XP recovery console with no XP CD and no floppy drive

[googler]

I am getting the error when I boot my computer:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the
orignal Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

My OS is XP Home (original image on the computer) with SP2 just
installed. No OEM disk came with the computer, just a Restore CD to
completely reformat the drive. I called the manufacturer who told me
to download Microsoft Recovery Console and use that to repair - or I
must restore the computer (and lose everything!). But Microsoft
requires you to make floppy disks for the recovery console (and the
laptop doesn't have a floppy drive!) I contacted Microsoft who told me
to contact the computer manufacturer who told me they could do nothing
for me!! Help.

I just want to access the hard drive to get my files on the hard drive
onto a thumb drive. Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Sharon F]

I am getting the error when I boot my computer:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the
orignal Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

My OS is XP Home (original image on the computer) with SP2 just
installed. No OEM disk came with the computer, just a Restore CD to
completely reformat the drive. I called the manufacturer who told me
to download Microsoft Recovery Console and use that to repair - or I
must restore the computer (and lose everything!). But Microsoft
requires you to make floppy disks for the recovery console (and the
laptop doesn't have a floppy drive!) I contacted Microsoft who told me
to contact the computer manufacturer who told me they could do nothing
for me!! Help.

I just want to access the hard drive to get my files on the hard drive
onto a thumb drive. Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!

See Ron Martell's reply in another thread of ...yours? In your situation,
temporarily adding the drive as a second drive to another system sounds
like the best solution.

Success with recovery console would be very iffy especially since you have
SP2 installed. Recovery Console from an earlier XP CD will not work on XP
SP2 without taking extra steps, slipstreaming XP with SP2:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

If you read over that page and what all is involved, it makes Ron Martell's
solution even more attractive (and most likely easier).

 

[googler]

This is the first time I have posted. Where do I find Ron Martell's
reply to something?

 

[Sharon F]

This is the first time I have posted. Where do I find Ron Martell's
reply to something?

Below is copy of what he posted in reply to a very similar question:

<begin quote>
With the "system recovery" disk (or partition) used by most computer
manufacturers these days you do have a problem if you need to do a
Repair Install or to boot to the Windows XP Recovery Console. However
it is not likely that either of these procedures would fix a problem
that is caused by a virus or trojan infestation.

There is a procedure that you could use. Start by removing the hard
drive from your notebook and installing it as a second hard drive in
desktop computer. You will need a special 2.5 to 3.5 inch adapter for
this, which you can obtain at computer shop or purchase online. You
can then use the desktop machine to scan the notebook hard drive and
remove any viruses or trojans that it may find. And while the drive
is in the desktop PC you should be able to copy off any files that you
need saved, and perhaps burn them to a CD or DVD. Then you could put
the cleaned up hard drive back into the notebook and see if it will
now boot up okay.

If you are not comfortable working with PC hardware then you might
want to get a repair shop to do the job for you.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

<end quote>