Boot up failure, missing file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jay
  • Start date Start date
J

Jay

I've run XP Home edition on a 3yo desktop for the past
six months with no problems. This morning, it showed an
error message and told me to reboot. It has failed to
load Windows since then, with a message:
"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
using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first
screen to start repair."

I cannot boot off the XP upgrade CD-ROM, as the same
screen keeps appearing. I have run Norton Anti-virus, Ad-
Aware, and Windows Update with daily update checks. Is
there any way to save this computer without losing all
the data on my hard disk?

Thanks.
 
I would suggest you press F8 just as Windows is to begin
loading, then choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt. At
the command prompt navigate to \Windows\System32\Config
and choose the DIR command. See if you have a file titled
SYSTEM, also see if you have a file titled SYSTEM.ALT If
the file SYSTEM is non-existent or is a different file
size of the SYSTEM.ALT file, change the SYSTEM.ALT to just
SYSTEM. If the SYSTEM file exists, give it a different
file extension so it is not overwritten (ie SYSTEM.BAK).
Then you should be able to reboot. You may have to change
the attributes of the SYSTEM or SYSTEM.ALT files if they
are protected - Use the ATTRIB command.
Good luck!
 
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