Missing file or corrupted, help!!!

[Guest]

I have a laptop and windows will not start because the file
"c:\windows\system32\config\system" is missing or corrupted. Now, I have
tried the recovery console found in
"http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545" but I cannot
pass part 1 because when I try to copy the file with the problem (system) I
always get "the file could not be copied." What can I do? I do not want to
lose all my files in my documents. Any help!!!

 

[Guest]

give the file name. might help troubleshoot ie give you help!
are you maually performing each item or are you using batch file?
Can you copy other files referenced in document?


what brand computer do you have?
Are you using retail Win XP CD?

 

[Guest]

the file name is "system" (found in c:\windows\system32\config\ folder). Yes,
I am manually doing the copying because it is in the command promp. I have
not tried to copy other files within the folder.
The laptop is a dell and I am using the Win XP cd that they gave me. Thank
you for your help.

 

[Guest]

Are you sure you typed command properly? Spelling etc.
What model and age is your laptop?

http://support.dell.com/support/top...ument?dn=1068335&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=&s=gen

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfo..._sysperf&message.id=18296&c=us&l=en&cs=&s=gen

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

 

[GTS]

You cannot use the procedure in 307545 with the Dell installed XP. If you
review it you will note " Do not use the procedure that is described in this
article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. ......."
You should run chdsk /r from recovery console first. This type of registry
damage is often caused by disk problems and the "the file could not be
copied" message may relate to same. If you're very lucky this may find and
repair a problem and save the file.

There are various many possible ways to save your files - slaving the drive
in another machine to copy them, booting with a tool like Knoppix or
PEBuilder to copy them to another network workstation or external drive.
If you have the Dell XP CD (which they were including until recently), a
repair reinstall will preserve your files.
See How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341