Win2K registry file corrupt - c:\winnt\system32\config\system

Hi all!

I'm new here - just found y'all cause of the afore mentioned problem. I searched the boards for this problem and found several (closed), but all related to XP. The symptoms are the same for me - I just turned on my computer (Dell Inspiron 4100 laptop - 4yo, win2K pro) and it refused to boot citing a missing / corrupt file. Booted to recovery console and found the file. It was there, so it must have been corrupted.

Tried Last Known... No good.

Renamed 'system' to 'system.old', then 'system.alt' to 'system' - no good.

Tried 'system.sav' which turned out to be from installation - it wanted 'NT5INF.CAT' from the SP4 CD... (I don't have SP4 on CD)

Went back to replace with one of the saved 'system' files - all were gone. So now I don't even have my corrupt file - just the .sav which isn't going to work.

I would like to be able to salvage some files - I have wireless w/ my wife's PC (which I'm using now) if I can get booted that far but will settle for CDR.

Obviously I'm in trouble here.

I'm an RN student with VERY LITTLE TIME for this mess and a few necessary files on that system I would REALLY like to have back.

Is there a chance this came from a virus?

I've been planning a system rebuild anyway, but don't have time till Christmas break...


BugBytte

 

NTRecover should allow you to copy the files you need from the 'dead' system to the working laptop.

 

The laptop IS the dead system...

Unfortunately, the laptop is the dead system.

I wound up re-installing the OS so I could get a critical file off via floppy. Now I am pretty much stuck with a total system re-build. I cannot install any software, create any dialup connections, or do much of anything. Fortunately, WinRar still works so I can put the few things not already backed up onto floppies and transfer them to this system...

Thanks anyway...


Daniel