Question

Config\System Corrupt

Asked by: rkorts

I get this message a lot on a new computer:

File is missing or corrupt: windows\System32\Config\System.

I went to Microsoft, they have a VERY complex fix procedure.

Then I found this:

If you are getting this error message first diconnect the printer and network cable. After that disconnect all USB devices.
Then Restart your computer and go to BIOS set all USB devices to no boot.

You will not get that error messages again.

Is this true? Since the mouse & keyboard are all usb devices, how can I access the machine with these unplugged?

How does one "go to BIOS & set all usb devices to no boot"?

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Asked On
2008-12-27 at 11:50:35ID24011124
Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
3
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: greyknight17Posted on 2008-12-27 at 11:59:20ID: 23249252

Are you referring to the solution mentioned at:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;307545&

Probably not as complex as it looks, just requires a bunch of typing to repair the problem.

I never heard of a printer and network cable causing this problem. That error message usually indicates some corruption for that system file. You can still try it if you want. You can use a PS/2 keyboard and mouse assuming the computer has ports for them.

Does booting to the last known good configuration work?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2008-12-27 at 12:04:37ID: 23249271

It's not talking about USB keyboard and USB mouse, or probably USB printer either.  It is talking about USB devices that can be configured as bootable, meaning an external USB hard drive, an external USB CD/DVD drive, USB flash drive, etc.  You have to go into the BIOS and see if these are in the list of bootable devices, and then there may be options to disable booting from them.  How you get into the BIOS depends upon what brand of BIOS you have; it varies quite a bit.  But often, just as you are booting up before you get to the Windows screen, you will see some kind of message like "press <Del> to enter setup".  The <Del> key might instead be something like the F2 or F10 function key...

 

by: rkortsPosted on 2008-12-27 at 12:08:55ID: 23249295

greyknight17:

How does one boot to the last known good configuration work? I went to the link, I don't have the option of "F8" when I boot. I can do F2 (Setup) or F12 (Boot Device Menu). There are no choices like Microsoft says.

Yes I am referring to the first link you mentioned. I've been down that path & I don't recall a "Recovery Console" where you can type in.

FYI, I unplugged the network (eithernet) cable & a USB to printer cable & tried to reboot, same error.

 

by: The_Computer_Guru_777Posted on 2008-12-27 at 12:13:50ID: 23249306

This message indicates that your SYSTEM registry hive is corrupt or unreadable. This normally has two causes:

1) A simple corrupt registry hive caused by a power glitch or bad shutdown. Solution: Just restore from a system restore point.

2) A complex corrupt registry caused by a failing hard drive. In which case a restore point may only solve the problem temporarily. Solution: backup all data, replace hard drive, reinstall windows.

With either problem, your best bet for diagnosing and fixing the problem is Ultimate Boot CD fro Windows
http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm

After creating that CD you can boot your PC to it. This will allow you to diagnose your hard drive as either good or bad, and then allow you to restore your registry from a windows restore point.

 

by: rkortsPosted on 2008-12-27 at 12:15:48ID: 23249312

To LeeTutor:

My Setup has this:

Boot Sequence

1. Onboard or USB Floppy Drive
2. Onboard SATA Hard Drive
3. Onboard IDE Hard Drive (Not present)
4. Onboard or USB CD ROM drive
5. USB Device (Not present).

Not sure what that means, this looks correct to me, there is no floppy in the floppy drive.

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2008-12-27 at 12:29:46ID: 23249361

Well, I agree with the other experts that the USB settings shouldn't effect this problem (I wonder where you found the information on the USB settings?), but just to continue to answer your original question:  for 1. and 4. in the boot sequence, there should be some way of setting them (Not Present), although if 4 is an Onboard CD ROM drive rather than USB CD ROM drive, you would not want to set it Not Present.  And there should be a way of shuffling the order of these entries so that, for example, your CD ROM drive becomes first in the sequence and your hard drive second, etc.

As you have a registry "hive" which is corrupt, one thing you could try doing is setting your CD ROM drive as your first bootable device, then booting to the XP installation CD and entering Recovery Console in order to perform a command CHKDSK C: /R at the command prompt.  That MAY get  rid of the corruption and allow you to normally boot again...

 

by: rkortsPosted on 2008-12-27 at 13:43:58ID: 23249610

To all:

I should explain this in more detail. Perhaps it would shed some light.

This is a new (refurbished) computer I just bought. I set it up & installed all the files from the old computer (via an portable external USB hard drive), software, etc. It worked perfectly. I turned it off, unplugged ALL the cables, moved it into the "cart" I'm going to use, reattached all the cables & turned it on. The "File is missing or corrupt: windows\System32\Config\System" came up (death message).

I could see no solution other than to re-install XP.

I put in the Install CD. The first few times, it failed with errors on the CD. I kept trying. Finally it installed all the way. Things were missing, I couldn't connect to the Internet, etc.

I used the 2nd CD which had drivers for the Network, etc. There are 6 files. I installed the "network" one. I could connect to the internet. I installed the others one by one. It had to restart every time. After about the 3rd one, it produced the "death" message again.

I started over installing from the CD. Errors again on the CD. Kept trying again. Finally it installed. I reinstalled the network stuff from the 2nd CD. Audio seemed wierd, so I installed the "Audio" packed from the 2nd CD. The death message occurred.

That's where I am now.

I am inclined to "return the PC to sender" & ask for another one or just get my money back. I am reasonably convinved there is a hardware problem with the CD and/or hard drive.

What do you recommend?

 

by: rkortsPosted on 2008-12-27 at 13:48:17ID: 23249620

To All:

The computer is a Dell GX280 ST PC with Windows XP P4. It has 2GB memory, about 170GB hard drive, usb keyboard & mouse. I also connected an HP Office jet 6110 ix printer (via USB).

It connects via eithernet cable to the router. Internet is via cable modem.

 

by: greyknight17Posted on 2008-12-27 at 13:57:43ID: 23249639

If you want, you can try disconnecting any other devices connected to this computer except the mouse and keyboard. I don't think the GX280 series have PS/2 ports in the back.

To get the last known configuration, just startup the computer and tap the F5 and F8 (usually F8, but I tap both to make sure). A boot menu screen should come up. Choose last known good configuration there.

Otherwise, you can use the first link provided to try repairing it. Only thing is the tedious typing....

 

by: rkortsPosted on 2008-12-27 at 15:29:39ID: 23249861

To greyknight17:

I tried that F5 / F8. I selected last known good configuration. Same problem.

I am going to return it to the seller.

Thanks

 

by: rkortsPosted on 2008-12-27 at 15:30:49ID: 31529140

Thanks for the efforts.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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