Config\system file corrupt or missing

[BarbaraZ]

Trying to help with a computer that can't get to
Windows. When you startup, get 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 Setup
using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first
screen to start repair."
She had made some boot floppies for XP; I tried putting
in the first one and it only cycled from the startup
screens to searching for Boot record from floppy (1st
bootable device) to new screen with "Setup is inspecting
your computer's hardware configuration." and then back
again to startup screens. I'm not sure if she has good
boot floppies or not, but wouldn't it ask to put in 2nd
floppy, 3rd etc.?
I found no place that I could type in the 'r" to
repair. Please help.

 

[Russell]

The "R"epair option is on the CR-ROM, not the floppy boot
disks. You will have to put the Orginal Install CD, not a
recovery Cd, in the drive and boot from it. You made need
to go into the BIOS and set up the machine to boot from
CD, to allow this.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Barbara.

I'm not sure I understand all you said about making boot floppies. It
sounds like she may be trying to apply the Win9x/ME mindset to WinXP - and
that does not compute! Why does she think she needs "some boot floppies for
XP"? Will her computer not boot from the WinXP CD-ROM?

Back to your main problem: The ..\Config\SYSTEM file is a key part of the
Registry. If it is missing or damaged, WinXP can't boot at all. If it is
damaged, it's not easy to replace. But it may be still in good shape, just
out of place where the boot process can't locate it. WinXP keeps backup
copies of the Registry files, but those can be damaged, too. And WinXP
protects Registry files from our editing by normal methods.

The starting point for solving this problem is this KB article:
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

Google finds over 50 KB articles dealing with "config/system". Here is
another one:
How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822705

RC

 

[Guest]

I set the BIOS for CDROM, and tried the Xp CD she gave
me. I get same message re: Windows can't start...
I can't get to a screen that gives me the R option. She
did mention that they upgraded from WinMe ( I don't know
how long ago), but would the Xp CD say upgrade?? I'm
trying to contact her to get more info, please advise if
you have anything that might help or what more I should
ask her.

 

[BarbaraZ]

I set the BIOS for CDROM, and tried the Xp CD she gave
me. I get same message re: Windows can't start...
I can't get to a screen that gives me the R option. She
did mention that they upgraded from WinMe ( I don't know
how long ago), but would the Xp CD say upgrade?? I'm
trying to contact her to get more info, please advise if
you have anything that might help or what more I should
ask her.

 

[BarbaraZ]

I set the BIOS for CDROM, and tried the Xp CD she gave
me. I get same message re: Windows can't start...
I can't get to a screen that gives me the R option. She
did mention that they upgraded from WinMe ( I don't know
how long ago), but would the Xp CD say upgrade?? I'm
trying to contact her to get more info, please advise if
you have anything that might help or what more I should
ask her.
She had said that she talked with Microsoft, and they had
her make these floppies (??). In the meantime, I will
dblchk some of these KB articles and see if I can make
some headway.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The precise recovery steps are here:

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:



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

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Barbara.

You haven't yet mentioned the make and model of the computer. If that
computer came with WinME pre-installed, it may be underpowered to run WinXP.
Knowing the computer/BIOS configuration could help us help you figure out
how to get it to boot from CD - or understand whether it can be done at all.

but would the Xp CD say upgrade??

Maybe. Either the full CD or the upgrade CD can be used to either upgrade
or clean install WinXP. The only difference between full and upgrade is
that the upgrade version is cheaper and will ask for evidence that you have
a qualifying version of Windows from which to upgrade - if such qualifying
version is not already installed when you run Setup.

The important point is that it must be a "retail" WinXP CD-ROM. That is,
one that you might buy from Best Buy or your favorite retailer. It must NOT
be an OEM WinXP CD. These are designed to be installed on a just-built
computer before delivery to the first consumer, so, naturally, these cannot
be used to upgrade from any prior system. An OEM CD expects to partition
and format the HD before installing WinXP. Also, the OEM license is valid
only for the computer on which it is first installed; it cannot be installed
on a different computer, even if WinXP is completely erased from the
original. An OEM version of WinXP is supported only by the computer
manufacturer, not by Microsoft. And a Dell OEM CD, for example, cannot be
installed on an HP computer.

If you tell us the make and model of the computer, someone here probably
will recognize it and have some ideas for your friend.

RC