/WINNT/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM

[Guest]

When I turn my laptop on I get the following:
Windows can not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
/WINNT/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM

It says if I have the CD it could fix it. I do have the original windows XP
cd (my operating system is XP home) but my laptops cd-rom is not working!!!
(it has died a long time ago; it can only read DVDs and those only
occasionally!)

Is there a solution? The only place I have access to when i turn on my
computer is SETUP by pressing F2. Can I somehow enter setup and make changes
that will allow to boot my computer by using the windows cd on an external
cdrom??? How can I do that? and what permanently fixes the problem? Please
help!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

When I turn my laptop on I get the following:
Windows can not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
/WINNT/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM

It says if I have the CD it could fix it. I do have the original windows XP
cd (my operating system is XP home) but my laptops cd-rom is not working!!!
(it has died a long time ago; it can only read DVDs and those only
occasionally!)

Is there a solution? The only place I have access to when i turn on my
computer is SETUP by pressing F2. Can I somehow enter setup and make changes
that will allow to boot my computer by using the windows cd on an external
cdrom???

If you have a USB CD Drive and if your laptop's BIOS supports booting
from USB devices, yes.

How can I do that?

Read the manual that came with the laptop, or consult the laptop
manufacturer's support web sites.

and what permanently fixes the problem?

Replace the defective CD Drive.

After you've fixed the problem with your CD drive:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Guest]

--
Daniel Mason

If you have a USB CD Drive and if your laptop's BIOS supports booting
from USB devices, yes.




Read the manual that came with the laptop, or consult the laptop
manufacturer's support web sites.




Replace the defective CD Drive.

After you've fixed the problem with your CD drive:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem and attempted the first step from the recovery
console. I copied the existing registry files to the backup, deleted the
registry files, then discovered there were no registry files in the
windows/repair directory to copy to the registry location!! Is there any way
to get some from the windows disc that I have. I have an OEM version, but I
built the computer and installed it.. so am not sure why the registry files
are not in the repair section. Any other way I can load registry files into
the registry??

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have the same problem and attempted the first step from the recovery
console. I copied the existing registry files to the backup, deleted the
registry files, then discovered there were no registry files in the
windows/repair directory to copy to the registry location!! Is there any way
to get some from the windows disc that I have.

No. The registry is created during the OS installation, and modified
each time you install or remove hardware, install or remove software, or
change any settings whatsoever. There is no generic registry (or
registry template) on the installation CD.

If you cannot find the necessary files to restore your registry, your
next best course of action would be to perform a repair installation.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Of course, if you have any data that's important to you, back it up
to an external disk before starting.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[WTC]

I have the same problem and attempted the first step from the recovery
console. I copied the existing registry files to the backup, deleted the
registry files, then discovered there were no registry files in the
windows/repair directory to copy to the registry location!! Is there any
way
to get some from the windows disc that I have. I have an OEM version, but
I
built the computer and installed it.. so am not sure why the registry
files
are not in the repair section. Any other way I can load registry files
into
the registry??

Use a BartPE Bootable CD to repair your system. Follow the directions on how
to create a BartPE Bootable CD from their website.

Bart's Preinstalled Environment (BartPE) bootable live windows CD/DVD
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Boot the computer with the BartPE CD.

Navigate to this folder on your Hard drive:

windows\system32\config

Copy the following files to a temp folder, if present:

system
software
sam
security
default

Then delete the above files from "windows\system32\config".

Navigate to the following folder:

System Volume Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}

NOTE: _restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8} will have a different
name on your computer.

Now there should be folders with names like RP1, RP2, RP3 and so on. Open
the folder with the highest RP# then open the "Snapshot" folder.

Copy the following files to "windows\system32\config":

_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM

Rename the file in "windows\system32\config""

Rename _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT to DEFAULT
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to SECURITY
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to SOFTWARE
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEM
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM

Reboot the machine and see if you can use Windows.