Windows XP won't start--error message

[thesteeles]

Hi! I am kind of a novice computer user, so any help would sure be appreciated.

My XP desktop showed this message when I started the computer:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair"

I have a Dell Dimension 4400. It is a few years old. I looked thru my original CD's. I have a "Reinstallation CD-Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" CD.

I went here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

I got to step 5. When I typed in:
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak


It copied software and security. But, the others, it gave the message: "The system cannot find the file specified."

I am not sure what to do. If it matters, I have a wireless network that runs thru the computer that is having this problem. The laptop connected to the network is working fine.

I really would appreciate any help. Thanks to all.

[Thrax]

If it couldn't find those files, you're basically screwed. :( The \\SYSTEM\ registry hive is sort of like the brains of windows. Sure, there are files in System32, and there's the Windows directory, but the SYSTEM registry section orchestrates it all.

Your is gone. You'll have to do a repair install.

[HisChild]

Unless you've made a typo in the lines, yes i'm afraid Thrax is right....

BUT..

however that it couldn't find them, you might still be able to do the following commands that it lists, as they should copy new files back.

You can try and do these lines (copied em from your link)

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

That should remove the old folders and copy the new ones back in.

[thesteeles]

When you say do a "repair install". How do I do that? Thanks.

[thesteeles]

I did type in the lines from the link. But, on several it did say it couldn't find them. I tried rebooting and it still doesn't work. Thanks for the reply.

[HisChild]

what lines did you type when it said it couldn't find the files?
Did you try those last lines with the copy from the repair folder?

A repair install means that you install windows as you would normally, but on the screen where it says where do you want to install windows, you select the old drive where you installed windows. Basically you install the new windows over the old one.

[thesteeles]

So, on the repair install: When I boot up from the cd, it gives me the choice to press enter to setup windows xp or press r to repair. I had been pressing the r. Now, do I press enter for the setup?
I did that and it shows me a list of partitions and asks me to select an item and then press enter to set up xp on that item. my choices are for D and C.
My CD ROM is D. So, i guess i would choose C. The choices are:
Partition 2 [NTFS] 19054 MB
and
Unpartioned space.

Which do I choose?

Is this even the right way?

Thanks again

[HisChild]

Yes you would choose c. It will say that it sees another operating system, which will be your old windows. It will then say that installing a new operating system on a drive where there is already an operating system installed can cause conflicts. Continue. You can choose to change map. Don't. Go ahead and install it on the normal way.

[bothered]

But don't do what I have done (cause you forget). When it reboots and again asks if you want to boot from CD press any key, DON'T PRESS ONE or it'll start all over again. Just leave it and it'll finish the install.