Question

C:\windows\system32\config\system missing or corrupt

Asked by: ddrummer

Running Windows XP SP3. Booted up system and received this error message. No new hardware or sotware installations for over a year. Ran chkdsk /p and it reported errors. Searched internet and Microsoft website. There are a tremendous number of posts, but no clear cut answers. Some advice has led to users not being able to access their systems. I can use Windows XP CD to access Recovery Console, but don't know what to do. Thanks.

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Asked On
2008-12-21 at 12:33:21ID24001973
Topic

Microsoft Operating Systems

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: andrew_aj1Posted on 2008-12-21 at 12:39:48ID: 23223087

What you need to do is a repair install of Windows. The following guide from Microsoft should help you do this:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Good luck.

 

by: mpcmanagedPosted on 2008-12-21 at 12:39:56ID: 23223088

boot off the windows xp cd and go to recovery console by pressing r when prompted to do so.

this will drop you to the recovery console command prompt.

then type chkdsk /r

this will repair disk errors. if this doesn't work boot off the cd and chose repair. this is the option after recovery console.

 

by: dorkestraPosted on 2008-12-21 at 13:14:08ID: 23223227

If the chkdsk /r that's already been recommended doesn't work, you're not down to a reinstall.

C:\windows\system32\config\system is one of the files that makes up your registry. If you're getting this error, that likely means that a hard drive sector that contained that file has gone bad. A chkdsk /r may help, but if it doesn't, you can use the following steps to get the computer back to a normal state of operation.  I've done this many times myself for the same problem, and it's always worked quite well. It's very important that you don't skip ANY of the steps in here. If you have any questions about it, just ask.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Also, if this recovers the system for you I'd still look into getting a new hard drive and ghosting that thing. When hard drives start to fail like that, it's only a matter of time...

 

by: ddrummerPosted on 2008-12-25 at 07:47:45ID: 31528046

correct and simple answer ...thanks

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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