missing or corrupt file in system32\config

The actual error message when starting xp home is "there is a missing or corrupt file in c:\windows\system32\config\system restart windows using the setup cd and do r for repair ".

Have done this to no avail. Have also done chkdsk /repair have also done the batch file that m.s. suggest to do in console mode again to no avail. Same error displays. From research it appears the user never kept up with patches from m.s. for it says this was fixed in sp1. Problem is that this is a Pavilion with the restore cd part of Windows and seeing as I cant get into windows its not likely I can run the restore function. I will have to order the recovery cd from HP is no one has a possible answer.

When i try to run fixmbr it tells me that the computer has a non-standard or invalid master boot record. I did not go any further was not sure what this message was trying to tell me. Are there more problems or is this the normal display message ???

Assistance would be greatly appreciated and thanks.

Amazing the different things one sees when supporting the normal small business and home users vs. corporate america.

 

I assume you have attempted to enter into windows in safemode and as administrator and have failed.....

My bet is you have a corrupted registry Hive, but wait for more experienced confirmation. This could have another root cause that I'm unaware of without doing a study-up.

In the mean time you may wish to consider the procedure following as opposed to a reinstall.

As you have a signature profile describing yourself as experienced here's a link for a study-up and a decision based on that. Take all precautions needed to be able to reverse this should you decide to do so.

http://sft-cyber.com/Corr Reg.htm

Or walk through this sites explanation:
http://www.mediaworkstation.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm



=========

I know you must have done this but here's what google says:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&q=c:\windows\system32\config\system

 

Yep, done them all already with no effect. After following Microsofts documentation as well as other web site they basically all tell you to do the same thing but in this case when I have done those things it just keeps sending me right to the command prompt. Have tried safe mode, last known good, xp cd console the whole routine.

Strange to cuz some users in these other sites say how it was successful running those line command and then the repair function but not in this case.

Would have been done if HP would only go back to giving their clients a restore cd. Seems pretty stupid to me to put the recovery cd on the h.d. cant believe they are that hard pressed for money that they would force their customers to buy something again when they assumed they already brought it with the system. As you can tell I am not a fan of HP recovery policy just because of things like this. Now my client has to wait til the parts depart. opens tomorrow so I can order the darn thing.

I thank you for taking time to respond. I guess this is an example of what might happen if one doesnt keep XP updated. Client didnt even have sp1 and the fix was in sp1.

Thanks again.

 

Presume the lack of restore CDs means this is a HP with a separate partition holding your restore files. If this is the case...

Actually I think there is a way the HP restore can be done. I think it envovles hitting or tapping the key F10 or some such key at the bios bootup, while the HP logo is still shown, when you see a flash in the upper right hand corner. Of course this is a total factory restore and any personal data or applications that are not part of Hps OEM bundle will be gone.

I'll have to look this up if you don't beat me to it. Hp planned for those occasions when you could not get into XP. The method just escapes me at the moment.

As for the boot configurature problem, I will sit this out and wait and see if someone who trully knows what to do will step in and help. I have read a couple of posts that seem to suggest even "this problem" you are having is recoverable, but that's the problem....reading a how-to is not as good as someone who has actually done this and survived. Others will know which is the best way to go and which pit falls to avoid.

For example:
XP needs the following to boot:

1) BIOS selects hard disk as boot device
2) active primary partition is properly entered in master boot record
3) first sector of drive is XP boot sector
4) ntldr and ntdetect.com are on the root of C:\
5) boot.ini is on the root of C:\ and properly configured to find partition with Windows directory

Recovery Console can fix MBR (fixmbr) and boot sector (fixboot). You can copy ntdetect.com and ntldr from the CD in \i386 to the root of C:\. You can run the bootcfg command to rebuild the boot.ini file (bootcfg
/rebuild).

I assume a test would be to try a floppy bootdisk and see if you can still boot into XP as is.

 

Goddez1

From what I've read on the new HP machines and on their web site if the h.d. crashes or some such thing and you need to restore you then have to order the cd from HP which to me is ridiculous. The hidden partition does not even display if you boot up on a dos disk and go into fdisk. Even xp partition displays just shows up as non-dos.

Have already tried a boot floppy with boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com and again it just drops me off at the command prompt with the error message about system32\config.

I will give the fixmbr, fixboot and bootcfg /rebuild a try. Havent done those yet.

Thanks for the input. At least I know so far I have tried everything you all have suggested. Not worried about data have already copied the data to one of my other machines.

 

Goddez1

You were correct the f10 keys is the way to start the recovery function but wouldnt ya know apparently that partition is corrupt also cuz it just reboots when clicking the f10. Bummer.