SYSTEM error when loading Windows

I am running WinXP Home Edition.

Earlier today, my system randomly rebooted and I was not able to even boot Windows. Once I did a few things, it told me I have a missing or corrupt file in "WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM ". It tells me to run the installation disk and press r to fix it. I did so, and I had no idea what I was doing. It brought me to what looked like MS DOS, but I had to type in help to get commands, etc. I did not know what to do, so I installed Windows onto another folder on the hard drive. I'm running that right now, but still can't get into the other Windows (it asks me which version I want to boot up when I turn my computer on).

Any suggestions as to repair SYSTEM using the Windows disk is much appreciated.

 

There are two possible areas on the CD for doing repair things. There is the recovery console where you were that requires typing commands and is used if you want to do some specific tweaks and there is an install option for doing a repair install which basically puts a clean copy of XP over the damaged one but normally leaves everything else intact so your system looks just like it did before. That was the one you wanted.

At this point, I'd suggest you boot from the CD again, do a repair install of your original windows and once that is working, you can use windows explorer to delete the new windows folder without causing any problems.

 

Actually, I tried running it.

The only previous version of Windows it provides to to repair install is the one I just installed (located in the folder WINDOWS). The one I want to repair is in the folder WINNT, but it never gave me an option to repair install.

Any suggestions?

 

With your OS loaded in WINNT, it sounds like you did an upgrade from NT4. 2000 won't allow it with XP-home since it is more of a downgrade.

I'm puzzled why you aren't offered the option of a repair on that if you are booting from the CD. The only reason I could think of is that the version in WINNT is either missing or so badly damaged it can't be seen as an OS.

Let me think on this for a short while and I'll post back with some ideas.

 

Just to make sure you clicked the right buttons, take a look at the instructions Here and see if they match what you tried for a repair install.

 

I've had WinXP Home since I bought the computer. However, I have reinstalled Windows once or twice. I don't know if that could have affected it.

Either way, the OS contained in that folder is Windows XP Home. I've never had a different OS on this particular CPU (unless of course I did and never knew it; which I doubt).

 

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

On that page, I got to step 5 (Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair. If Repair is not one of the options, read this Warning#2!). From there, I only have one choice and it is the version I installed a few hours ago.

I could just start fresh from here, but that would mean I have to reinstall EVERY program that i had (which I'd rather not do).

 

Interesting that you started on this PC with XP since the default folder to load XP is Windows while NT4 and 2000 defaulted to WINNT. Still, it works no matter what you call the folder so no biggie.

Given the history that you have installed the OS on this PC several times in the past and the problems finding your WINNT OS load, I think I'd opt to backup any personal data to removable media and do a format, install of the OS. I wouldn't trust anything on the drive right now.

Before you get into that, could you give some details of why you have needed to do the various installs. I'm betting we can offer some suggestions for giving you a more stable system so that you can keep this next OS install and it will work for you. XP should be pretty robust and fault-tolerant if it is set up properly.

 

Could I just transfer everything to my other hard drive?

The only times that I can think of for me to reinstall Windows (using the same disk I'm using now) is because of spyware. Back then, it wasn't my computer (it was given to me by a family member after I last formatted it). This is the first time it has really messed up other than spyware (which was entirely the user's fault).

 

try this

1. reboot your pc,>>> at wp logo screen hit (pf12, or ???) to go to setup screen

2. find the row for boot (obtions or boot sequence),>>>> scroll down and select this obtion>>>>use the space bar or enter key to change the order where the pc will boot from, >>>>put the cd-rom at top>>>>place your xp cd in your cd-rom drive, now reboot the pc again>>>this time it will come up on the xp cd

3. let it go through its install checking steps, (it is not installing anything at this time,just the checking boot process>>>>>windows setup screen come up.

4. hit R for repair>>>>options to repair should be option # 1>>>>it should show
c: windows, if not try to change to windows===type (cd\) to get back to c:\>,,,type (cd\windows) to get back to your windows dir.

5. however, you should now get a question asking for the ADMINISTRATOR password>>>key in the administrator password>>>you should be at the c:\windows dir.

6. at c:\windows> you type in (chkdsk /repair) and let the xp cd do it's thing

 

I gotta go with Newt on this one.

All you would be doing is transfering problems from one place to the other.

If not done CAREFULLY and PROPERLY Yes it could. And seeing mention of a WINNT folder, it looks like something went wrong somewhere. I justchecked both of my 98SE machines and this XP and see no WINNT folder.

It looks very much like more than one OS. Or the same OS in different folders.

Now I will write from a bit of SAD experience. And over top re-install will not ( or at least may not ) fix all problems. It may well only carry then over or make them worse. Especially the ones I see here.

A question more or less for my own info.

Could this problem of the WINNT folder be caused by an IMPROPER INSTALL of or INSTALL of improper version of some software ?

Another lesson learned the hard way by Your Truley.

BillyBob