Guest bwana Posted August 13, 2007 Posted August 13, 2007 A few days ago, I could not boot my computer - error message - \windows\system32\config\system - file missing or corrupted. Somehow I got a command prompt - DOS mode - I cannot remember exactly how I did this but perhaps starting in Safe Mode with Command Prompt. I had printed some instructions from Microsoft's site about how to recover from this error message problem. I located the above file - could not copy it to move it elsewhere. I renamed it. I went into the \windows\repair folder and found a file named system.bak - there was no file named just \windows\repair\system as the Microsoft instructions suggested. I copied that system.bak file with the name system i.e., it became \windows\system32\config\system. When I tried to boot the computer, it did boot but eventually, after the Windows XP screen displayed, I got an error message to the effect that the password value is incorrect. The computer then reboots and this is a loop that goes on and on. Since then, I received a Windows XP CD from Dell. Now, I cannot get into the Recovery Console since when I am prompted for the Administrator Password, nothing works - not hitting ENTER, or typing in Password, or Admin. When I try to start in Safe Mode with the command prompt, I get a display of drivers and then the computer tries to reboot and I get the error message about the incorrect password value. I know that I can reinstall Win 2003 entirely and lose everything not backed up - I have a complete backup as of 3 weeks ago. What can I do to solve this problem so that I can go in and delete the system file I copied and go through the repair process? Thanks for the help. Bwana
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted August 13, 2007 Posted August 13, 2007 Re: command prompt - repair - system32/config/system issue "bwana" <bwana@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:D2863E15-0B11-4ED3-9F27-CA0C7CE6687F@microsoft.com... >A few days ago, I could not boot my computer - error message - > \windows\system32\config\system - file missing or corrupted. > > Somehow I got a command prompt - DOS mode - I cannot remember exactly how > I > did this but perhaps starting in Safe Mode with Command Prompt. I had > printed > some instructions from Microsoft's site about how to recover from this > error > message problem. I located the above file - could not copy it to move it > elsewhere. That would be likely if you managed to boot Windows; the file would be locked as in use. You have to boot from another source, so those files are not in use, and this is why the directions tell you to boot from the CD. You can use any bootable XP CD for the Recovery Console, move the drive to another system and manipulate the files there, use a Linux boot CD, etc. > I renamed it. I went into the \windows\repair folder and found a > file named system.bak - there was no file named just > \windows\repair\system > as the Microsoft instructions suggested. I copied that system.bak file > with > the name system i.e., it became \windows\system32\config\system. When I > tried > to boot the computer, it did boot but eventually, after the Windows XP > screen > displayed, I got an error message to the effect that the password value is > incorrect. The computer then reboots and this is a loop that goes on and > on. Sounds like the way that you did this caused further problems. And you need the set of files, not just one. > Since then, I received a Windows XP CD from Dell. Now, I cannot get into > the Recovery Console since when I am prompted for the Administrator > Password, > nothing works - not hitting ENTER, or typing in Password, or Admin. When I > try to start in Safe Mode with the command prompt, I get a display of > drivers > and then the computer tries to reboot and I get the error message about > the > incorrect password value. I know that I can reinstall Win 2003 entirely > and > lose everything not backed up - I have a complete backup as of 3 weeks > ago. > What can I do to solve this problem so that I can go in and delete the > system > file I copied and go through the repair process? Thanks for the help. > Bwana First, you'll have to clear the trashed passwords, and there are boot disks, some linux-based, that have utilities for clearing XP passwords. For example, http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ http://www.ebcd.pcministry.com/ However, note that if you've used EFS, and didn't export the account credentials, encrypted data will be permanently lost, but on the other hand, it probably already is. If the boot CD you use has a file manager, you can perform all of the tasks in the KB article in one pass. Just read carefully and understand what it is you're doing. HTH -pk
Guest bwana Posted August 14, 2007 Posted August 14, 2007 Re: command prompt - repair - system32/config/system issue Patrick Thank you for your reply. I have a few comments and questions: <<> That would be likely if you managed to boot Windows; the file would be > locked as in use. You have to boot from another source, so those files are > not in use, and this is why the directions tell you to boot from the CD.>> Yes, I understand that I did manage to boot either with a command prompt in Safe Mode or in the Recovery Console -- in fact, it was in the Recovery Console as I was following the instructions in Microsoft kb document 307545 - so I obviously had the Dell CD at the time. <<> You can use any bootable XP CD for the Recovery Console, move the drive to > another system and manipulate the files there, use a Linux boot CD, etc.>> This is where the problem comes in. When I did it the first time, I was able to get to the command prompt even though asked for the Administrator password. Now, I get the message saying that the password is incorrect, so I am unable to boot. <<> Sounds like the way that you did this caused further problems. And you > need the set of files, not just one.>> I realize this now - but as I said, in the set, the file \windows\repair\system did not exist as I had only \windows\repair\system.bak. I did not copy the other files \software, \sam, \security and \default. However, I just cannot get to the Dos prompt to fix any of this. > <<> First, you'll have to clear the trashed passwords, and there are boot disks, > some linux-based, that have utilities for clearing XP passwords. For > example, > http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ > http://www.ebcd.pcministry.com/>> I came across the ebcd and downloaded it on an iMac and burned it to a disk, but I cannot get the computer to boot from there. Is there a specific procedure to use? > > However, note that if you've used EFS, and didn't export the account > credentials, encrypted data will be permanently lost, but on the other hand, > it probably already is.>> I have no idea what this means. Could you explain, please? Also, I am not aware of any encrypted data that I should be worried about. Or should I? <<> If the boot CD you use has a file manager, you can perform all of the tasks > in the KB article in one pass. Just read carefully and understand what it > is you're doing.>> I have no problem doing what is stated and understand how to do it in batch mode, but as I said the file mentioned in the KB article was not to be found unless system.bak is the equivalent. I also understand now that it is a set of files. If you have any other ideas, I'd appreciate your help. Thanks again for your help and patience. Best regards, Bwana
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