Win 2000 Pro: can't start missing/corrupt file: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\

[Guest Scribe]

When I start up the computer, it says:

 

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 Swetup using the

original Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

 

Well, I don't have the original Setup CD-ROM. I was given this computer. I

am able to boot to the Norton Ghost CD and have excess then to all the files

and folders on the comp. How do I fix this?

--

God Bless America!

Scribe

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Win 2000 Pro: can't start missing/corrupt file: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\

 

 

"Scribe" <Scribe@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:994235A9-4C5A-4369-A6CF-5E10D6E45CB0@microsoft.com...

> When I start up the computer, it says:

>

> 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 Swetup using the

> original Setup CD-ROM.

> Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

>

> Well, I don't have the original Setup CD-ROM. I was given this computer.

> I

> am able to boot to the Norton Ghost CD and have excess then to all the

> files

> and folders on the comp. How do I fix this?

> --

> God Bless America!

> Scribe

 

Repairing a failed Windows installation without a Win2000

CD is next to impossible.

BTW: If God is to bless America, what about all the other

countries on the globe? Are you asking for some special

favours?

[Guest Scribe]

Re: Win 2000 Pro: can't start missing/corrupt file: \WINDOWS\SYSTE

 

Re: Win 2000 Pro: can't start missing/corrupt file: \WINDOWS\SYSTE

 

Well, I read one article that says that I can ask Dell to send me a repair

disk. However, I think Dell would probably charge me for that. I also read

about a stand-along version of Windows Repair. It is for Windows XP, instead

of 2000, but they said that it should work. They also said that there was a

chance of some of the programs not working afterward, though.

BTW: Very interesting and good point. I personally pray for the World too,

but I have to admit that I pray for America more often.

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

> "Scribe" <Scribe@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:994235A9-4C5A-4369-A6CF-5E10D6E45CB0@microsoft.com...

> > When I start up the computer, it says:

> >

> > 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 Swetup using the

> > original Setup CD-ROM.

> > Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

> >

> > Well, I don't have the original Setup CD-ROM. I was given this computer.

> > I

> > am able to boot to the Norton Ghost CD and have excess then to all the

> > files

> > and folders on the comp. How do I fix this?

> > --

> > God Bless America!

> > Scribe

>

> Repairing a failed Windows installation without a Win2000

> CD is next to impossible.

> BTW: If God is to bless America, what about all the other

> countries on the globe? Are you asking for some special

> favours?

>

>

>

[Guest Dave Patrick]

Re: Win 2000 Pro: can't start missing/corrupt file: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\

 

If the system hive is corrupt, and assuming you already tried LKG (F8 and

choose Last Known Good), It may be possible to rename the system hive found

in

%systemroot%\system32\config\system

to system.old

then rename

%systemroot%\system32\config\system.alt

to

%systemroot%\system32\config\system

 

You can also try using the most recent backup found in

%systemroot%\repair\regback

 

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the

original-as-installed system hive from

%systemroot%\repair\system

to

%systemroot%\system32\config\system

You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the

original OS install.

 

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000

Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup

floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,

use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks. At

the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows 2000

installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery

Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have

the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the

computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery

Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted

or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts

in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot

access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,

and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,

you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard

disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive

root, %systemroot% or %windir%

 

 

--

 

Regards,

 

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.

Microsoft Certified Professional

Microsoft MVP [Windows]

http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

"Scribe" wrote:

> When I start up the computer, it says:

>

> 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 Swetup using the

> original Setup CD-ROM.

> Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

>

> Well, I don't have the original Setup CD-ROM. I was given this computer.

> I

> am able to boot to the Norton Ghost CD and have excess then to all the

> files

> and folders on the comp. How do I fix this?

> --

> God Bless America!

> Scribe

[Guest Douglas J. Renze]

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

I had the identical issue on almost the same day - renaming SYSTEM to SYSTEM.OLD, then copying across SYSTEM.ALT to SYSTEM asolutely did the trick for me - thanks!

 

Of course, I had to download a Knoppix distribution just to get access to my hard drive... ;-)

 

EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice

http://www.eggheadcafe.com

[Guest Dave Patrick]

Re: Thanks!

 

Re: Thanks!

 

Good to hear. You're welcome. Remember to backup the registry often. Using

system.alt probably fails more times than it works.

 

--

 

Regards,

 

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.

Microsoft Certified Professional

Microsoft MVP [Windows]

http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

"Douglas J. Renze" wrote:

>I had the identical issue on almost the same day - renaming SYSTEM to

>SYSTEM.OLD, then copying across SYSTEM.ALT to SYSTEM asolutely did the

>trick for me - thanks!

>

> Of course, I had to download a Knoppix distribution just to get access to

> my hard drive... ;-)

>

> EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice

> http://www.eggheadcafe.com