Windows XP won't start--error message
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.
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.
0
Comments
Your is gone. You'll have to do a repair install.
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)
That should remove the old folders and copy the new ones back in.
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.
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