XP Repair Problems

[sheppardwk]

I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
Received the following error message:

Windows XP could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.

Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence and
pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password, don't have
one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
Followed these instructions:

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.bak 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

When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that there
were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I chose - Last
Known Configuration.

The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared and the
Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe Mode.
While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it won't.
How do I find out the password?

Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of Recovery
Console. It indicated that it found a previous installation of Windows.
Previous to this, it only presented the three (3) partitions. I was now
presented with the option to install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose
Repair. After it copied the new files and rebooted, I received an error that
indicated that While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
correct.

I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator password
has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired" version of Windows to
start. Please help me resolve this as I have been attempting all sorts of
solutions since Friday.

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\ drive, what
will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be affected? My Documents,
will it be affected? Other programs? etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
Received the following error message:

Windows XP could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.

Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence
and pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password,
don't have one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
Followed these instructions:

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.bak 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

When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that
there were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I
chose - Last Known Configuration.

The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared
and the Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on
Safe Mode. While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared
that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current
value is not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the
administrator password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it
accepted it. Now it won't. How do I find out the password?

Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of
Recovery Console. It indicated that it found a previous
installation of Windows. Previous to this, it only presented the
three (3) partitions. I was now presented with the option to
install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose Repair. After it copied
the new files and rebooted, I received an error that indicated that
While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
correct.

I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator
password has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired"
version of Windows to start. Please help me resolve this as I have
been attempting all sorts of solutions since Friday.

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\
drive, what will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be
affected? My Documents, will it be affected? Other programs? etc.

In the future - please cross-post as opposed to multi-posting. It results
in your message being spread across as many groups - but makes it easier for
you to check and others to read and not run-across unread in another group
later. Think of it like sending the same email to many different people -
usually (or you should) you just put all their addresses in the TO: (or CC:
or BCC field at once. Not compose a whole new message for each person,
but with exactly the same content.

First - you could reset the administrator's password using this on of these
CDs:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Or hints from here:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

And/or - you could perform a REPAIR install (that's not hitting the first R,
but the second R) which should keep everything intact.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

You may need this afterwards as well (as sometimes - after a repair
installation - Windows Updates just stop working.):

First thing to try:
As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.


Second thing to try:
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset


Third thing to try:
Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix:
- Windows Installer
- Windows Update
- All the Registration Center options.

Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Then click "GO" and wait until it is done... Reboot will be needed.

- Download/Install Windows Update v3.
http://download.windowsupdate.com/w...one/7.0.6000.381/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Reboot.
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install updates.


Usually - method one from the first suggestion fixes the issue.
Sometimes they have to proceed to method two from the first suggestion.

Less seldom - but it does happen - only the tool from the second suggestion
will work - although the first suggestion is contained within the second in
many ways (as well as some of the third.)

And the third suggestion is there because before there was a suggestion (1)
and a suggestion (2) - the third was the best bet and worked in most cases.

Good luck - come back and let us know!