What to do when I have windows/system32/config/system erro?

[Guest]

I have a Sony desktop with a factory installed WindowsXP that I upgraded to
Service Pack 2. Everything was working fine for a while, but yesterday after
restaring my pc I got this error: windows/system32/config/system is corrupt
or missing. I've read some of these other threads, but they don't seem to
address my problem: my pc came with WindowsXP and I only have recovery disks
from Sony. I am hoping not to loose any data, but this article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545
says not to use this procedure if you have OEM operating system. What are my
options? Thanks, Boris.

 

[Guest]

you could just reinstall that file. Its probably not the problem but it would
be a quick fix if it is. search for it online or borrow the file from a
friend with your same OS. good luck.

PS Windows sucks

 

[Billy]

Top posting corrected.

"Boris" wrote:

you could just reinstall that file. Its probably not the problem but it would
be a quick fix if it is. search for it online or borrow the file from a
friend with your same OS. good luck.

PS Windows sucks

Perhaps it only sucks because you are clueless. That *file* is a
registry hive; system.
OP;
First try tapping the F8 key at bootup and try the Last Known Good
Configuration option.
When that fails, read this article and download the executable to make
the startup disks.
Follow the advice from the article above, then do a Chkdsk /R.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

 

[Alex Nichol]

I only have recovery disks
from Sony. I am hoping not to loose any data, but this article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545
says not to use this procedure if you have OEM operating system. What are my
options?

That should be OK on a Sony. I would approach it rather by renaming
the various files in Windows\system32\config that do not have extensions
(eg SYSTEM) to another extension, then renaming the corresponding ones
with BAK extensions to remove the extension

 

[Guest]

Alex, but how do I do that in the recovery consol?
The instructions seem to be rigid as to what to do.
Boris.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Alex, but how do I do that in the recovery consol?
The instructions seem to be rigid as to what to do.

Recover console will have a prompt
C:\windows>
(or perhaps just C

CD System32\config
or
CD Windows\System32\config
will get you down to the directory

Then
Attrib -H -R -S *.*
so you can see all files
DIR
to check what is there, then for example
REN SYSTEM SYSTEM.OLD
to preserve it
DEL SYSTEM
COPY SYSTEM.BAK SYSTEM

 

[Guest]

Thank you again.
I will work on it tonight.
Best regards,
Boris.

 

[Guest]

Hi again.
I'm trying to follow the article and your suggestions, but am encountering
the following proble: when I am typing in the very first command
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
I get this error:
The file could not be copied.
Am I doing something wrong, or is my only other option to use Sony recovery
disks and to completely restore my PC?
Boris.