Guest mf27 Posted May 11, 2008 Posted May 11, 2008 Hi, Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the following message: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt C:\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. I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused! My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went bust a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site) Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my pictures/music/documents etc?? If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that was written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful! Thanks in advance
Guest philo Posted May 11, 2008 Posted May 11, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com... > Hi, > > Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the > following message: Windows could not start because the following file is > missing or corrupt > C:\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. > > I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused! > > My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went bust > a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do > have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site) > > Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my > pictures/music/documents etc?? > > If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that was > written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful! > > Thanks in advance Don't panic... your pictures/music/documents are more than likley perfectly OK... but your Windows installation is corrupt. The best thing to do would be to take your machine to a repair shop or a knowledgeable friend... remove the drive from the machine and backup your data. Either copy it to another harddrive and/or burn the data to DVD's Once the data are backed up, there may be a backup registry on the machine that can be used to repair your missing "system" There should be a backup copy in the "repair" folder Note: if the problem can be repaired it would be a good idea to run a hardware check on both your RAM and your harddrive
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted May 11, 2008 Posted May 11, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com... > Hi, > > Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the > following message: Windows could not start because the following file is > missing or corrupt > C:\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. > > I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused! > > My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went > bust > a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do > have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site) > > Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my > pictures/music/documents etc?? > > If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that > was > written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful! > > Thanks in advance Further to philo's excellent advice: Having a PC with important documents that are not backed up regularly is asking for trouble. Many people choose to wait until they suffer a major disaster. A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is a low-cost but highly effective backup medium - what's keeping you?
Guest Kelly Posted May 11, 2008 Posted May 11, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt Added info: To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where Xp wont boot: Go to Recovery Console and type: cd system32\config ren system system.old ren system.alt systemalt.old copy c:\windows\repair\system copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system exit Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545 -- All the Best, Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com... > Hi, > > Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the > following message: Windows could not start because the following file is > missing or corrupt > C:\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. > > I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused! > > My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went > bust > a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do > have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site) > > Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my > pictures/music/documents etc?? > > If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that > was > written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful! > > Thanks in advance
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted May 11, 2008 Posted May 11, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com... > Added info: > > > To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" > where Xp wont boot: > > Go to Recovery Console and type: > > cd system32\config > ren system system.old > ren system.alt systemalt.old > copy c:\windows\repair\system > copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system > exit > > Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545 > > -- > > All the Best, > Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) > > Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm > > > "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com... Entirely appropriate advice but a little hard to follow for the OP since he has no WinXP CD. It would be a good idea for him to get one ASAP.
Guest philo Posted May 11, 2008 Posted May 11, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message news:eL9dHO6sIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > > "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message > news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com... > > Added info: > > > > > > To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" > > where Xp wont boot: > > > > Go to Recovery Console and type: > > > > cd system32\config > > ren system system.old > > ren system.alt systemalt.old > > copy c:\windows\repair\system > > copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system > > exit > > > > Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545 > > > Good advice ... just wanted to mention that sometimes if the registry is corrupted... the Recovery Console will not recognize the Windows installation at all... but it is an option well worth trying!
Guest Kelly Posted May 14, 2008 Posted May 14, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt True, true! :o) -- All the Best, Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message news:eL9dHO6sIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > > "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message > news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com... >> Added info: >> >> >> To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" >> where Xp wont boot: >> >> Go to Recovery Console and type: >> >> cd system32\config >> ren system system.old >> ren system.alt systemalt.old >> copy c:\windows\repair\system >> copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system >> exit >> >> Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545 >> >> -- >> >> All the Best, >> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) >> >> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! >> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm >> >> >> "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com... > > Entirely appropriate advice but a little hard to follow for the OP > since he has no WinXP CD. It would be a good idea for him to > get one ASAP. >
Guest Kelly Posted May 14, 2008 Posted May 14, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt True, true again. :o) -- All the Best, Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm "philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message news:ed5jBy6sIHA.2292@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message > news:eL9dHO6sIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> >> "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message >> news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com... >> > Added info: >> > >> > >> > To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" >> > where Xp wont boot: >> > >> > Go to Recovery Console and type: >> > >> > cd system32\config >> > ren system system.old >> > ren system.alt systemalt.old >> > copy c:\windows\repair\system >> > copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system >> > exit >> > >> > Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting >> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545 >> > >> > > Good advice ... > just wanted to mention that sometimes if the registry is corrupted... > the Recovery Console will not recognize the Windows installation at all... > but it is an option well worth trying! > >
Guest najvarmf Posted July 6, 2008 Posted July 6, 2008 Re: Help -\windows\system32\config\system missing/corrupt "Kelly" wrote: > Added info: > > > To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where > Xp wont boot: > > Go to Recovery Console and type: > > cd system32\config > ren system system.old > ren system.alt systemalt.old > copy c:\windows\repair\system > copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system > exit > > Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545 > > -- > > All the Best, > Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP) > > Taskbar Repair Tool Plus! > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm > > > "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com... > > Hi, > > > > Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the > > following message: Windows could not start because the following file is > > missing or corrupt > > C:\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. > > > > I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused! > > > > My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went > > bust > > a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do > > have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site) > > > > Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my > > pictures/music/documents etc?? > > > > If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that > > was > > written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful! > > > > Thanks in advance >
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