Missing Config Sys?

[Sheldy]

Having not long had our home PC back from the repair shop and everything running smoothly again my missus decided to move the furniture around which included the PC. Since its been moved every time you turn it on the following message appears:

 

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 original Setup CD-ROM.

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

 

Could moving the pc have caused this problem?

 

Unfortunately my pc never came with an original windows disk, although it does have a sticker on it for Windows XP Home.

 

Could it be a HDD problem?

 

Would any XP disk solve the problem? IE a friends one?

 

Sorry if these are all pretty noobish questions but I'm pretty clueless when it comes to PC's these days.:rolleyes:

[Tootech]

Hi Sheldy,

 

That particular fault occurs for one of two reasons normally.

 

1) There is a hard drive fault beginning to cause problems.

 

2) Your PC was not shutdown correctly last time it was used. For example, switching off at the mains whilst it is still shutting down.

 

From what you have described, assume No 2

 

There is a fix for it, however it does require some fairly heavy tinkering.

 

Basically, what has happened is that one of the files that makes up the system registry is corrupt.

 

There is a documented Microsoft fix for it, have a look here

 

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

 

Scroll down to the part headed Manual Steps To Recover A Corrupted Registry.....

 

Have a read, and if your are happy with doing it, download the Recovery Console CD - see below, and let us know, and we'll talk you through it.

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/downloads/4255-windows-xp-recovery-console.html

 

if you are not confident carrying out these changes, then a repair install is the best option.

 

Things to note regarding a Repair Install....

 

If your PC is a built up PC, and has no CD, it would be difficult for us to advise a repair.

 

If it is a branded PC, then let us know it's make and model and we can take it from there

[Sheldy]

Cheers Tootech,

 

I'll try the manual method first.

 

Re: downloading the recovery console, it just has to be saved straight the the cd right? no need to unzip it or do anything else with it? Sorry for the noobish question?

 

Once I've done that I'll try using it tonight when i get home.

[RandyL]

Sheldy you will need to burn it as an ISO or image file. What burning software do you have?

[Sheldy]

Just used the windows wizard, when I right clicked on the file it lists the file type as ISO or do I need to do anything else?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

You need to burn that ISO image to a cd disk.