery console when i was on step 4 copy
C:\windows\system32\config\sam

C:\windows\tmp\sam.bak\----this command did not copy? so could not
proceed.

Also tried below steps:

C:\Windows>CD C:\system~1\_resto~1
C:\system~1\_resto~1\>dir

C:\system~1\_resto~1>cd rp23

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23>cd snapshot

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>copy _registry_machine_system
c:\windows\system32\config\system (read below3)

Overwrite system [y,n]: y

1 file copied

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>exit

these steps too- did not not fix- hard drive error and recovery console is
now asking for Password, though i have not set a password!

seems my ''computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive
on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not
exist
previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article,
you
may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the
original
registry hives.'' as stated on microsoft.com .

now i can not access my recovery console!
it says on microsoft.com to contact them and install the Q308402 hotfix.
i cant find their email on their website. do you have this fix.

No, contact Microsoft.

will they charge money if i phone them?

No idea.

please suggest if i can do anything to fix this problem soon asap.
thanks much for your time and effort. regards

Normally the only difference is that OEM installs may put the default
registry in another location.

However, if you read and understand the steps in the link, you can go more
or less directly to a manual restore of a not-quite-most-recent registry
backup. This is often easiest and fastest to do if you attach the drive to
another XP system.

And while you're connected to that other system, back up your data.

HTH
-pk