I am having the same problem. Has anyone found a fix for this as yet
Matt Sjkillett said:
Thanks Andrew but I'm afraid I've been misunderstood. I can get into the
recovery console but when I am in it Im not asked for a password and I should
be. Whenever I try to copy or move files from within the Recovery console it
just says "Access is denied". Once I'm in the recovery console I cant seem
to log in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following article may be the answer as to why you are not being
prompted for a password when you boot into Recovery Console:
How to enable an administrator to log on automatically in Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312149/en-us
You say that you are able to get into Recovery Console?
Do you get to the C:\WINDOWS> prompt as you should?
Or do you just get to a C:\> prompt?
If you are just getting to a C:> prompt, that is not a good sign.
That could well indicate the beginning of hard drive failure or that the hard drive has already failed.
If you are just getting to a C:\> prompt, try running this command:
C:\>chkdsk /r
Let chkdsk /r run for as long as it takes to complete - and that could be quite a long period of time
It may get to a certain percentage and then start over again numerous times -
That means it is finding bad sectors on the hard drive and trying to repair them if possible
or if not, marking them as bad and unusable.
If chkdsk /r is able to complete, it will give you a report and go back to a C:\> prompt
At that point type in the word "exit" (without quotes) and tap <ENTER>
The system will start to reboot - take out the XP CD and let the system try to boot up normally.
If still getting the "windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system"
Boot back into Recovery Console and try running 307545 again -
If you still are booting to just a C:\> prompt -
Try running this as your first command: C:\>cd windows and see if you can get into the C:\WINDOWS> prompt
and then proceed with 307545
If however at any point of running chkdsk /r you get an error mentioning "unrecoverable problems" -
then you will be looking at trying to recover data from that damaged hard drive.
Hopefully you will be able to run 307545 - I suggest you try the following adapted version of it -
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us
(Adapted version - follow these simplified commands to save typing)
Boot with Windows XP CDROM
(The CDROM drive must be before the hard drive in the BIOS boot order)
(Restart the computer with the XP CD inserted and then tap any key
when prompted to boot from CD on the screen)
Tap keyboard letter "R" to enter Recovery Console
(Alternative way of getting into Recovery Console is to install it using
the method described in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us)
You will reach a screen where you are prompted to choose which Windows
Installation to log onto. Following command assumes this will be option 1.
1:C:\windows>
Type in "1" (without quotes) <Enter>
Press <Enter> for blank Administrator password
(If previously assigned a password, then of course that will have to be used)
C:\windows>md tmp <Enter>
C:\windows>cd system32\config <Enter>
C:\windows\system32\config>
(At this prompt, tap <ENTER> after each of the following commands)
ren system system.old
[If get error that file is not found, try "ren system.bak system.old" (without quotes) instead]
ren software software.old
ren default default.old
ren sam sam.old
ren security security.old
(Now continue at same command prompt with following commands)
copy c:\windows\repair\system <ENTER>
(Tap the Up Arrow on the keyboard and the last command you typed will appear at the prompt)
(Back space out the word "system" and replace it with "software" (without quotes) and tap <ENTER>)
(Perform the same Up Arrow and replacement of file names for "default", "sam", and "security"
(Make sure that all 5 files copied)
Type "exit" (without quotes) <ENTER>
(Remove XP CDROM when system starts rebooting)
Upon reboot, start tapping the F8 key on the keyboard to get the "Advanced Options Menu"
Log into Safe Mode as Administrator
When in Safe Mode, right click on My Computer and click on Explore to get into Windows Explorer
At the top menu, click on TOOLS and then FOLDER OPTIONS, and then click on the VIEW tab
Set to "Show hidden files and folders"
Also take the checks out of
"Hide extions for known file types", and
"Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"
(click Yes that you really want to do this when you get the warning)
Then in Windows Explorer on the left hand side,
click the + sign next to the C: drive -
In the folder tree under the C: drive,
click on the "System Volume Information" folder
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: If you cannot access the "System Volume Information" folder,
right click on it and then click on Properties | Security tab |
click on the Add button and type in the user name that you are logged in as -
(should be Administrator) - in the "Enter the object name to select" window
click OK
Then with Administrator highlighted, put a check in "Allow" for "Full Control"
click OK
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now click on the "System Volume Information" folder
Within that folder you will see one or two folder with names such as:
"_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}"
(Click on View | Details so that the dates of the folders are shown)
Open _restore{...} DATED: (Make note of the date)
Then you will see folders named RP1, RP2, RP3, etc.
(Click on View | Details so that the dates of the folders are shown)
(Best to use an RP# that is dated several days prior to date that issue/error first occurred)
Open RP# Dated: (Make note of the date)
In there you will see a Snapshot folder. Click on it.
(Click on View | Details)
THEN YOU WILL SEE THE FOLLOWING KEYS:
- _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT>
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY>
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE>
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM>
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM>
Highlight all 5 files and then right click on one of those higlighted files
and then click on Copy and then paste them into the C:\WINDOWS\tmp folder
that you previously created while in Recovery Console
Now open the C:\WINDOWS\tmp folder:
- _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT> Rename to DEFAULT
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY> Rename to SECURITY
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE> Rename to SOFTWARE
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM> Rename to SYSTEM
- _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM> Rename to SAM
(Renaming is easily done by right clicking on a file and then click on Rename -
While the file is highlighted,
click just to the left of the desired resultant name such as DEFAULT and
then backspace out the rest of the name and tap on <ENTER>)
Close Windows Explorer
Boot back into Recovery Console (same routine as above)
C:\windows>cd system32\config <Enter>
C:\windows\system32\config>
Type the following commands (tapping <ENTER> after each command)
del system
del software
del default
del sam
del security
Then type the following commands from the same command prompt
copy c:\windows\tmp\system (tapping <ENTER> after each command)
(Tap the Up Arrow on the keyboard and the last command you typed will appear at the prompt)
(Back space out the word "system" and replace it with "software" (without quotes) and tap <ENTER>)
(Perform the same Up Arrow and replacement of file names for "default", "sam", and "security"
(Make sure that all 5 files copied)
Type "exit" (without quotes) <ENTER>
(Remove XP CDROM when system starts rebooting)
Let the system reboot into Windows normally this time
Go to System Restore and use a Restore Point to a day before the issue began
(Probably best to try Restore Point dated the same as the Snapshot files that you used previously)
Make sure the Windows Firewall is turned on unless have functioning third-party Firewall up and running
Reconnect to the Internet and immediately go to Windows Update and install any critical updates if any.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
