System will not boot, need to replace a file

When I try to boot i get the following message:

WINDOWS COULD NOT START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR CORRUPT

\windows\system32\config\system

How can I replace this file without reinstalling windows and losing my orignal
setup.

I have tried to copy but i don't know where to get this file from on the installation CD.
I have tried to run "SFC /scannow" but it will not run from the command prompt given
in the repair mode. or from a batch file.

 

That's not good George. You have your work cut out for you since it indicates that a Registry hive is corrupt or missing. A full functional repair is hardly ever likely and you will probably have to reinstall the system clean to get back fully. You can however do a procedure that may get you going well enough to copy some of your valued files to another media or partition.

Here's the dirty details.

 

damage assessment

This is a good start, Thanks for the info


Is this issue isolated to this file alone or are there other hiden issues in the registery.
Or is this the registery.

If I make a back up of the drive could I go in and edit the old registery to collect any missing settings?

 

The Registry in NT and XP is not a single file but rather several files called hives.

The Registry hives are cache type files (soak up data like a sponge). Within them resides the various data bits and strings that allow the system to operate smoothly. The well known ones are:

SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
SECURITY
SAM

You'll find them and others in the folder C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config

They are not directly editable outside of the windows OS that they pertain to. You can make backups of them if you use a tool designed for the purpose. Normal copy methods will not work since they will produce an error that lets you know the file is in use.

The Registry is so dynamic you would have to be careful about restoring it lest you end up crippling your system.

I suggest partition images instead. Makes for better backups all the way around.

 

continuing repair

Ok I have a windows System up again.
I am noticing registery issues.

An idea:
When I did the repair I renamed the old system file to system.bak.

Would it be possible to swap names on these files and now use a repair utility such as "Registry First Aid" to correct the old register.

 

I think Registry First aid has to run in Windows doesn't it? If that be true and your old Registry isn't bootable, you got yourself a catch 22, what?

 

May be not, If I do as follows:

1) in a working system get and load "Registry first aid "
2) rename system to system.1
3) rename system.bak to system
4) WITHOUT rebooting run "registry first aid "
5) reboot

if the system fails to boot I can always rename system to system.bak
and system.1 to system to recover.

The trick here is to make the switch without using the system file????

 

You can't do the switch while booted to Windows - you'll get the "File in use" error.