What is wrong?

Whenver I start my other XP machine, I get this message right before it would normally show the boot screen:

Windows could not start because the following file is missingor corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setupusing the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r'at the first screen to start repair.


My question is how do I fix this? How do I start the Windows Setup CD? There is no way to get to a command prompt, is there?

Thanks, Jason.

 

Set your computer to boot from the CD rom first, then the hard drive in your computer config seting then you will get the prompt.
To do this you can hit Esc or F2 key this depends on the type of system and Manufacture.

 

That my friend is you registy hive!

The least you can do here is the better!

Do not chose repair! Not yet anyway!

Hit the F8 key while booting chose "Last known good configuration" and pray!

If this don't work you may be in a world of S*it!

Get back to us!

Mike

 

How do I configure it? Could the button be Del for me? Am I going into the BIOS, etc settings? If so, then please tell me where I go to make the CDROM boot up. Thanks, Jason

 

Is a registy hive a virus?

 

The "Last Known Configuration" did not work What do I do???

 

No!

It is hardly anything except the single most important OS file on the computer!

Mike

 

Hope you have a backup! Ghost, Drive Image or Goback something!

If Goback you may need to reinstall Xp to use it!

Now! You have no choice but to try the repair!

So get your CD to boot and chose R!

After trying this if no work! Do not jump and format yet!

There is one more way! But try the R first!

Then get back!

Mike

 

When do I push R? How do I get it to start Setup?

 

Do you have any friends relatives or co workers that can help you with this?

But what you need to do is reboot tap del key or maybe another key it should tell you how to enter setup!

Anyway get to CMOS/BIOS find the boot config and set the CD to bootable!

I warn you that this place is unforgiving! Don't change anything you don't understand (which may be nothing)! But for sure don't hit a key by mistake then save!

I think you need experienced help there with you! Do what you have to do! Do it yourself and pray or beg someone experience to come there!

Mike

 

OK, I have clicked R for Repair and gotten to the repair part. But it looks like MSDOS, for it shows:

C:/WINDOWS>

what do I type? thanks, Jason

 

My guess is I need to replace the SYSTEM file, but how do I type that in the MSDOS "language "?

 

Until you get better guidance, read this page for a rundown on how XP repair works.

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

 

Ok!

Didn't know you were ahead of me!

reboot

recovery has 2 options
chose fast repair

pray

You just don't drop in a registry! Don't work that way!

Get bak to us!

Mike

 

Whoosh!

thanks Zep, thought I was out on the edge by myself, that is a good site!

Cooler

If the fast repair don't work last option!
go here do this Compements Zephyr!

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/rep... XP by Installing Over top of Existing Setup:


mike

Boy! Zep you saved me a bunch of typing! That was my next and last resort!

 

That site impressed me so because I saw that the guy who made it obviously didn't have any screenshot software. You can see his reflection on the monitor screen holding the camera for the shot. What a deal! Good info though.

I figured it would make good reading until you got back.

 

Instead of pressing r at the first screen I hit enter to go into the windows setup. But now it says Cannot Find Windows on the current harddrive!! What is wrong with this??? It says to verify if you can install XP, put in a Windows ME or earlier disk. I could do that, but do I want tto reinstal XP instead of repair??

 

What makes this more annoying, is when I hit r at the first screen to go into the recovery consul, it found the C:/WINDOWS , but it cant in this part!

 

Read all of that page I linked. Down deep on it, it tells how to do a repair install. It also tell about repairing the boot files. READ IT ALL! You need a good overview of what the capabilities are.

 

Cooler

Apearently XP don't even recognise itself as already being installed!

If you are using an XP upgrade CD you will have show a win98 or me cd before you can continue!

Go to the site in the link Zephyr sent! Read it, print it, study it! Because that is what you are going to have to do!

Done properly all your settings and software should work as always!

Mike