XP Boot Failure

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bruce Stock
  • Start date Start date
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Bruce Stock

My wife's computer failed to boot this morning. The reason appears to be a
corrupted file. Here are the symptoms:



The motherboard Power On Self Test completes successfully and tries to boot
windows. After about 10 seconds of seek noises from the hard drive, the
following message appears:



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

C:\windows\system32\config\system



I've tried to use repair console to repair the system (before reading
various Internet advice not to do so), but nothing seems to have been
repaired. However, via the DOS-like commands in the repair console I can
see that the file in question is indeed there where it should be, but I can't
tell if it is corrupted. Also, I can't enter "Safe Mode", apparently
because the boot doesn't get far enough along for that option to activate.



Is there anyway to replace that corrupted file from a previously captured
restore point, or some other means? Or am I left with trying an "upgrade
install" of XP?



Configuration: MS XP Home SP2 (OEM) with all critical updates through a
couple of months ago.



Thanks for any help,



Bruce
 
Bruce Stock said:
My wife's computer failed to boot this morning. The reason appears to be a
corrupted file. Here are the symptoms:



The motherboard Power On Self Test completes successfully and tries to boot
windows. After about 10 seconds of seek noises from the hard drive, the
following message appears:



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

C:\windows\system32\config\system



I've tried to use repair console to repair the system (before reading
various Internet advice not to do so), but nothing seems to have been
repaired. However, via the DOS-like commands in the repair console I can
see that the file in question is indeed there where it should be, but I can't
tell if it is corrupted. Also, I can't enter "Safe Mode", apparently
because the boot doesn't get far enough along for that option to activate.



Is there anyway to replace that corrupted file from a previously captured
restore point, or some other means? Or am I left with trying an "upgrade
install" of XP?



Configuration: MS XP Home SP2 (OEM) with all critical updates through a
couple of months ago.
Click to expand...


How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=307545

A utility that will automate the procedure is available from MVP Greg
Palmer's website at
http://www.palmersoft.co.uk/main.asp?content=corruptreg

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
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