Config.sys error

[sheppardwk]

I came home from work and have the Windows XP could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.

Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence and
pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password, don't have
one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
Followed these instructions:

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

However when I type in the next line

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

I receive the following:
The system cannot find the file specified. OK, which file? Do I not have
the repair files on the computer? What do I do now, as I have several other
steps accoding to the webpage?


copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

 

[sheppardwk]

I tried again and could type all but the first one

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

These all worked:
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

I then typed Exit and the computer rebooted.
Unfortunately, it resulted in the same error.

What now?

Thanks.

 

[Rey Santos]

Check your c:/Windows/repair folder if system file is there, that is the
missing or corrupted file. If you can't find it try to copy on another
computer and place it in the repair folder and repeat the procedures.

 

[sheppardwk]

I found the system.bak file in the Repair folder and copied it to the Config
folder. When I rebooted, I received the Blue Screen indicating 0x0000007B.
I then went to the tmp directory where I had placed the original system file
earlier.

I copied the system.bak from the TMP file, which was my original system file
before following the procedures above. I copied it back to
C:\Windows\System32\Config\System.

When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that there
were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I chose - Last
Known Configuration.

The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared and the
Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe Mode.
While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Should I copy back all of the *.tmp files back into the
C:\Windows\System32\Config file and see what happens or should I try
something else?

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it won't.
How do I find out the password? I've left it blank and after three (3)
attempts, it indicates I need to restart the computer.

What now?

If I was to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\, what will I lose?
We have four (4) different logons, will they be affected? My Documents
folder, will it be affected?

 

[Rey Santos]

The .bak files you created should be in c:\windows\tmp. The .bak file you
copied from repair folder could be the same system file that is corrupted and
needs to be replaced. The system, software, sam, security and default files
in the repair folder do not have extensions check them there.

When you copied the system file: copy c:\windows\repair\system
c:\windows\system32\config\system
You recieved this message:
"The system cannot find the file specified."
Because the system file (without extension) is missing.
In your first post this: the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.

See my previous post.

I don't think you have to copy back the temp files to the config folder. The
copy commmand you did created the files back to the config folder but not the
system file that was not found.

It looks like more problems are developing. A Repair Install is not
foolproof and should not be considered the cure-all fix. You may loss data
and/or program settings, so you should back up your files.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#Warning1

 

[neil]

I tried the method detailed one the MS website sometime ago. It is a method
to get you system working to allow you to access your files, but I found it
didn't recover the PC back to a fully functioning system. The only way to
recover is to reinstall windows.
Neil

 

[sheppardwk]

When I rebooted, the computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen
appeared and the
Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe Mode.
While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it won't.
How do I find out the password?

Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of Recovery
Console. It indicated that it found a previous installation of Windows.
Previous to this, it only presented the three (3) partitions. I was now
presented with the option to install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose
Repair. After it copied the new files and rebooted, I received an error that
indicated that While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
correct.

I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator password
has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired" version of Windows to
start. Please help me resolve this as I have been attempting all sorts of
solutions since Friday.

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\ drive, what
will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be affected? My Documents,
will it be affected? Other programs? etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

When I rebooted, the computer went to Windows and then a light blue
screen appeared and the
Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on
Safe Mode. While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared
that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current
value is not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the
administrator password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it
accepted it. Now it won't. How do I find out the password?

Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of
Recovery Console. It indicated that it found a previous
installation of Windows. Previous to this, it only presented the
three (3) partitions. I was now presented with the option to
install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose Repair. After it copied
the new files and rebooted, I received an error that indicated that
While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
correct.

I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator
password has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired"
version of Windows to start. Please help me resolve this as I have
been attempting all sorts of solutions since Friday.

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\
drive, what will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be
affected? My Documents, will it be affected? Other programs? etc.

Thanks in advance.

In the future - please cross-post as opposed to multi-posting. It results
in your message being spread across as many groups - but makes it easier for
you to check and others to read and not run-across unread in another group
later. Think of it like sending the same email to many different people -
usually (or you should) you just put all their addresses in the TO: (or CC:
or BCC field at once. Not compose a whole new message for each person,
but with exactly the same content.

First - you could reset the administrator's password using this on of these
CDs:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Or hints from here:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

And/or - you could perform a REPAIR install (that's not hitting the first R,
but the second R) which should keep everything intact.

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

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

You may need this afterwards as well (as sometimes - after a repair
installation - Windows Updates just stop working.):

First thing to try:
As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.


Second thing to try:
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset


Third thing to try:
Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix:
- Windows Installer
- Windows Update
- All the Registration Center options.

Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Then click "GO" and wait until it is done... Reboot will be needed.

- Download/Install Windows Update v3.
http://download.windowsupdate.com/w...one/7.0.6000.381/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Reboot.
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install updates.


Usually - method one from the first suggestion fixes the issue.
Sometimes they have to proceed to method two from the first suggestion.

Less seldom - but it does happen - only the tool from the second suggestion
will work - although the first suggestion is contained within the second in
many ways (as well as some of the third.)

And the third suggestion is there because before there was a suggestion (1)
and a suggestion (2) - the third was the best bet and worked in most cases.

Good luck - come back and let us know!