\windows\system32\config\system

[Keon]

When I attempt to startup windows i recieve an error
message stating that windows could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32
\config\system

I did a search and attempted to follow the steps on this
site. I also called the 'helpfull folks at dell' and
they told me that I would have to reinstall windows, and
that i would loose all of my data! This is Finals Week,
and all of my notes and course work are on this laptop,
PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

[Ken Simmons [MSFT]]

Hi Keon,

Configure your system to boot to the CD-ROM drive first.
1. Boot from the CD and when prompted choose to Repair and go to the
recovery console.
2. In the Recovery Console, Enter CD\windows\systm32\config
3. Now that your prompt shows you are at C:\windows\system32\config, Enter
ren system system.old
(this renames system to system.old)
4. Enter copy C:\windows\repair\system
5. After you see that the file has copied, enter Exit
The system will reboot. This should give you the system hive that was
created when you first installed Windows. You may have to reinstall some
hardware or software but you should not lose data.

Regards,

Ken Simmons

Microsoft Technical Support for Platforms and Business Applications

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I can verify from personal experience that this method works:

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

To investigate the root cause(s) of the problem:

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


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[jh123456]

After recovering from the above mentioned problem I can't connect t
internet. All settings etc. should be ok.. Anyone experienced simila
problems? Any ideas on what to do

jh12345

 

[markvwald]

Bruce's method seems to have worked. Only I mistakenly deleted th
following files without copying replacements from c:\windows\repair a
per his instructions:
c:\windows\system32\config\software
c:\windows\system32\config\sam
c:\windows\system32\config\security
c:\windows\system32\config\default

When I try to go back to the repair console to correct my mistake, i
asks for the Administrator password. This is my personal computer an
there are no other users, but I do not know the password. An
suggestions?

*Greetings --

I can verify from personal experience that this method works:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows X
from
Starting
http://tinyurl.com/7ptt

To investigate the root cause(s) of the problem:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://tinyurl.com/ythpm


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

-
markvwal

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The password being requested is that of the built-in Administrator
account, not the password for any other user accounts you may have
created. Unless you've deliberately set the Administrator's password
via the Management Console (_not_ the Control Panel), it's probably
still blank. WinXP Pro asks you to set the Administrator's password
during installation, but WinXP Home doesn't.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:




You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[browser443]

*Bruce's method seems to have worked. Only I mistakenly deleted th
following files without copying replacements from c:\windows\repai
as per his instructions:
c:\windows\system32\config\software
c:\windows\system32\config\sam
c:\windows\system32\config\security
c:\windows\system32\config\default

When I try to go back to the repair console to correct my mistake, i
asks for the Administrator password. This is my personal compute
and there are no other users, but I do not know the password. An
suggestions? *

To bypass the windows XP recovery console admin password use a window
2000 cd to load the recovery console. When you select R to repai
using the recovery console it will not ask for a password and will giv
you the prompt. It's a flaw in XP. I tried it with an evaluatio
version of 2000 and it worked great


-
browser44