\WINNT\system32...file is corrupted

[fuming]

Win.200 Pro.....My PC has been working flawlessly for 2
years....Yesterday I used mcaffee quick clean, as I have
many times. When I rebooted all fonts were in
WINGDINGS !!! My Fonts Folder was empty... I found fonts
in ttf Folder.. I selected one so that I could read tabs
etc... I took a break and logged off... When I rebooted
later the system would not reboot. I got the message that
the \WINNT\system32\config\SYSTEM file is missing or
corrupt.
I tried to boot and repair from original CD. It cannot
repair because this file is missing or corrupted. When I
try to repair from the Console choice I cannot proceed
because it asks for the Administrators Password. My
Administrators password was left BLANK when the self built
PC was built. Just clicking enter will not work as the
password....So I guess I have no password to proceed. I
don't want to do a reinstall because during a recent move
I HAVE LOST MY BACK-UP AND EMERGENCY RECOVERY DISKS !!!!!!
How can I repair or replace the corrupted file from the
installation CD....... I have called Microsoft and in the
process found out that the guy that build my PC sold me an
OEM version of Win. 2000 Pro...!!! So, Microsoft tech
support won't talk to me about it for less than
#250.00.....They told me I could upgrade to XP and my data
would be saved.....
Frankly , I don't know why anyone would help me with this
but Microsoft support advised me to come to this
newsgroup......I guess it's their way of passing the Buck
if they don't get their Big Bucks twice............
Respectfully, FUMING and Hopping MAD...!!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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

Registry Repair Utility download for Windows 2000-based computers
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830570


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Dave Patrick]

If the system hive is corrupt, and assuming you already tried LKG, It may be
possible to rename the system hive found in
%windir%\system32\config\system
to system.old
then rename
%windir%\system32\config\system.alt
to
%windir%\system32\config\system

You can also try using the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the
original-as-installed system hive from
%windir%\repair\system
to
%windir%\system32\config\system
You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the
original OS install.

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.


:
| Win.200 Pro.....My PC has been working flawlessly for 2
| years....Yesterday I used mcaffee quick clean, as I have
| many times. When I rebooted all fonts were in
| WINGDINGS !!! My Fonts Folder was empty... I found fonts
| in ttf Folder.. I selected one so that I could read tabs
| etc... I took a break and logged off... When I rebooted
| later the system would not reboot. I got the message that
| the \WINNT\system32\config\SYSTEM file is missing or
| corrupt.
| I tried to boot and repair from original CD. It cannot
| repair because this file is missing or corrupted. When I
| try to repair from the Console choice I cannot proceed
| because it asks for the Administrators Password. My
| Administrators password was left BLANK when the self built
| PC was built. Just clicking enter will not work as the
| password....So I guess I have no password to proceed. I
| don't want to do a reinstall because during a recent move
| I HAVE LOST MY BACK-UP AND EMERGENCY RECOVERY DISKS !!!!!!
| How can I repair or replace the corrupted file from the
| installation CD....... I have called Microsoft and in the
| process found out that the guy that build my PC sold me an
| OEM version of Win. 2000 Pro...!!! So, Microsoft tech
| support won't talk to me about it for less than
| #250.00.....They told me I could upgrade to XP and my data
| would be saved.....
| Frankly , I don't know why anyone would help me with this
| but Microsoft support advised me to come to this
| newsgroup......I guess it's their way of passing the Buck
| if they don't get their Big Bucks twice............
| Respectfully, FUMING and Hopping MAD...!!

 

[George Hester]

You know there is something here I don't understand.

User logged in | runs McAffee cleaner | reboots | notices bad or no fonts | reboots | can't boot. Something must have happend between the first boot and the second boot that we are unaware of. Could McAffee asked that the fonts folder be cleaned out after the first reboot? Weird.