Can't boot - missing or corrupt system file

[habrams]

Was running DoomIII on an amd 2600+ w/512meg ram. Machine
froze. Restarted, on startup says missing or corrupt file
\windows\system32\config\system. I am in the recovery
console, c:\windows\, but I don't know how to locate the
necessary fine on the startup disk. I assume it is in one
of the cab files under ??86 folder. I was not intelligent
enough to have a backup I could use for ASR. But would
that have worked?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

See if the following article helps:

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

 

[habrams]

Thank you for the info. It looks as if it could be of
assistance. I gather from the instructions that a
windows/repair/ folder exists already that has a copy of
the system32 files. I will verify this when I get home
and can check the system. I take it I can skip the part
about changing the registry info and just do the copy of
the bad file? Please advise.