Windows xp home-error winnt/system32/config/system corrupt or miss

[Guest]

had a shutdown on gateway with wind XP home. Error=
winnt/system32/config/system corrupt or missingTry a repair with vendor
operating system cd. Cd opens with C:\winnt\ cannot get wind xp disk to
repair. ran chkdsk \p and \r and fix boot but no luck. Goback tried..
indications are registry control set key not active. How do we fix????\Lots
of important data that we don't want to lose.. Backup is old.

Any answers how to get wind xp repair done without full system xp reload
which will kill data. would removing drive and making second drive on another
computer allow us to recover data before reload?//

 

[dev]

/don..TN/ said:

Had a shutdown on gateway with wind XP home. Error=
winnt/system32/config/system corrupt or missing. Try a repair with vendor
operating system cd. Cd opens with C:\winnt\ Cannot get wind xp disk to
repair. Ran chkdsk \p and \r and fix boot but no luck. Goback tried..
indications are registry control set key not active. How do we fix????\Lots
of important data that we don't want to lose.. Backup is old.

Any answers how to get wind xp repair done without full system xp reload
which will kill data. would removing drive and making second drive on another
computer allow us to recover data before reload?//

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.