System Repair leaves machine with problems! Please help!

[Kent P. Iler]

Hi,

I received the message: "Windows XP could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM "

I followed the steps here: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

Now I can boot, but I can't install anything (says something about windows
installer needs updated, Norton products won't liveupdate, and several
services can't start (like PCAnywhere)). I've tried to download the latest
Windows Installer, but they don't have anything that you can download.

Also when I went under System Information, it couldn't display anything -
said something about unable to access network information (sorry....exact
error message not available - doing this from memory on another computer).

Does anyone have any recommendations short of formatting and reinstalling?

Thanks!

-- Kent Iler

 

[Kelly]

Hi Kent,

Go to Start/Admin Tools/Services or Start/Run and type in: services.msc

Once there check to see that your proper services are started and running.

As for the installer check that service as well.

Added info:

Windows Installer Issues (Line 348) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[kentiler]

I checked the services. Many are running, but I didn't see anything
about the installer. Is there the equivalent of System File Checker
with XP? Should I just re-install over the old OS and hopefully most
things will still be installed?

Thanks for your help!

--Kent Iler

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Yes. To run the checker and restore missing or corrupted system files:

Start>Run type cmd and enter. At the prompt type "sfc /scannow" (no quotes,
include the space). It will probably request the XP cd. You may encounter
problems if SP2 was installed separately.