XP Could not start, the following file is missing or corrupt....

[maddogg]

I recently installed software that came with a new digital camcorder. While I was playing back the video something happened and the screen locked up.
I have an optical usb mouse which stays lit up and after this the lights went out on it.
I couldnt figure out how to remedy the situation so I hit the reset switch.
Now I get the following: 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.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

I was directed to this link http://support.microsoft.com/default...en-us%3B307545

I followed these steps :

Boot to the Recovery Console.
At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
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

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


Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.


This is what I got after running this batch file

Now after that didn't fix it I tried to put those files back in there and I get "Access Denied".

Even when I boot from the cd it wont give me the option to select which OS to work on like it did before I ran the batch.

I would greatly appreciate any help.

[CONFUSER]

Wrong solution. Forget consol. Go past that until XP recognizes you have a windows system in say C:, It will ask you if you want to repair it? HIT R. Now if it doesn't find system you are almost screwed. Try to use restore to previus and see if you can get it back. Or if you have it, Boot off a Norton 2002 ( not 2003) and try to get UNRASE file and run it. You may find it or use disk edit and try that way.

Otherwise config is critical and you may be sscrewed. Repair may work.
LUCK

[maddogg]

thanks

So your saying I should just go into "setup", DO NOT mess with file system and it might recognize the installation?



EDIT : Im not real familiar with any of this. Should I install it in a different folder?
Will I lose everything? Or just somethings?
When it says "all applications will be lost" does that just mean all WINDOWS applications, or ALL applications?

[CONFUSER]

WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THE "A" COMMAND. Windows has to be on C: or some other drive. A is your floppy. Please try this. The msoft help file was for experts using recovery console which can be a bitch.



Here is the directions I grabbed from another thread. I suggest you print it out and follow it.

It really is easier than this sounds. I would be too concerned about backing up you files as that doesn't seem to be the issue

Here ya go:

Try this before all else.

A. Boot off of your XP disk.

B. Go through install, past consul, hit upgrade, then it will find your current installation.

C. IMPORTANT STOP HERE. On screen you will see, DO YOU WANT TO REPAIR, HIT THE R KEY. IF YOU DON'T XP WILL OVERWRITE YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM! All of it. Including Mail, etc.

In your case not critical and probably confusing.

SUGGESTION. Prior to this process if you are worried, COPY WHOLESALE YOU Documents and Setting DIR as well AS your ENTIRE WINDOWS Directory to another drive( if you have one, or create C:\TEMP ( you really should have it anyway and copy them there. Then if you err, you can boot off of a 98, NORTON or any boot disk that takes you into dos.

D. Be sure you have a copy of attrib in your root. Then type C:\attrib -r -h -s C:\Windows /s ( to remove system read only and hidden attributes. Then DELETE the Windows Directory. Then do C:\attrib -r -h -h C:\docum~1 /s or try C:\Documents and settings. DELETE DIRECTORY. IF YOU GET MESSAGE FILE NOT FOUND, create a simple autoexec.bat file with just these entries

@set prompt=$p$g
@SET dircmd=/p/a/oen

After creation run it. In fact to make this whole process easier add these two lines: so it should look like this:

@set prompt=$p$g
@SET dircmd=/p/a/oen
C:\attrib -r -h -s C:\Windows /s
C:\attrib -r -h -h C:\docum~1 /s
C:\attrib -r -h -h C:\Documents and settings /s
Then Copy from your temp file both windows and Doc settings to your C:\ ( ROOT). At least you will be restored.


XP will then try to repair ( usually successfully your system). After your may after reinstall all patches as well as SP1 if your VERSION is not SP1. Be sure to get all FIXES. There are now patches to patches!

[maddogg]

hey man, I really appreciate all the help, but it just seems like that is way over my head.

I havent ruled out giving it a try, I just want to make sure if that gets me into a deeper situation, that I can get out of it.

Do you know what would happen if I installed windows in a different folder rather than overwriting the current install?

[CONFUSER]

Yes I do.

A: YOU MUST NOT VAN NOT DO NOT Install ANOTHER OPERATING SYSTEM ON THE SAME DRIVE AS XP. TRUST ME DO NOT. If you have a D drive, You can install a new copy there, but not on C:.

Please don't make a big deal of this. You really only have three choices.

A> Try to restore in same mode. ( But I assume you can't get into XP at all.

B: Try to repair it
1. Put XP DISK in Drive ( assuming your bios is set to boot from CD 1st.

2. When it asks to boot off of CD saw yes ( hit enter)
3. It will then move into setup.
4. It will do its thing and in a bit ( you've been there, you will see repair with disk, then console. Say NO to console.
5. Setup will continue. Until it reaches a point where ( I HOPE) it will say, checking for current Windows installations ( hence warning about install on same drive DON'T!
6. CROSS YOUR FINGERS that it finds WINDOWS ON DRIVE C:. If it does, (YEA), you will be asked if you want to REPAIR the instalation? HIT THE LETTER R ( Repair) just as it says on the screen.
7. IF IT DOES NOT FIND AN INSTALLATION ( YOU ARE IN DEEP DO DO. As you will have to reinstall XP on DRIVE C: or if you want on Drive D: .

D> STOP IF SETUP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE YOU WINDOWS SETUP AND QUIT THE SETUP. WHY YOU ASK? Because if you do a new setup on C: all your setting in Windows and Documents and setting INCLUDING ALL YOUR EMAIL WILL BE GONE!

E. Ergo you now have two choiCes. I recommend this 1st as you appear already to do a clean reinstall. The reason I said stop was to protect you from loosing your email and address book ( TRUST ME I HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY, having both betaed XP and do the same damn thing loosing almost all of my email not backup up ( PLUS ALL MY FAVORITES ETC. So if you still have around an old 98 CD or Norton. Use it to boot into dos. To stop norton from running AV on boot, hit CTR + A. You will then be in DRIVE A:

TYPE IN DRIVE C:

TYPE IN PATH=C:\;C:\Windows;A:\ and then press enter.

If needed and you can not see documents and setting as they are system files and hidden ( use the autoexec.bat I wrote that will both display hidden files, using ANY version of attrib.exe, will change there properties so you can copy C:\Documents and settings. If you only want your mail and are using outlook express, navigate to
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\A CODE LIKE THIS ( EACH IS UNIQUE: {C1FE0ED0-73CC-4A59-B8B6-25CFAEFB0949}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

YOUR EMAIL LIES THERE. Copy the Outlook express Folder to C:\temp. to create C:\Temp

be in the C: root

and type MD C:\temp and press enter

OK.

Now you can go back and run setup again over your existing setup and then after that open outlook express and use the IMPORT FUNCTION to import you old email in TEMp by navigating with the browse bar to C:\Temp\Outlook express. Check all folders and tis back.

That's all i can help with except to tell you to call MIcrosoft. I have install XP at least 50-100 times. I HOPE REPAIR recognizes you existing Windows configuration and you will be home free.

Good Luck

[maddogg]

check it out...

It says nothing about repairing that install.

[CONFUSER]

OK you are in deep do do. If you want to save your mail you have two choices.

A: Do what I suggested. B: Install XP on drive D:. Then import your mail and addressbook from C:. Now install XP on C: ( Yes you can have two XP installions, BUT NOT ON THE SAME DRIVE.

B. After install on C:, import mail etc into C:. Delete the Drive D. XP install, and be sure to edit in XP before you delete it ( you can't uninstall it.

YOUR BOOT.INI in DRIVE C: ( It will be there regardless of your XP installation. it will look like this

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect ( THIS IS D XP
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows
THIS IS C XP.

DELELTE THE LINE FOR D ( If you have 2 Drives D: Will say Partition (1)

and change the default to the same as C, i.e. Disk (0) Partition (o).

Now you can delete D: XP/ I'd keep the D documenta and setting till you are sure you got out everything you want.

Afte all this, set a system restore point! and make a full backup of you WINDOWS and Documents and settings.

I forgor one other major thing. If you are following convention, all your documents are also in C:\Documents and settings\My Documents. If you install on Drive D you can just copy and paste them into my documents on Drive D, Documents and setting. If you do now have a Drive D: ( Now clearing for you the preferred choice, Get a copy of partion Magic and Create a Drive D:, It is easy to do.

GOOD LUCK.

[maddogg]

let me say that I am not concerned with losing mail or really any other settings. I dont use outlook or address book.
All I want to do is to get back in there and back some stuff up.

I will take your advice about Partition Magic, in fact, I already have it, just havent used it.

If I overwrite the install will all my non-windows applications and files still be there?

I am very thankful for all the advice you have given me.

[CONFUSER]

Yes:

Your files NOT in Directories and Settings or Windows will remain. If in fact you are doing a Clean Install, you will still have to reinstall all apps as they must be registered in the registry, but your data and files will remain.

What I suggest you do before anything ( I don't know the size of your hard drive, but I would use partition magic to do several things before you do a new install.

A. I would Make Drive C: about 18MB, that should hold WINDOWS as well as your program files and I assume OFFICE XP PRo.

B. I would then make addition volume ( up to your drive size) between 15 MB or 20 MB. ( NOTE I strong suggest for the nonce that you use FAT 32. You really don't get a lot of benefit on a home PC from NFTS partitions.

C. The last volume you format should be VERY SMALL. All you will place there is A PERMANENT SWAP FILE. While MSOFT suggest 1.5 times your Member i.e. if you have 256 then your swap is recommended to be 1.5 time that ( MINIMUM). I suggest 2 x times that ie, 512, if your have 512 ( I STRONGLY RECOMMEND 512, then swap should be 1024 MAX AND MINIMUM. You do that by going to control panel, System, Advanced Options, Performance, Chose what you want, the less pretty stuff you have, the faster XP will run, THEN HIT the ADVANCED TAB, GO TO the very bottom "Virtual Memory" and uncheck"System Managed size, select Custom Size, select your last partition you made ( the small one, and drop in 2 X times your memory into both boxes. Now your swamp drive WILL NOT GET FRAGMENTED, and you also will run faster. Hit set, ignore any windows warning and DO NOT REBOOT YET. Also delete the swap file in C:, move to C:, delete it by saying NO swap file and hit set. Again do not reboot.

D: Now I suggest you Install Windows on Drive D:, just to get you going. Then all you docs and setting can be moved. In fact I suggest , after a good virus scan, ( and deleting all files windows XP installs, Ie net meeting, movie maker etc, ) that you move all the contents of Drive C: except windows, to anyplace you have room, just don't move stuff you will have to reinstall. NOW, the really desirable things to insure a really clean install, is to reformat DRIVE C:, using XP, IGNORE the warnings. Don't use partition magic as it only does a quick format.

E: Now reinstall XP on a fresh clean C:, on reinstall CHOOSE DRIVE C: as windows may recognize XP on D: or not. Now after reinstall, Make sure you have all your driver disks , if needed available. Go to system ( Control Panel and redo swap file stuff again.

G: Now you can copy back your data files etc back to C:. NOW Here is a trick to make your documents safe in the future. There are tons of windows tweaks out there which allow you to change the location of both your temp file and the location of MY DOCUMENTS. The Free One is XTEQ at w*w.xteq.com. It is free and has 100's of tweaks. Don't get carried away until you really know what you are doing, but do a search in XTEQ, for locations or files. Go the the tweak that tells you the location of your files. ( You can also do this with the free TweakUI from Microsoft. In either case I would set my Temp Directory your favorite place, C:\windows\Temp! And Change My Documents to D:\My Documents.. Now residing on D:, they will be safe in the future.

H: After getting anything useful you have in D:\Windows or D:\Docs and setting.) Should be nothing as you just installed it to move stuff off of C:. Then Go to C:\Documents and setting and CUT C:\My Documents onto D:, along with any you had saved out before from C: ( YOU DATA FILES FROM BEFORE ARE THERE>)
Delete D:\Windows and D:\Documents and settings. ( If windows had recognized the XP setup on D: edit the IN file I referred to killing the indication on DRIVE D:.

I: Now set a system restore point AFTER rebooting. You now have a fresh install on C: and your data is safe on D: along with anything else you moved to C:.

J: Now before you start reinstalling ( if your XP disk isn't SP1, update your system to SP1, then on reboot, get all the additional fixes posted since SP1 ( ton, but mandatory and recommended, pick and choose. Set another system restore point ( that's part of why the drives are so large to contain restore stuff. Now you have a clean machine updated.

K: Here's the tough part. Reinstall your OLDER apps 1st as well as checking for new updated drivers for any peripherals, printers, scanners, you camera, etc.

The idea is to go from older to newer apps, and as you do each one, go the the vendor and update each one, if there are updatabile. Then the next. Till you are done.

XP will set a system restore point on every driver update.

NOW A REAL WARNING AND SUGGESTION. I will not work with any client who does not have a back up device to save his WINDOWS, Data files and Settings.

You have a couple of choices. While you can do it on CD ROM or DVD, the cheapest ( in the long run) and perhaps safest and FASTEST, is to buy an external USB2 drive, either Western Digital or Maxtor ( same company, WD is cheaper now and I suggest a 120. I know your drive is probably smaller. Price about $200 - $250 plus rebates. Go to best buy as they may no be the cheapest, but they have great service. If you don't have a USB2 on your PC you need to get a USB2 card. Cheap. Then using the BUILt in windows BACKUP, use it to first do a total backup ( selectively ( ie not Recycle bin, temp files, Internet temp director ( C:\Docs and setting, . Then you can set it to do incremental backs ups as often as you want. I don't know you machine speed, but if it's over 1.2 gig and you have 512 memory ( HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR XP. And a cheap up grade under a $100.o) you can set the timing of your incremental back ups to run every hour and won't know the difference. Also the USB2 drive is so fast ( 2.5 times faster than a $650 SCSI tape backup, *( you can back up roughly 12 gig in 21 minutes or 36 in about an hour.) Fast huh?

When the external gets filled. Erase it after setting a new restore point, do a full backup and start over.

NOW your ARE VERY SAFE. And probably will not have to go through this shit again, but you probably will at some point. Also I assume you know it, but if you do not, only uninstall anything using the Add/Remove apps tool in Control Panel.

I also suggest and Microsoft didn't think people were intelligent, copy the DAMN windows explorer from the crazy accessory folder to your desktop as well as the Control panel. You can also drag copying of them to the tool bar on the bottom of you screen as well as other apps you use a lot, like quick books.

Now you have $300 of advice ( but use your head, and next time, check and insure that the KB you use is directed at you. If in doubt for FREE, you Microsoft email support and get answers or make a post here, or subscribe the the open Microsoft newsgroup, select your category and subscribe and post. You'll get your answer fast.

Good luck.

[trombone646]

i have the same error message

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or currupt: /windows/system32/config/system

knowing this is bad, I want to try and repair it, because it suggests I do so one line down

"you can attempt ot repair this file by starting windows setup using the original setup cd-rom. select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

Ok, so here's the problem, I could easily fix my problem if only my keyboard would work. It wont for some reason, and I can't input anything into the computer w/o the keyboard. I tried another keyboard, I tried restarting, making sure the connection is solid. I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

[sethi_k]

do chkdsk /p and chkdsk /r from recovery console

[sethi_k]

do chkdsk /p and chkdsk /r from recovery console and than you will get the option to do a repair

[cssnetworks]

Since this thread is top of Google results for this problem, I thought it would be a good place to share my 2-minute fix for this common problem.

As an on-the-road IT person, I come across this every now and then. I might go to an office and they'll have a list of things for me to fix, one of which is the boss' kids laptop with this exact error.

My fix involves loading the registry hive into another computer, then unloading it, and thus repairing it. I've been doing this for a couple of years and it works every time.

See here: http://www.css-networks.com/?p=53

Obviously as an on-the-road techie, I am geared-up for plugging laptop & desktop HDDs into my laptop without any messing about. If you're a home user without a spare PC or a USB to SATA/IDE cable & laptop, it might not be the ideal solution for you.

All the best.

cheers,
Carl