windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt

[Blaine]

windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\WINDOW\system32\config\SYSTEM

PLEASE Does anyone know what causes this problem and HOW TO PREVENT IT???
I have had it happen TWICE in the LAST TWO MONTHS.

I tried following all the stuff in the various Microsoft knowlege base
articles about this but none of it works. Apparently my system becomes so
corrupted that none of microsoft lengthy procedures work (backing up
/restoring behives ettc). I end up having to call Dell and reload
everything from scratch. It takes me days to get my data restored and all
my programs re-loaded and I lost all my emai as I had not backed it up
recently. I had no problem for three years and all of a sudden in the last
two months it's happend twice.

I don't understand why it's happening. I had both Norton Internet Security
2007 and Webroot Spysweeper installed so I don't know what the heck is
causing this corruption. I'm terrified of this happening again. As I said
it takes days on end to get my system back to where it was. This last time
I did not reinstall Webroot as I wondered if the Norton and Webroot were in
conflict as sometimes Webroot Spysweeper would jump in and try to give me
warnings about something Norton was doing. Just a real wild guess on my
part.

You don't even know anything is wrong as the system shuts down ok and the
next time you go to boot up you're dead in the water.

Could it be hardware issues that need to be replace???

Again if anyone can tell me what is causing this AND HOW TO PREVENT IT,
PLEASE PLEASE let me know. I'm so afraid of it happening again as it's
happen twice in the last 2 months.

 

[Ian R]

windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\WINDOW\system32\config\SYSTEM

PLEASE Does anyone know what causes this problem and HOW TO PREVENT IT???
I have had it happen TWICE in the LAST TWO MONTHS.

I tried following all the stuff in the various Microsoft knowlege base
articles about this but none of it works. Apparently my system becomes
so corrupted that none of microsoft lengthy procedures work (backing up
/restoring behives ettc). I end up having to call Dell and reload
everything from scratch. It takes me days to get my data restored and all
my programs re-loaded and I lost all my emai as I had not backed it up
recently. I had no problem for three years and all of a sudden in the
last two months it's happend twice.

I don't understand why it's happening. I had both Norton Internet
Security 2007 and Webroot Spysweeper installed so I don't know what the
heck is causing this corruption. I'm terrified of this happening again.
As I said it takes days on end to get my system back to where it was.
This last time I did not reinstall Webroot as I wondered if the Norton and
Webroot were in conflict as sometimes Webroot Spysweeper would jump in and
try to give me warnings about something Norton was doing. Just a real
wild guess on my part.

You don't even know anything is wrong as the system shuts down ok and the
next time you go to boot up you're dead in the water.

Could it be hardware issues that need to be replace???

Again if anyone can tell me what is causing this AND HOW TO PREVENT IT,
PLEASE PLEASE let me know. I'm so afraid of it happening again as it's
happen twice in the last 2 months.

Suddenly losing files could suggest that your hard drive is failing.

First identify the make and model of your hard drive, then download a
diagnostics utility from the manufacturers website.

This utility will check the health of the drive.

Usually the downloable file will allow you to create a bootable floppy or
CD.

If the drive is failing then you should replace it and copy any important
files you wish to keep from the old drive ASAP i.e before it dies
completely.

If the drive is fine then perhaps a repair install may be sufficient.

Hope this helps.

Let us know how you get on.

Ian

 

[Bruce Chambers]

windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\WINDOW\system32\config\SYSTEM

PLEASE Does anyone know what causes this problem and HOW TO PREVENT IT???
I have had it happen TWICE in the LAST TWO MONTHS.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705

Could it be hardware issues that need to be replace???

Quite possibly. Defective or even overheating RAM can cause this
issue. Even bad areas of the hard drive could be a factor. Start with
testing the RAM. You might try MemTest86: http://www.memtest86.com/
It's free. Then you can download and use the hard drive maufacturer's
diagnostic utility to test the hard drive.


--

Bruce Chambers

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