\Windows\System32\Config\System Message

I am tryng to boot up my computer with Windows XP Pro, but I am not having any success. The PC has been working fine till one day it started to slow down and I then ran my virus detection program. Well, that did not help. I then decided to run the XP start up cd, but when it's supposed to get to the second repair option it bypasses it. I don't want to format it at this time since I have many files & folders in it. Not to mention the programs in it. Anyone have any idea on how to repair this mess?

Thanks to all who look at my situation

 

The message you are relaying means that the Registry is corrupt. More specifically, the System hive.

Try booting to the Advanced Boot Options screen (press F8 repeatedly during boot) ands select to boot the last known good configuration that is listed there.

If that fails, boot the install CD and invoke the Recovery Console. If you had the System Recovery enabled, you can run it from the command line there and select a date prior to this problem and maybe get lucky.


I copied the following from somewhere and it may help you:

 

I like the last paragraph in the quoted text above best:

It's good time to use the BartPE CD or an iteration of Linux. The Recovery Console is clumsy, to say the least.

You could also slave that drive to your bootable system and make a good backup of your data before going further. Then you can do the transfer of the SR files using the Windows tools. Much easier. Much safer for your data.

 

I've tried using the system recovery console and tried the chkdsk and the /r but still got no positive results. If I understand what you said on the second reply was that if I slave the corrupted HD, I could possibly repair the troubled drive from that point? I am now running my old slave drive as my primary and my old primary(corrupted config files) as my slave. I had a program on the old primary which at one time had to be activated by going online. I transferred that program to my new master drive but am unable to use that program. As for my other files I can copy and paste to my new master drive. I also had some important e-mail which I cannot pull up now.If possible I would like to fix the drive with the corrupted files.

 

Let's try it!-

Yes, that is possible. It will be more likely to succeed if you had System Restore enabled on the drive. If so, we can look in the folder named System Volume Information (on the corrupt drive), and into an RP directory and a Snapshot folder and possibly find a copy of the System Hive that predates your problem. It will be named SYSTEM (no extension). Copying that into the Windows\system32\config\ folder (on the corrupt drive) would do the trick.

If you did not have SR enabled, there is another possibility. There may be a copy of the System hive in the Windows\Repair folder of the corrupt drive. You can copy it into the Windows\system32\config\ folder and likely get back to bootability.

Refer to the quoted text I posted with the step by step instructions for doing the procedure using the System Restore files but substitute mouse action for command line instructions and you'll get it done.

 

I sure will try it. Thanks.

 

These files are "Hidden" so you'll need to have the view settings in proper form to see them. You probably knew that and already had it set but thought I'd throw it in in case others may use this thread someday and not be so aware.

 

Hate to say it but I didn't know about these files. Will I now be able to them in the windows folder?

 

Yes, if you have set your system as outlined above, you'll see all files on all drives.

 

Surferdude 2,
I appreciate all the help you've given me on this problem. I've been up since about 430 this morning and am a little tired. I will continue with this adventure tomorrow.Thanks again for all your help.

 

Depending on where you currently stand re: the original drive and any changes you have made in the system32 folder, the following may or may not be of help. This is not meant to be an alternative to what Surferdude2 has provided and it is recommended that you wait for his comments before trying this (he's forgotten more than I'll ever know).

Fix for Missing or Corrupted
/WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM

From a command prompt in the recovery console

CD C:\Windows\System32\Config

REN system system.old

COPY C:\Windows\Repair\system

Press ENTER after each command.
exit out to reboot.

 

Thanks to all, I am leaving for work but will check back with you all when I get home this evening. I am looking forward to see what I may learn out of this adventure. It's great to have knowledgeable people like yourselves on this forum to help out others. This seems to be a pretty nice forum. Very helpful too!

 

Rockster2U said:

Thanks, that's correct and compliments the thread for others to use later.

I will add, since payroll96 now has the corrupt drive slaved to a healthy system drive, he can use Windows tools to accomplish the rename and copy tasks rather than using the Recovery Console, which will make it even easier to pull off.

Rockster2U said:

Thanks for that but it's the part about "forgotten" that concerns me.

 

Well I'm back again. I went ahead an copied and pasted the system file from the repair folder to the system\config folder on the corrupted drive. I then got this message with system\software. I went ahead and copied and pasted from the repair folder to the config folder. I shut it down and it now says this

lsass error.exe
Security accounts manager failed because of the following error. A device attached to the system is not functioning Error status :0xc0000001 please click ok to shutdown the system and reboot in safe mode. Check the event log for more information. I went ahead and disconnected my ata controller card, that didn't help. Checked the jumper on my drive , nothing. I did notice that when I try to reboot the system, there are two options where there used to be one. drive selections are 1 and then Microsoft xp professional, so I selected the xp option on three trys but still get the same lsasserror .exe box message.

 

It sounds like you have another Registry hive missing or corrupt.

Slave the drive again and rename the SAM file in the same folder as before. Then copy the one from the Repair folder into there.

Then reconnect as master and reboot for effect.

 

I went ahead and did that and it asked for the OS disc and I stuck in the cd drive and it loaded a few files. Rebooted it, now I can see the screen as it was before going beserk, however there is are no icons or anything to click on. The mouse is not frozen but there simply isn't anything that I can click on the screen. Like I said earlier, when it comes up to start, there was only one option before as to what operating system was turning on. Now as it is booting up there are 2 options ( one is microsoft xp, the other simply has a 1 for a name).

 

Now run System Restore, assuming you had it enabled.

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore > chose the restore to an earlier time function and choose a bold date from the calendar that predates your problem. When complete, reboot.

Don't worry about the boot options for now, we can fix that later.

 

Rereading your post makes me wonder if you have the Start Button or anything else.

So, if not, try bringing up the Task manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. If that succeeds, click on File > New Task > and type C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Restore\rstrui.exe in the field and press enter. That should open the System Restore Applet.

 

I tried the command in the task manager, but it took me to the system restore window. However the only possible date I can select was on 06-19-07 I started to have problems with it on 06-17-07. If I run this system restore it'll resest all the settings to the day and I had some problems with my drive at that time. Do you think I should still run the system restore for that date? My desktop still comes up but I can't click or select anything other than the task manager, because there is nothing else to click on. I tried to do a repair (2nd r option from the OS cd, but it would not load certain files like driver.cab and some others).

 

From Task Manager > File > New Task > type sfc /scannow and press enter. Be prepared to supply your XP install CD when asked.

When it completes, reboot for effect.

If no joy, go back to Task Manager > File > New Task > type explorer.exe and press enter. See if that opens the Desktop.

Post back your results of those actions. Do not use System Restore since, as you stated, the date is not adequate.