Start -Up Scree

[Guest]

I'm getting this Message at Start-Up :

"Missing or Corupt File:
\Windows\System32\Config\System

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Set-Up using the
original Set Up CD -Rom."

Trouble is I can't find my Set Up CD-Rom. Can I download this file from
Microsoft ?
How do I get another Set-Up CD-Rom. Thanks.

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hello,

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q307545&ID=KB;EN-US;Q307545

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org


Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Guest]

The Article says :
" This article assumes that typical recovery methods have failed and access
to the system is not available except by using Recovery Console."

What do they mean by ,"typical recovery methods" ? Are there other things I
can try BEFORE I would HAVE TO resort to this Procedure ?
If I can AVOID what needs to be done in this article I wouldn't be adverse.

I get the Message I ststed above but, then when I re-start or push the 'r"
key,
my systen boots up. But today, it took a few trys, so, the situation is
probably headed for a break down. Tha's why I Posted. Thanks.

 

[Rock]

The Article says :
" This article assumes that typical recovery methods have failed and access
to the system is not available except by using Recovery Console."

What do they mean by ,"typical recovery methods" ? Are there other things I
can try BEFORE I would HAVE TO resort to this Procedure ?
If I can AVOID what needs to be done in this article I wouldn't be adverse.

I get the Message I ststed above but, then when I re-start or push the 'r"
key,
my systen boots up. But today, it took a few trys, so, the situation is
probably headed for a break down. Tha's why I Posted. Thanks.

:

So you're saying the computer does still boot? This error indicates a
problem with the registry. First thing is to make sure you have a full
and complete backup. Then take a look at this article on
troubleshooting registry corruption issues:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=822705

 

[Guest]

So you're saying the computer does still boot?

Yes.

This error indicates a problem with the registry.

It says a File is missing or corrupted. I have a HP Computer and they told
me I never reveived a XP Set - UP CD-Rom. The message says to hit the "r" key
after puting in the set-up CD. I called HP and they said I can only buy
Recovery CD's from them. I'm trying to make this as simple as possible. Would
you recommend buying a Windows XP Set-Up CD ? I'm trying to avoid having to
do a Recovery .

First thing is to make sure you have a full and complete backup.

How do I do that ?

Then take a look at this article on > troubleshooting registry corruption
issues:

Thanks.

 

[Rock]

rman7600 wrote:

Yes.

This error indicates a problem with the registry.

It says a File is missing or corrupted. I have a HP Computer and they told
me I never reveived a XP Set - UP CD-Rom. The message says to hit the "r" key
after puting in the set-up CD. I called HP and they said I can only buy
Recovery CD's from them. I'm trying to make this as simple as possible. Would
you recommend buying a Windows XP Set-Up CD ? I'm trying to avoid having to
do a Recovery .

First thing is to make sure you have a full and complete backup.

How do I do that ?

Then take a look at this article on > troubleshooting registry corruption
issues:

Thanks.

Well it depends on what you want to do and what the HP recover disks do.
Are they destructive - that is it will restore the system to factory
installed specs and you loose all installed data and programs - or non
destructive? In general you would be better off going with HP's but it
depends on what they offer. As installed though you should not use a
windows installation CD as that KB article says it shouldn't be done
with an OEM installation.

There are many ways to backup the system. One is to use an imaging
program. This makes an exact image of the partition which can be saved
on CD/DVD or to another drive - internal or external. Imaging to an
external USB 2.0 / Firewire drive works well. Then occasionally burning
an image to DVD gives you redundancy. Restores can be done of the
entire partition or individual files / folders. These work well and make
it easy to recover from a drive crash. Examples of this are:

Norton Ghost 10
Acronis True Image
Terabyte Unlimited's Image for Windows
CasperXP

The second option is a traditional backup program such as Stompsoft's PC
BackUP or Sonic’s Backup MyPC. They are good tools. - and the evolution
of ntbackup. There are other good backup programs out there as well.
This can do a complete backup or backup individual files and folders to
DVD/CD and other drives.

 

[Guest]

rman7600 wrote:



Well it depends on what you want to do and what the HP recover disks do.
Are they destructive - that is it will restore the system to factory
installed specs and you loose all installed data and programs - or non
destructive?

I have to call HP and find out. They may be the tech at HP said they replace
XP & Software Files - I don't like the sound of that. I'll find out and
report.


In general you would be better off going with HP's but it

depends on what they offer.

Right.

As installed though you should not use a

windows installation CD as that KB article says it shouldn't be done
with an OEM installation.

I'm sorry, what is an OEM Installation ?

There are many ways to backup the system. One is to use an imaging
program. This makes an exact image of the partition which can be saved
on CD/DVD or to another drive - internal or external. Imaging to an
external USB 2.0 / Firewire drive works well. Then occasionally burning
an image to DVD gives you redundancy. Restores can be done of the
entire partition or individual files / folders. These work well and make
it easy to recover from a drive crash. Examples of this are:

Thanks for the Help. I'll find out some things and get back.

 

[Rock]

rman7600 wrote:

I'm sorry, what is an OEM Installation ?

<snip>

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In this case it means
that the XP installation is a modified version done by the computer
vendor, in this case HP. The standard way of dealing with a corrupt
registry that won't allow a system to start and gives the corrupt system
message at boot up is this KB article.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

However it specifically states in that article not to use that procedure
with an vendor OEM installation - only use if the XP OS is from a retail
copy or a generic OEM.

In your case you're better off - though there appears to be a problem
with the registry, you can still boot and save data. Do that asap -
backing up - if only by copying important data to CDs, etc. You don't
know if one of these next boots the system will not boot at all.

 

[Guest]

rman7600 wrote:



<snip>

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In this case it means
that the XP installation is a modified version done by the computer
vendor, in this case HP. The standard way of dealing with a corrupt
registry that won't allow a system to start and gives the corrupt system
message at boot up is this KB article.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

However it specifically states in that article not to use that procedure
with an vendor OEM installation - only use if the XP OS is from a retail
copy or a generic OEM.

I DO have an OEM(HP) Installation,so, the above link is null anf void for
me. Then.... my ONLY option ( I guess) is get recovery disks from Hewlett
Packard, right ? Unless, you know of any other way in addition to that
solution ?

In your case you're better off - though there appears to be a problem
with the registry, you can still boot and save data. Do that asap -
backing up - if only by copying important data to CDs, etc. You don't
know if one of these next boots the system will not boot at all.

Yes I'm praying, concerning the Start-Up. THANKS.

 

[Guest]

I DO have an OEM(HP) Installation,so, the above link is null anf void for
me. Then.... my ONLY option ( I guess) is get recovery disks from Hewlett
Packard, right ? Unless, you know of any other way in addition to that
solution ?

Yes I'm praying, concerning the Start-Up. THANKS.

I have another Question Rock. I can't do the Recovery FAQ method because of
my OEM Version of Windows XP;BUT, What's your Opinion on Buying a Retail
Version of XP and trying to "r"(repair) the Missing or corruption Problem by
using a Retail Set-Up XP CD versus a HP Recovery CD? I was told by HP that
the recovery CD's replace not only the OS but, the Software. I have to talk
to HP tommorrow.Thanks.

 

[Rock]

rman7600 wrote:

I have another Question Rock. I can't do the Recovery FAQ method because of
my OEM Version of Windows XP;BUT, What's your Opinion on Buying a Retail
Version of XP and trying to "r"(repair) the Missing or corruption Problem by
using a Retail Set-Up XP CD versus a HP Recovery CD? I was told by HP that
the recovery CD's replace not only the OS but, the Software. I have to talk
to HP tommorrow.Thanks.

I don't think you would be able to do a repair install on the HP OEM
installation using a retail or generic OEM disk. It has to be the same
version I believe.

 

[Rock]

rman7600 wrote:

I DO have an OEM(HP) Installation,so, the above link is null anf void for
me. Then.... my ONLY option ( I guess) is get recovery disks from Hewlett
Packard, right ? Unless, you know of any other way in addition to that
solution ?

You don't need to use the resolution in that article because your system
is not experiencing that catastrophic failure _yet.

There is that other article on how to troubleshoot registry corruption
issues. I don't know if that would solve your problem though.

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=822705

If that doesn't help then your next step is to attempt a repair install
or a clean install. Since your OS installation is OEM then you should
use their recovery method but it might only offer a destructive recovery
as I indicated the last time. If that is in fact the case you might
want to consider buying a retail copy of XP and install that clean.

<snip>

First things first, backup important data now.

After you get through this recovery issue and the system is running well
then besides always having a current and complete backup, you can keep a
backup of the registry that can be restored in case corruption occurs.
For that I recommend using ERUNT.

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt

Installing and Using ERUNT
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm

 

[Guest]

rman7600 wrote:



You don't need to use the resolution in that article because your system
is not experiencing that catastrophic failure _yet.

There is that other article on how to troubleshoot registry corruption
issues. I don't know if that would solve your problem though.

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=822705

If that doesn't help then your next step is to attempt a repair install
or a clean install. Since your OS installation is OEM then you should
use their recovery method but it might only offer a destructive recovery
as I indicated the last time. If that is in fact the case you might
want to consider buying a retail copy of XP and install that clean.

<snip>

First things first, backup important data now.

After you get through this recovery issue and the system is running well
then besides always having a current and complete backup, you can keep a
backup of the registry that can be restored in case corruption occurs.
For that I recommend using ERUNT.

http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt

Installing and Using ERUNT
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm

--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

THANKS for you're Advise and Guidance. I'll finf out about some of this.

 

[Guest]

A question Rock. It failed -can't start it. HP says they can do a
"non-destructive " recovery, BUT, I'll loose the info in my Documents folder.
So, I'm trying to decide what to do.
If I opt to buy a Set -Up CD For XP and re-Install it, I won't loose any
data , right ?
The only problem is, that will void my hp warrenty.

 

[Guest]

A question Rock. It failed -can't start it. HP says they can do a
"non-destructive " recovery, BUT, I'll loose the info in my Documents folder.
So, I'm trying to decide what to do.
If I opt to buy a Set -Up CD For XP and re-Install it, I won't loose any
data , right ?
The only problem is, that will void my hp warrenty.

Actually, I have gotten it to start-up again(after about 12 trys).
To back-up the Documents Folder would take how many DVD'S ? My C Drive is
80 Gigs. ( I have an additional 250 gig E drive, but they say that's not
affected..
I wonder how much of the Documents Folder makes up the C Drive ?

 

[Rock]

:




A question Rock. It failed -can't start it. HP says they can do a
"non-destructive " recovery, BUT, I'll loose the info in my Documents folder.
So, I'm trying to decide what to do.
If I opt to buy a Set -Up CD For XP and re-Install it, I won't loose any
data , right ?
The only problem is, that will void my hp warrenty.

I don't know about the HP warranty issue. You would need to ask HP.
As to the size of the My Documents folder only you can tell. I keep all
data on a separate drive and make an compressed image of it using Drive
Image 7 which is no longer available. There are saved to an external
USB 2.0 hard drive. Powerquest - the makers of Drive Image - was bought
out by Symantec and the technology merged with Norton Ghost to make
Ghost 10. I occasionally burn copies of the image to DVD. Another
option is use two external USB drives and alternate them for storing the
image files. I do this as well.