Trouble in Paradise... XP Admin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fat Elvis
  • Start date Start date
F

Fat Elvis

I deleted ATI driver software, then ran Ontrack maintenance utility
to tidy up the registry. Then rebooted to get ready to install new
ATI video software. Upon rebooting, I received the dread message:
"cannot find missing file \Windows\system32\config\SYSTEM". The end
of that string looks like a folder to me, cause there is no file
extension. I dunno. Ican't even boot into Safe mode.

So, I decided to pop in the Windows XP CD and do a manual recovery
(R key). But, then it wants the Admin password, which, of course, I
can't remember. Haven't needed it in over 2 years, as the account I
use has full admin privs. But that's not an option here.

So, problem #1- am I restoring a file or a folder? Problem #2- how
can I restore the needed "SYSTEM" file or folder?

I will gladly shine the shoes and wax the car for anyone who can
help me successfully resolve this problem.


Thanks
Elvis
 
I'll take a look at the links you provided and seen if they help
resolve this problem. I sure hope so! Thanks

FE
 
Roger,

The "Recover from a Corrupted Registry" page was extremely helpful, in
that it showed me the key system files I needed and how to manually
install them to get logged onto Windows again. One of the SAM file hacks
I found on the Web made it possible for me to reset the Admin password
and get logged on long enough to figure things out. This took me 2 1/2
days. Luckily, I found .bak backups of all the system, software, sam,
security and default files I needed. They were in the
Windows\system32\config folder and were recent. I don't have any clue as
to what program made the backups and put them there, but I'm sure
thankful it did. After I found those files, poof, I'm back up and
running. :)

FE
 
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