sp2 causes corrupt windows\blah\system

[reet]

ok, I downloaded and installed the windows xp service pack 2. now when my computer reboots it says:

windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system

I put the windows xp cd in and went to repair. but when it shows the windows file, it is showing it as F:\windows not c:\

it will not repair, and when I choose install, it says that it cannot install on the partition, and that I need to delete the partion and create a new one. if I do that, I will lose everything right?????

any options, before I do that?

[Panama Red]

During the SP2 install, you were given the option to save files for uninstall of SP2 if you chose to later. If you said yes, follow this removal guide and see if it fixes your problem.

"If your computer refuses to boot after installation of SP2, put
your XP installation disc in the CD or DVD drive. Start the computer.
When prompted, press a key to boot from the CD

When you are given the choice of starting the Recovery Console,
press R. Type the number that corresponds to your installation
of Windows. Press Enter.

At the prompt, enter the Administrator password (if you have one)
and press Enter.

Once in Recovery console, enter these lines. Press Enter after each:
--cd $NtServicePackUninstall$\Spuninst
--batch spuninst.txt
--exit

Remove the XP disc and reboot the computer. Assuming the computer
reboots, click Start>>Run. Enter cmd in the box and press OK. At the
command prompt, type the following commands. Press Enter after each:
--cd %Windir%\$NtServicePackUninstall$\Spuninst
--spuninst.exe

That should uninstall SP2."

(credit to Kim Komando's Newsletter for this guide)

[reet]

hubby says that it did not ask him if he wanted to make a backup when installing SP2. also when I get to the batch line of:
Once in Recovery console, enter these lines. Press Enter after each:
--cd $NtServicePackUninstall$\Spuninst
--batch spuninst.txt
--exit

I end up in a continual loop of "access is denied" and I can only reboot to get out of it.

[Panama Red]

My wife's, nephew's wife ran into the same problem last week and after talking with MS, they told her she was going to have to reformat and reinstall XP. Good news was she had followed my suggestion and kept XP on a separate partition. Didn't lose any personal files on other partitions. If you have data/files you want to keep, I'd install that hard drive as a slave on another system running XP and save the files/pictures/etc. you want. Then put it back in the present system, reformat and reinstall. Unless someone else has a better suggestion, I don't know of any way out of your predicament.

[reet]

I tried putting the HD from hubby's computer into mine as a slave. My computer shows it in the device manager, but will not assign it a drive letter. It also shows the complete 120G as available. It looks as if everything is lost off of it. I am trying to just reformat and reinstall XP but am getting blue screens of death. Wonder if the HD is going bad???? Already had to change the powersupply thanks to our glorious Craighead Electric for trimming trees and getting into the power lines and causing power losses.