XP PRO Setup - Will not allow a "Repair Installation"

[Ren]

Recent corruption to the C:\ Drive has caused deletion of windows files
during a chkdsk. So i have resorted to a Repair Installation to replace those
deleted files...

1. I have made a Slipstreamed xp-sp3 disk (thanks to Daave) @
"http://www.howtohaven.com/system/slipstream-xp-service-pack-3.shtml
"
2. Followed the
"http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx" Repair Installation Guide by Doug Knox.

3. In following the steps on that website i find my self presing F8 to
accept the user agreement. Then being unable to press R to repair (This is
step 5 of Doug's guide) as it jumps straight to Setting up "Windows XP"
(which asks to either setup, create a aprtition or delete one)

-------------------------------------------

I would really like help on why i cannot perform the Repair Installation. If
its not possible anymore for whatever reason, will replacing the windows xp
sp3 i have in my C: delete my settings, my documents, desktop files etc?
(That is replacing it with the sp3 slipstream dvd i made)

 

[Ren]

When trying to boot from the drive the computer states that
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM.

It then goes on to tell me that i should do a repair.

 

[Ren]

*UPDATE*

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

I have found this kb to be the solution to the

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM"


"md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default"

However when done in console has put my computer through an endless reboot
(rebooting after the windows load page)

 

[David B.]

Boot from your XP media, go to the recovery console, type chkdsk /r at the
command prompt and let it run, what are the results?

 

[Daave]

Recent corruption to the C:\ Drive has caused deletion of windows
files
during a chkdsk. So i have resorted to a Repair Installation to
replace those
deleted files...

1. I have made a Slipstreamed xp-sp3 disk (thanks to Daave) @
"http://www.howtohaven.com/system/slipstream-xp-service-pack-3.shtml
"
2. Followed the
"http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx"
Repair Installation Guide by Doug Knox.

3. In following the steps on that website i find my self presing F8 to
accept the user agreement. Then being unable to press R to repair
(This is
step 5 of Doug's guide) as it jumps straight to Setting up "Windows
XP" (which asks to either setup, create a aprtition or delete one)

Use this guide instead:

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

It's much more thorough and detailed. Make sure you configure your BIOS
to boot off the CD-ROM drive. If you run into any issues, post back and
indicate the exact point something goes wrong.

 

[Anna]

Recent corruption to the C:\ Drive has caused deletion of windows files
during a chkdsk. So i have resorted to a Repair Installation to replace
those
deleted files...

1. I have made a Slipstreamed xp-sp3 disk (thanks to Daave) @
"http://www.howtohaven.com/system/slipstream-xp-service-pack-3.shtml
"
2. Followed the
"http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx"
Repair Installation Guide by Doug Knox.

3. In following the steps on that website i find my self presing F8 to
accept the user agreement. Then being unable to press R to repair (This is
step 5 of Doug's guide) as it jumps straight to Setting up "Windows XP"
(which asks to either setup, create a aprtition or delete one)

-------------------------------------------

I would really like help on why i cannot perform the Repair Installation.
If
its not possible anymore for whatever reason, will replacing the windows
xp
sp3 i have in my C: delete my settings, my documents, desktop files etc?
(That is replacing it with the sp3 slipstream dvd i made)

"Ren" later adds...

*UPDATE*

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

I have found this kb to be the solution to the

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM"

(SNIP)

Boot from your XP media, go to the recovery console, type chkdsk /r at the
command prompt and let it run, what are the results?

Ren:
Presumably the reason the command Repair install of the XP is missing from
your XP OS installation CD is probably because the CD is an OEM-branded
(Dell, Gateway, eMachines, HP, etc.) CD and more-times-than-not those types
of installation CDs will not provide capability for undertaking a Repair
install. Some of the OEMs do provide a type of XP "recovery" or "restore" CD
(sometimes at extra cost) that will provide capability to repair a corrupted
OS and at the same time retain all your programs & data. So you might want
to check with the OEM assuming your machine is of that type.

Based on your other posts (the ones with "Daave") I take it you've already
run the chkdsk /f (or chkdsk /r) commands via the Recovery Console but that
didn't correct your problem.

As with your experience, we've have very little luck using the commands in
the MS article you cited in terms of resolving the problem re the "Windows
XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM" error message. More times than not,
(assuming no hardware issue is causing the problem) the only way we've been
able to resolve the problem is through a Repair install (assuming no success
with the chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r commands). But that Repair install is
apparently unavailable to you.

Recently "Kelly", a frequent contributor to these newsgroups and who runs a
well-respected website concerning XP issues & problems, posted the following
as a possible solution to the problem you're experiencing, as follows...

"Go to Recovery Console and type:

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
exit"

I haven't have occasion to use the above commands myself but it's probably
worth a try. And let us know if it does resolve your problem.

And yes, should you use your slipstreamed XP-SP3 installation CD to
undertake a fresh install of the OS, it will indeed wipe out all your
installed programs & data.
Anna

P.S.
You may have seen my post in the thread you had with "Daave" re my
recommendation to run the Repair install with your present XP OS
installation CD (that does not contain SP3) and not with a "slipstreamed" CD
that includes SP3. I was assuming that the Repair install was an option at
that time. Obviously from your present posts it's not so I don't believe the
Repair option will be open to you with your original CD either.

 

[Ren]

Daave, When i try tp use "C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM" fix from MS, the
computer does not boot. However i can now see the repair page mentioned by
your link (after many attempts of trying different things)

After succesfully repairing however, windows continues to boot but does go
to "part 4" of your link (Windows will continue isntalling) does not appear,
but rather a 1 second screen which over all says that it has failed.

After rebooting the "C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM" problem is back
again and im back at the start.

Should i try to re-install windows through the disc again?

I have a old windows OS on my other drive and i can still boot from there
and save the "MY documents"

 

[Ren]

I have manually restored by booting with a different drive, entering the dead
drive and replacing system with the 2nd most recent restore point.

With that i have no returned to the error

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error} 0x0000135(0x0000000 0x0000000)

 

[Daave]

Daave, When i try tp use "C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM" fix from
MS, the computer does not boot. However i can now see the repair page
mentioned by your link (after many attempts of trying different
things)

After succesfully repairing however, windows continues to boot but
does go to "part 4" of your link (Windows will continue isntalling)
does not appear, but rather a 1 second screen which over all says
that it has failed.

Prior to Part 4, this screen appears:

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdrepair/Image15.gif

It is important that you *DON'T* press any key! At this point, you do
not want to boot from the CD, but rather from the hard drive. I just
want to verify that that is what you are doing.