Start Up Problem

[Garry Douglas]

A friend's PC displays the following message on start-up:

"Windows could not start because 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 set-up CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair".

* Did not advise me of the file extension.

Does this sound like a legit message or is it an indication of virus
activity (hoax or genuine)?

I'm still running 98SE so I'm not able to offer much help!

Also, to complicate matters, the original XP Home CD (or recovery disk that
came supplied with the system) is missing. Is it possible to repair the file
without the original CD?

Thanks for any help offered.

Garry Douglas

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Try here:

"How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| A friend's PC displays the following message on start-up:
|
| "Windows could not start because 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 set-up CD-ROM.
|
| Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair".
|
| * Did not advise me of the file extension.
|
| Does this sound like a legit message or is it an indication of virus
| activity (hoax or genuine)?
|
| I'm still running 98SE so I'm not able to offer much help!
|
| Also, to complicate matters, the original XP Home CD (or recovery disk
that
| came supplied with the system) is missing. Is it possible to repair the
file
| without the original CD?
|
| Thanks for any help offered.
|
| Garry Douglas
|
|
|