"\Windows\System32\config\system" Corrupt/Missing

[Guest]

My computer just failed to start, gave me an error message along these lines:

File \Windows\System32\config\system is corrupt or missing

Use the recovery console by pressing R at windows setup startup

I hunted down my Windows XP Home edit. Reinstall disk and booted from disk

I got the "Welcome to windows" blue screen, and pressed R to enter the
Recovery Console.

It then went to a DOS-ish screen, but did *not* prompt me for a password as
it should have. Instead it just displayed "C:\>" and not the usual
"C:\Windows\>".

I rebooted from disk again and instead of pressing R, i pressed Enter.
Strangely enough, it seemed to think that i had no versions of windows
installed, as it listed none.

I can't start up the machine, and when i try to "md" from the recovery
console it gives me i get a "Access denide" error. I can not cd into
\windows, it tells me there is no floppy or disk in the drive.

Help!

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

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

--

==================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
==================================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
"Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping
the information current)


| My computer just failed to start, gave me an error message along these
lines:
|
| File \Windows\System32\config\system is corrupt or missing
|
| Use the recovery console by pressing R at windows setup startup
|
| I hunted down my Windows XP Home edit. Reinstall disk and booted from disk
|
| I got the "Welcome to windows" blue screen, and pressed R to enter the
| Recovery Console.
|
| It then went to a DOS-ish screen, but did *not* prompt me for a password
as
| it should have. Instead it just displayed "C:\>" and not the usual
| "C:\Windows\>".
|
| I rebooted from disk again and instead of pressing R, i pressed Enter.
| Strangely enough, it seemed to think that i had no versions of windows
| installed, as it listed none.
|
| I can't start up the machine, and when i try to "md" from the recovery
| console it gives me i get a "Access denide" error. I can not cd into
| \windows, it tells me there is no floppy or disk in the drive.
|
| Help!
|
|

 

[Pennywise]

My computer just failed to start, gave me an error message along these lines:

File \Windows\System32\config\system is corrupt or missing

Use the recovery console by pressing R at windows setup startup

I hunted down my Windows XP Home edit. Reinstall disk and booted from disk

I got the "Welcome to windows" blue screen, and pressed R to enter the
Recovery Console.

It then went to a DOS-ish screen, but did *not* prompt me for a password as
it should have. Instead it just displayed "C:\>" and not the usual
"C:\Windows\>".

I rebooted from disk again and instead of pressing R, i pressed Enter.
Strangely enough, it seemed to think that i had no versions of windows
installed, as it listed none.

I can't start up the machine, and when i try to "md" from the recovery
console it gives me i get a "Access denide" error. I can not cd into
\windows, it tells me there is no floppy or disk in the drive.

First thing I'd do is open up the computer and make sure all HD cables
are connected and snug, and if the HD is even spinning up.

 

[Guest]

Gee thanks, but uh, that's what i tried to do.
As i explained in the above post, it failed.
I pressed "R"
I went to a DOS screen
It did not ask for a password
It did not display the system root directory
Instead, it just said "C:>"
I could not cd into %SystemRoot% :: I got a "No Disk in Drive" error
I could not md the directory tmp :: "Access Denied"

 

[dev]

/Jacob/ said:

My computer just failed to start, gave me an error message along these lines:

File \Windows\System32\config\system is corrupt or missing

Use the recovery console by pressing R at windows setup startup

I hunted down my Windows XP Home edit. Reinstall disk and booted from disk

I got the "Welcome to windows" blue screen, and pressed R to enter the
Recovery Console.

It then went to a DOS-ish screen, but did *not* prompt me for a password as
it should have. Instead it just displayed "C:\>" and not the usual
"C:\Windows\>".

I rebooted from disk again and instead of pressing R, i pressed Enter.
Strangely enough, it seemed to think that i had no versions of windows
installed, as it listed none.

I can't start up the machine, and when i try to "md" from the recovery
console it gives me i get a "Access denide" error. I can not cd into
\windows, it tells me there is no floppy or disk in the drive.

Sources of help (some dated, some that you have already tried)...


Try a boot into Safe Mode, by hitting F8 just before the "Starting
Windows" screen would appear (takes a bit of practice).
Choose LAST GOOD.

If that does nothing, use a working PC to read this first...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q823614
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

Related info is here...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q307545
describes a three-step process to extract a copy of the registry
from the System Restore SVI folder.

Info on dealing with corruption issues...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705

Reinstall/repair tutorials (if needed) are here...
http://WWW.WEBTREE.CA/windowsxp/
http://michaelstevenstech.com

After your system is restored, the ERUNT utility available here may
make it easier to fix the problem if it recurs...
http://HOME.T-ONLINE.DE/home/lars.hederer/erunt

If the problem persists, try swapping current RAM (even if it checks
good) for a single, high-quality 512Mb chip. XP reportedly is sensitive
to memory timing.

 

[Guest]

WOW
All this time it's been saying that its ready both of my two hard drives fine
So i open up the computer
Un plug them
reboot, get the expected disks not found screen
plug em back in
reboot
and its fixed.
....
my god
Thanks oodles and noodles and such =D
I owe you a beer =P

 

[Pennywise]

WOW
All this time it's been saying that its ready both of my two hard drives fine
So i open up the computer
Un plug them
reboot, get the expected disks not found screen
plug em back in
reboot
and its fixed.
...
my god
Thanks oodles and noodles and such =D
I owe you a beer =P

I rock! sometimes it's the simple things that work...