Damaged System File

[Mark B]

Is it possible to fix a Win2000 system that is reporting a damaged or
corrupt system file. I don't have the install CDs. This was my work computer
and the company went out of business, I got to keep the computer but wasn't
able to get the install CDs.

I tried copying the system file from the repair directory, but not the
computer will continually reboot after the "loading" screen completes. My
goal is too upgrade to XP but I can't do that until I can get the 2000
installation working again.

Any ideas on how I can do this? Is there a default System file I can use
that will allow it to boot so I can upgrade it?

Thanks for the help,
Mark

 

[Leonard Severt [MSFT]]

Is it possible to fix a Win2000 system that is reporting a damaged or
corrupt system file. I don't have the install CDs. This was my work
computer and the company went out of business, I got to keep the
computer but wasn't able to get the install CDs.

I tried copying the system file from the repair directory, but not the
computer will continually reboot after the "loading" screen completes.
My goal is too upgrade to XP but I can't do that until I can get the
2000 installation working again.

Any ideas on how I can do this? Is there a default System file I can
use that will allow it to boot so I can upgrade it?

Thanks for the help,
Mark

What is the exact message you are getting? What system file is damaged?
Is it actually saying that the system hive of the registry can't be
loaded? If you can't boot into Windows in any mode then you likely will
not be able to repair Windows without the CD.

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team

 

[Mark B]

It is the system Hive of the registry that was damaged. Would it work by
borrowing a Win2000 CD just to get the system running again, and then
upgrading to WinXP?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Leonard Severt [MSFT]]

It is the system Hive of the registry that was damaged. Would it work by
borrowing a Win2000 CD just to get the system running again, and then
upgrading to WinXP?

Thanks,
Mark

What is the exact message you are getting? What system file is damaged?
Is it actually saying that the system hive of the registry can't be
loaded? If you can't boot into Windows in any mode then you likely will
not be able to repair Windows without the CD.

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team

No a reinstall will not fix a registry file. And you can not do upgrade
to XP with a damaged registry file. The only thing you can do is copy a
backup copy of the sytem hive. If you ever made an ERD then you will
have copy from then.

So boot from Windows 2000 or XP CD.
Enter recovery console and login.
cd \winnt\system32\config
rename system system.bad

If ever made ERD then enter
copy \winnt\repair\regback\system

If never made ERD then enter
copy \winnt\repair\system
(note) this one will take you back to point where Windows was installed.

Type Exit to reboot.

You will now boot into Windows assuming this is the only problem.


Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team

 

[Mark B]

It is the system Hive of the registry that was damaged. Would it work by
borrowing a Win2000 CD just to get the system running again, and then
upgrading to WinXP?

Thanks,
Mark



No a reinstall will not fix a registry file. And you can not do upgrade
to XP with a damaged registry file. The only thing you can do is copy a
backup copy of the sytem hive. If you ever made an ERD then you will
have copy from then.

So boot from Windows 2000 or XP CD.
Enter recovery console and login.
cd \winnt\system32\config
rename system system.bad

If ever made ERD then enter
copy \winnt\repair\regback\system

If never made ERD then enter
copy \winnt\repair\system
(note) this one will take you back to point where Windows was installed.

Type Exit to reboot.

You will now boot into Windows assuming this is the only problem.


Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team

Thanks for the response. I tried doing that. Unfortunately my ERD was also
unreadable, so I copied the System file from the repair directory over and
still get the same results. It seems like I need to re-install Win2000. What
do I loose if I re-install it in place (not a repair, a complete install)?
Will the program files directory be changed? what about the Documents and
settings directory? Will I need to re-install all my apps for can I just
replace the links?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Leonard Severt [MSFT]]

Thanks for the response. I tried doing that. Unfortunately my ERD was
also unreadable, so I copied the System file from the repair directory
over and still get the same results. It seems like I need to
re-install Win2000. What do I loose if I re-install it in place (not a
repair, a complete install)? Will the program files directory be
changed? what about the Documents and settings directory? Will I need
to re-install all my apps for can I just replace the links?

Thanks,
Mark

I don't see how you are getting the same error if you replace the system
hive with the original from the repair folder. Did you run chkdsk /p
from recovery console? A repair install on top will not have much chance
of working with the current problems. You program files and documents
and settings directory should be fine in either case however when you
don't know the root cause there is always some risk. I am concerned that
you might have a drive problem.

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team