\windows\system32\config\system

[Pipe]

hi, yes this question has been asked 1000times b4!

trouble is there are so many different answers.

OK less of the dribble.

I have 6 startup floppies

1, computer displaying "windows could not start because the following file
is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system"
i dont have the original setup disc as my xp in preinstalled. Not worrying
if i lose all on hard drive as i recently backed up.

how/can I solve this with just the floppies?, can i download anything else?
am using my laptop.

cheers in advance

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry -config-system:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q307545

 

[John John]

Use the floppies to boot to the Recovery Console then follow the
instructions in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

John

 

[Pipe]

JJ, but as always this warning appears:

Warning Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your
computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM
installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist
previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you
may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original
registry hives.

wot now?

 

[neil]

Are you sure there isn't a way to recover back to the factory default. What
make & model PC is it.
Neil.

 

[Pipe]

neil, not that i am aware of, tried all the usual ways, F8, F10 etc, computer
is a hp pavilion.
cheers

 

[John John]

It doesn't happen with all OEM's it depends on how they imaged the drive
or how Windows was installed. If your floppy diskette set was
downloaded from the Microsoft site and if they are fairly new you
shouldn't have a problem with that, the floppy diskette set was updated
to work around that problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308402

John

 

[Pipe]

when i typed the first line:

copy c:\windows\system32 etc...it says the system cannot fid the file specied?

wot next?

 

[Pipe]

when i typed the first line as discribed in K B:

copy c:\windows\system32 etc etc...it says the system cannot fid the file
specied?

wot next?

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

No preinstalled system is sold with Windows, without providing a way to
recover to 'factory defaults. You need to go to the makers web site to find
out how to do that.

 

[John John]

I've run into that more than once. The procedure in KB307545 often
fails because of disk or file system corruption. If you are certain
that you are entering the *exact* right command it is usually a sign of
corruption when the message that you mentioned is returned.

If you want to keep on trying to fix the installation the next step will
be to run chkdsk /r on the drive, the command can be run from the
Recovery Console. Depending on the condition of the disk or file system
and on the size of the drive it may take a while to run chkdsk, it may
take many hours. DO NOT INTERRUPT a chkdsk in progress! After you run
chkdsk try the KB307545 fix again.

Being that you mentioned earlier that you already have a backup of your
personal files I have dispensed the usual advice on the importance of
salvaging personal files before doing the chkdsk.

John

 

[neil]

Have you tried F11, that seems to be the one to access the recovery
partition.

What model of HP Pavilion is it.
Neil

 

[Pipe]

sorry neil it is a pavilion 434.uk

Have you tried F11, that seems to be the one to access the recovery
partition.

What model of HP Pavilion is it.
Neil

 

[neil]

I hate to be a bearer of bad news but it seems you should have created your
system backup CD when you first got the system.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/bph07989.pdf. This would allow you to
recover to the factory default.

Found in HP support :
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?product=296148&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

You could try
http://support.microsoft.com:80/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q307545 as
previously suggested I don't think you will be any worse off than you are
now. Using the 6 floppy disks is just a way of accessing the file system in
command mode. If the file format on the C:\ drive is FAT32 then you can use
a bootable DOS disk.

Only other thing I can think of is to use the chkdsk command on the C:\
drive and see if repairing the file system corrects the error.

Neil

 

[neil]

Also found this:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...c=us&dlc=en&product=296148&rule=10927&lang=en

careful of the text wrapping.
Neil

 

[Pipe]

yes neil already read thru that....not sure what i can take out of it! but
to order new discs...£25 yeah right

cud I try FDisk in C:\

 

[Pipe]

could i try a borrowed xp disc?

yes neil already read thru that....not sure what i can take out of it! but
to order new discs...£25 yeah right

cud I try FDisk in C:\

 

[Pipe]

hi again neil, cud i use a borrowed xp disc to get up and running?

 

[neil]

Officially no, but if the borrowed CD allowed you to use your OEM key then
you may be able to do a repair install but you would probably need to boot
from the 6 disk set. (full retail will not accept OEM keys & visa versa)

I don't think fdisk will help you. (ref to your previous question)

Neil