windows\system32\config\system is corrupt or missing

bdkaatbdkaat
edited December 2008 in Science & Tech
Hey,

I have a problem when I boot my pc...

WINDOWS COULD NOT START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR CORRUPT,
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM 32\CONFIG\SYSTEMYOU 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.

Trust me I've been to a million sites,

tried using the recovery console to copy from WINDOWS\repair\system,

ran CHKDSK and found 1 corrupt file,

followed icrontic advice:
Attrib -H -R -S boot.ini
del Boot.ini
Bootcfg /Rebuild
chkdsk /R /F
Fixboot
(this procedure went through but i came to the same problem when i booted up)

it tells me that there is no C:\windows\repair\system file
the main problem is that C:\windows\system32\config\system file is MISSING

is there a way to replace the system file? I have a Win Xp professional disk but the pc is running Win XP home.

I need the files stored on the hard drive to be put on a jump drive but for right now I dont want to take the hard drive out and put it in my other pc.

Comments

  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    Did you try Repair Windows XP in Eight Commands?
  • bdkaatbdkaat
    edited December 2008
    yep that's the one I used and I came to the same problem when I rebooted.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    If you had the same version of Windows on CD that is currently installed on your computer, a Windows Repair Installation might work. Apart from that, I don't see any solutions for you. I'd like to see a couple others post here with their opinion as well.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    I agree with Leonardo, if you have a Windows CD, you can perform a repair installation which should fix your issue. If you do NOT have a Windows CD, you will need to acquire one.

    That is the only way to fix this issue.
  • bdkaatbdkaat
    edited December 2008
    alright I need a xp home CD then I guess... I only have a xp professional disk and don't have a product key for it.

    Thanks for your help.

    EDIT: nice I didn't notice at first that Thrax made the "Repair Win XP in Eight Commands" thing. I guess you're somewhat of an expert on the topic. Yeah... I found it on google and followed it but I still got the same dreaded error message.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    Unfortunately the problem you're running into has four primary causes:

    1) Files that provide Windows with instructions how to load the operating system have become damaged. Windows isn't really sure how to assess and report that this is the case, so it points to the registry hive (it's an actual file) called SYSTEM in C:\Windows\system32\config. The SYSTEM file is still there, and is in fact perfectly fine, but Windows has just gone to lunch. My article covers and repairs this issue.

    2) The SYSTEM hive (again, the actual file in C:\Windows\system32\config) is completely gone. This happens more than it ever should, but there's no reason and no remedy. If the SYSTEM file is gone, your installation of Windows is completely screwed and needs to be reinstalled. The only plausible fix is a preventative one, where you make daily backups of the SYSTEM registry file to a thumb drive. You can use a bootable CD like BartPE (it's a small copy of Windows that runs off a CD and allows you to browse files) to copy it off the flash drive and back into C:\Windows\system32\config in the event that it gets deleted. My guide does NOT cover this.

    3) The the SYSTEM registry file is corrupt. If you are able to successfully execute my steps, the file is there (you've checked with BartPE), and it still gives you the error, the file might as well be deleted. My guide does not cover this either.

    4) Extensive file system damage may render the SYSTEM hive unreadable or inaccessible. Running a chkdsk may get the system back up and running, but file system errors due to physical deformities in the hard disk cannot be recovered from.

    Unfortunately for the user, it is impossible to tell which one of these causes is the culprit to the problem until you've attempted to fix it. It's similar to medical treatments where several diseases have the same symptoms with an urgent need for medication. You're not really sure what they have until you what happens under the influence of that medication.
  • bdkaatbdkaat
    edited December 2008
    Alright well thanks for all your help man... I'll just do a repair installation.
  • sj555sj555
    edited December 2008
    Hi, I am having the same problem:

    WINDOWS COULD NOT START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR CORRUPT,
    \WINDOWS\SYSTEM 32\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.

    After reading info on various websites, I see two main pieces of advice:

    Either use the Recovery Console, as per Repair Windows XP in Eight Commands,

    OR select "To set up Windows XP now press Enter" instead of using the Recovery Console, and later (after accepting the licensing agreement), then press the R key to "repair the selected Windows XP installation" - which seems to be a more automated repair process than using the eight commands in the Recovery Console (reference site: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-repair-Windows-XP-t138.html)

    My question is this: Can anyone explain which option is "better" and less risky? I want to try to access my data, so my biggest concern is losing it or writing over my personal files. However, I'm not experienced enough to be able to judge which of these two options (Recovery Console vs. XP set up and then "automated" repair) I should be trying first.

    I should add that I know my problem is not malware related, and am prepared for all methods to fail since my problem is likely harddisk related. (Ok, I was a clutz and dropped my laptop). Is there no hope for me? I would prefer to try something on my own first before bringing it to some repair shop and paying $$$, but wonder if the repair shop is my only real choice.

    Thanks for any and all help, and let me know if I need to start a new thread for this instead.

    -sj
  • bdkaatbdkaat
    edited December 2008
    I'm in the same bag as I need the stuff on my hard drive

    As far as I know, you can't go wrong with the recovery console as long as you follow the steps right and don't mistype anything. Deleting the Boot.ini won't get rid of any personal data.

    And I think it's the same with the repair installation except I remember that it informed me that my "My Documents" folder might be overwritten.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    Try the windows repair in 8 steps first. You absolutely CANNOT lose any data this way unless you enter a command that I did not specify.

    As far as a repair install is concerned, there is a CHANCE of losing data if you do not select the REPAIR feature when prompted with "repair the selected Windows XP installation." Some people have mistakenly formatted their hard drive again (uh oh), but due caution will preserve all your files and fix the issue.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited December 2008
    I have never lost any data using the 8 Commands method or Repair Installation. Not once.
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