WinXP Problems

[rn5a]

I have Win2K Pro installed in my C:\ drive & WinXP Pro in D:\ drive.
While logging into Win2K (which I generally use), Windows generated the
following error:

----------
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt.

C:\WINNT\system32\Config\System

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows setup using the
original setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
----------

Inspite of this error, as expected, I could successfully log into
WinXP. While repairing (& not re-installing) Win2K, there was a power
failure due to which I had to abort the repair process in between &
later had a tough time repairing Win2K when power was restored but
after successfully repairing Win2K, when I tried to log into WinXP,
strangely XP refused to start citing the above error message. Note that
the error pointed to Win2K only & not to WinXP though Win2K got
repaired successfully.

I wouldn't prefer re-installing WinXP in my D:\ drive since that would
mean re-installing all the softwares right from the scratch that were
installed in WinXP before I encountered this problem.

Now is there some way by which I can repair the damage, if any, in
WinXP without re-installing WinXP so that I am not forced to install
the softwares that existed in WinXP again?

 

[Rich Barry]

You may have to reconfigure the boot.ini file. Try this by using the
Recovery Console. You can also do it from Win2K if
you can get into it. For more info on what needs to be done check
here.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 You will be interested in
the Bootcfg command.

 

[rn5a]

Thanks Rich for the URL. I went through the article but it left me a
bit confused. Under the topic, "Starting the Windows Recovery Console",
the first step tells to use the Windows CD-ROM to start the computer.
Does "Windows CD-ROM" mean the Win2K Pro CD or the WinXP Pro CD?

Moreover, how do I start the computer using the CD? When my computer
starts, the very first screen shows the "Intel Pentium 4" logo. With
either the Win2K CD or WinXP CD in the CD-ROM drive, at this point, I
don't get any "Welcome to Setup" screen. Also pressing F10 or 'R'
doesn't make any difference. My m/c. starts booting normally.

Note that in my m/c, Win2K Pro is working perfectly now but WinXP Pro
isn't starting.

 

[rn5a]

Thanks Rich for the URL. I went through the article but it left me a
bit confused. Under the topic, "Starting the Windows Recovery Console",
the first step tells to use the Windows CD-ROM to start the computer.
Does "Windows CD-ROM" mean the Win2K Pro CD or the WinXP Pro CD?

Moreover, how do I start the computer using the CD? When my computer
starts, the very first screen shows the "Intel Pentium 4" logo. With
either the Win2K CD or WinXP CD in the CD-ROM drive, at this point, I
don't get any "Welcome to Setup" screen. Also pressing F10 or 'R'
doesn't make any difference. My m/c. starts booting normally.

Note that in my m/c, Win2K Pro is working perfectly now but WinXP Pro
isn't starting.

 

[rn5a]

Thanks Rich for the URL. I went through the article but it left me a
bit confused. Under the topic, "Starting the Windows Recovery Console",
the first step tells to use the Windows CD-ROM to start the computer.
Does "Windows CD-ROM" mean the Win2K Pro CD or the WinXP Pro CD?

Moreover, how do I start the computer using the CD? When my computer
starts, the very first screen shows the "Intel Pentium 4" logo. With
either the Win2K CD or WinXP CD in the CD-ROM drive, at this point, I
don't get any "Welcome to Setup" screen. Also pressing F10 or 'R'
doesn't make any difference. My m/c. starts booting normally.

Note that in my m/c, Win2K Pro is working perfectly now but WinXP Pro
isn't starting.

 

[rn5a]

Thanks Rich for the URL. I went through the article but it left me a
bit confused. Under the topic, "Starting the Windows Recovery Console",
the first step tells to use the Windows CD-ROM to start the computer.
Does "Windows CD-ROM" mean the Win2K Pro CD or the WinXP Pro CD?

Moreover, how do I start the computer using the CD? When my computer
starts, the very first screen shows the "Intel Pentium 4" logo. With
either the Win2K CD or WinXP CD in the CD-ROM drive, at this point, I
don't get any "Welcome to Setup" screen. Also pressing F10 or 'R'
doesn't make any difference. My m/c. starts booting normally.

Note that in my m/c, Win2K Pro is working perfectly now but WinXP Pro
isn't starting.

 

[rn5a]

Thanks Rich for the URL. I went through the article but it left me a
bit confused. Under the topic, "Starting the Windows Recovery Console",
the first step tells to use the Windows CD-ROM to start the computer.
Does "Windows CD-ROM" mean the Win2K Pro CD or the WinXP Pro CD?

Moreover, how do I start the computer using the CD? When my computer
starts, the very first screen shows the "Intel Pentium 4" logo. With
either the Win2K CD or WinXP CD in the CD-ROM drive, at this point, I
don't get any "Welcome to Setup" screen. Also pressing F10 or 'R'
doesn't make any difference. My m/c. starts booting normally.

Note that in my m/c, Win2K Pro is working perfectly now but WinXP Pro
isn't starting.