\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\system corrupt or missing

[Leon]

I have read the other threads on this, but I have a little different issue.
When booting up my PC I get the Windows could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\system. I restarted
the computer with the Windows XP CD installed and started the Windows setup.
I goes through its process and when I get to the Welcome to Setup screen I
select "R" for the recovery console. It then asks me "Which Windows
installation would you like to log onto (To cancel, press ENTER) and I type 1
for C:\WINDOWS and hit enter. Then NOTHING HAPPENS. It just sits on that
screen and does nothing. I have also tried re-installing WINDOWS XP from the
CD and it also seems to freeze up when its "searching for previous versions
of Microsoft Windows. Can anyone offer me some kind of assistance. Thanks

 

[Toni]

I have read the other threads on this, but I have a little different issue.
When booting up my PC I get the Windows could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\system. I restarted
the computer with the Windows XP CD installed and started the Windows setup.
I goes through its process and when I get to the Welcome to Setup screen I
select "R" for the recovery console. It then asks me "Which Windows
installation would you like to log onto (To cancel, press ENTER) and I type 1
for C:\WINDOWS and hit enter. Then NOTHING HAPPENS. It just sits on that
screen and does nothing. I have also tried re-installing WINDOWS XP from the
CD and it also seems to freeze up when its "searching for previous versions
of Microsoft Windows. Can anyone offer me some kind of assistance. Thanks

I know that this is going to sound very strange, but it usually works.

Physically disconnect from the internet - remove the Ethernet connector and/or disable
the WiFi radio. Unplug the computer - if it's a laptop, remove the battery, too. Then,
get a screwdriver and remove the hard drive from the computer. (DO NOT TOUCH THE PINS ON
THE HARD DRIVE or you can permanently kill it!!!)

Wait two full minutes, then put the hard drive back in the computer. Replace the laptop
battery, plug it in, then boot. Your problem will probably be fixed. If the computer
works, run CHKDISK on the hard drive, and also at boot. Only after successfully running
CHKDISK should you reconnect to the internet. Just in case, do a full
antivirus/spyware/crudware scan.

If this is a laptop, is the laptop battery completely dead? I've seen this problem
happen to Lenovo laptops with dead batteries. If the laptop battery is dead, REPLACE THE
BATTERY!!! For some laptops, and Lenovo laptops are notorious for this, running on AC
power with a completely dead battery can sometimes crash the hard drive.

 

[Jose]

I have read the other threads on this, but I have a little different issue.  
When booting up my PC I get the Windows could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt:  \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\system.  I restarted
the computer with the Windows XP CD installed and started the Windows setup.  
I goes through its process and when I get to the Welcome to Setup screen I
select "R" for the recovery console.  It then asks me "Which Windows
installation would you like to log onto (To cancel, press ENTER) and I type 1
for C:\WINDOWS and hit enter.  Then NOTHING HAPPENS.  It just sits onthat
screen and does nothing.  I have also tried re-installing WINDOWS XP from the
CD and it also seems to freeze up when its "searching for previous versions
of Microsoft Windows.  Can anyone offer me some kind of assistance.  Thanks

You have some good options since you have a Windows XP installation
CD.

KB307545 will not help if you can't get past the Windows selection and
I wouldn't start there anyway (not taking any shots at philo). It is
not the first place to start when you see this error and requires
booting RC which you can't do.

Did you have a power interruption, aborted restart or incomplete
shutdown prior to this message?

When you see this message, the first thing to do ALWAYS is to run
chkdsk from Recovery Console, but you can't get there using your XP
CD, but you can make a CD with just RC on it and that might work, but
if you had a power failure and your file system is corrupted it may be
of no help (it sounds like you are doing everything right so far).

Since you have an XP installation CD, make a BartPE CD on another
computer and you can TRY to use their tools to see if you can repair
your file system.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Or, you could physically move the drive to another computer to fix or
salvage your important files, but if it is a laptop that can be
complicated.

If you choose the BartPE route, when you get your afflicted machine
booted on the BartPE disk, return for further instructions.