Missing system file

[Guest]

a couple days ago my lap top crashed. I have done everything i can tomget it
back. I finally loaded XP onto d drive so I can start burning hard drives
onto dvd to prepare for clean install. the message I get is that it is
missing \windows\system32\config\system file
I would really like to at least be able and spare some of my software etc
etc Does anyone have a suggestion as to what I shouild try or do? Your help
is appreciated and thank you for your time

 

[peter]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
peter

 

[Jim]

a couple days ago my lap top crashed. I have done everything i can tomget
it
back. I finally loaded XP onto d drive so I can start burning hard drives
onto dvd to prepare for clean install. the message I get is that it is
missing \windows\system32\config\system file
I would really like to at least be able and spare some of my software etc
etc Does anyone have a suggestion as to what I shouild try or do? Your
help
is appreciated and thank you for your time

\windows\system32\config\system is a registry hive. If a registry file is
missing or corrupt, Windows cannot proceed. The other poster gave the
method for recovery.

What I would do is remove the drive from the laptop, install it in a 2.5
drive USB enclosure, and take the whole affair to another computer. At that
point, you can surely recover your data and write it to a suitable disk.

Then put the drive back in the laptop and try the method that the other
poster disclosed.

Is it possible that the reason the laptop crashed is that the drive is
defective? If so, your data is gone for good unless you have a backup
somewhere.

Jim

 

[Guest]

Run windows "File Protection utility" "SFC"...Simply install xp cd,exit the
info
page,go to run,type:cmd In cmd type:Sfc /Scannow When its thru,type:
CHKDSK C: /F Agree,type:EXIT Remove xp cd,restart pc

 

[Guest]

Thank you for taking your time and lending me a hand. I have the drive back.
The technique above did the trick. Question : Can I pull my profile over to
the current registry and /or - how do I go about getting all my programs etc
etyc pointed my way...??
Oh, I wish it were a defective drive, no, no it was defective me bumping the
table as I stood up and a coke spilled oh so perfect. That coke did not earn
my smile.
The keyboard is shot. Everything else seems top be...well so far so good....

Thanks again

 

[Jim]

Thank you for taking your time and lending me a hand. I have the drive
back.
The technique above did the trick. Question : Can I pull my profile over
to
the current registry and /or - how do I go about getting all my programs
etc
etyc pointed my way...??
Oh, I wish it were a defective drive, no, no it was defective me bumping
the
table as I stood up and a coke spilled oh so perfect. That coke did not
earn
my smile.
The keyboard is shot. Everything else seems top be...well so far so
good....

Thanks again

What you need to do is to create another user. This act will cause XP to
create a new profile.

You must take ownership of the files and folders for the old user. Help &
Support has an article which describes this process.

Then you can copy what you want from the old user to the new user.

Jim