recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

[Keith]

I am so very glad to have found you.

I have home pc running XP home &sp2

when i started it i got black screen with message windows system32 conig file is missing or corrupt and cannot start.

i tried recovery with my xp disc and it took me back to black screen, i searched web on laptop and found ms help page with the following

 

At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line: 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

 

6.Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.

i did this and it restarted, reset the resolution and started searching for my progs.docs etc, all seems to be there, full list of progs and all my net fav's etc, but someare in different places and some progs will open but others say"this action is only validfor products that are currently installed"

I do have all my music/photos backed up on external drives and i have all my prog disc's so i can reinstall them but what i really want to find is my emails that were in ms office 07 outlook, but again that won't open.

i have tried to find a restore point but just get a blank scfreen.

i have tried to startin F8 to use last know good config but when i start with F8 i get the choice to boot from hd or cd drive, can't get the safe mode page at all, and one more thing when i have a small window open on desktop and try to move it with mouse it only moves about 1/2 inch at a time and looks like its refreshing insted of being able to drag as it used to.

sorry it's a bit long winded but i read your page about giving as much info as possible, any help that you can offer will be very much appreciated, but not to techy as i am on a big learing curve. Thanks Keith

[Goku]

Hello and Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Keith. :)

 

Please read the following article from the Microsoft Knowledge Base and try the troubleshooting instructions suggested. See if they help or not.

 

You receive an "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed" error message when you try to start an Office program

 

Let us know how it goes. Good Luck.

 

-- Goku

[Keith]

thanks for quick reply Goku, the Help section will not open so i created a new shortcut but it still will not open prog.

just checked and all progs show on start all progs list but when i looked in add remove progs nothing shows up, as i said i do have the discs for all progs but i am worried if i reload ms office it may wipe out my outlook email stuff that at the moment may be hidden somewhere.

[Seth]

Hi Keith.

 

Have a look here: How to manage .pst files in Outlook 2007, in Outlook 2003, and in Outlook 2002

 

I've used that Microsoft fix a few times in the past, but haven't done so in a few years due to similar problems.

 

The preferred steps for that type of corruption are:

 

Running hard drive error correction from the Recovery Console, and if that doesn't work:

 

1.Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.

 

2.At the first R=Repair option, press the R key

 

3.Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.

 

Typically this will be #1

 

4.Enter in the administrator password when requested (if blank just press enter)

 

5.cd \windows\system32\config

 

6.Type:

ren system system.bad

 

7.TYPE:

copy \windows\repair\system

 

8.Take out the CD ROM and type exit

 

...and if that doesn't work, a repair install should be performed.

 

[Keith]

Thanks Seth, afraid that did not work. Do i do a repair install from the xp cd, i really don't want to wipe my email stuff, if i ever get it all back i will be reading that link and following it to the letter Edited August 27, 2008 by Keith

[Seth]

A repair install doesn't have any affect on your personal data, and yes you use the XP CD for that. There's no way of knowing if it will repair Outlook however. If I remember correctly, the Office CD has a repair function.

 

Open Search>All files and folders> advanced options>Type of file. Choose the "Outlook Items" option and see what it turns up.

[Seth]

Here's some other office 2007 repair options:

 

How to install and to repair 2007 Office features

[Keith]

it has now gone from bad to worse, i tried to run the xp disc and see what i could do but it said the disc is an older version than what is on the machine, but it's the same code on the machine label as on the cd packaging ????????????????

thank you for your all replies, i will let you know what happens if i ever get it sorted

[Guest Wolfeymole]

This is not logical Keith

 

It's a similar scenario to trying to install Windows 95 onto a machine containing Windows 98.

 

What exactly does it say on the XP disk that you have?

[Keith]

it is the proper disc version 2002 and same code on package as on sticker on pc, i am thinking when i had some machine upgrades the guy might have installed his version although every time i have had any work done i have always given him my discs, i can't contact him at the moment as i think he away on hols, i must be patient as i just cannot lose my emails as therre is so much important stuff.

[Seth]

Is this the procedure you used?

 

1.

When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

2.

Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.

3.

Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.

4.

In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.

5.

Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is sel

 

 

BTW-Before you do a repair install, you must remove Internet Explorer 7 from add/remove programs (if you have it). On that screen, you may have to put a check in "Show Updates" to see IE7.

[Keith]

i am stuffed because there are NO programmes showing on the remove progs list.

when i look around the files etc i can see everything but they will not open, files, programmes anything, so i tried to copy them to my external hd but they would not copy

[Dalo Harkin]

it has now gone from bad to worse, i tried to run the xp disc and see what i could do but it said the disc is an older version than what is on the machine, but it's the same code on the machine label as on the cd packaging ????????????????

thank you for your all replies, i will let you know what happens if i ever get it sorted

 

 

I bet that the version thats on it is MCE and not just XP

[Keith]

Dalo what is MCE, i am not that savy. My repair man has surfaced, was on hols so is coming around this afternoon

[RandyL]

Hi Keith;

MCE is XP Media Center Edition. I doubt that's the issue unless you did an upgrade but I'll let Daylo or the others handle this.

[Dalo Harkin]

Sorry Keith,

 

in 2002 the first version of Media Centre Edition of XP was released - you have XP and I bet that the person you are referring to uses XP MCE

[Keith]

ah thanks for that, i will let you know later

[Keith]

repair man has taken it away to re build, he did manage to find all my outlook files, it had archived the evening before the crash so i was very lucky. he had used his xp disc when he last worked on it because mine had trouble with the service packs but he is going to use mine this time.

all your help in trying to sort it for me was very much appreciated, heading over to the donation page now, well worth it and i won't feel bad about asking for help again. Regards to all, keep up the great work helping us numpties, sorry less knowledgable out. Keith

[Dalo Harkin]

Keith - we all started somewhere and we appreciate the donation - when one of the Admins has confirmed the donation they will change your status :)