win xp corrupt system file

[xiankai]

everytime i try to start it, it tells me " Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

found the solution, but in the first step, i got stuck. everytime i try to copy the file in the recovery console, it tells me "The file could not be copied."

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

tried starting in safe but didnt work.

what could possibly cause a failure to copy files?

[Digitalic]

You can TRY holding the F8 key during the post and choose "last known good configuration" when the advanced options menu appears but I have my doubts.

[glc]

In that procedure, all commands must be typed at a c:\windows prompt - is this the case? If the prompt is anything else (i.e., if windows is not installed on the c drive), the procedure is invalid and must be modified.

What is the exact prompt you are seeing after you log in with the console?

[macko72]

I'll tell you my personal expirience was: I got same message like you couple times and did try everything but only new formating and installation was helping, then once this has happened just after long working day and I was so pi**d that I took all cables out of comp and almost trow him thru window in my back yard. But left him be till morning put in cables keyboard and prepared my self for another install process but out of blue (while I was talking with wife and forgot to "Press any key..." ) windows boots up normaly like nothing happend.
Problem ocured once more time and I disconnected cables left him for 30 minutes without power pluged cables back in and got windows back!!!

My conclusion was that probably something is wrong with RAM and it was, since that my daughter comp workig fine, but this I'm telling just as example because I resolved that my self and could be unique case I don't know is there is something like this happend to anyone else and I can't recommend this as resolving just as hint!!!

[xiankai]

yes it was the C:WINDOWS prompt.

macko, what message did u encounter? the system file corrupt or the file cannot be copied? and how would propose a more less violent way of give the cables a "workout"? anyway i'll download memtest to check if my memory works.

last known good configuratipn doesnt work too :/

thanks for the input guys

[macko72]

Message was same as yours!!!..... \config\system is missing or corrupted windows coudn't load!!!
And yes nothing works tried safe mode, last good well all options for several times no success!!!

[xiankai]

solved it by installing another OS, copying the registry files to the affected folder, now can boot fine. not sure if it'll continue in the future

how do i remove a OS without formatting, now?

[Digitalic]

Do you mean you re-installed, ran a repair install over the existing OS or installed a parallel system?

IF you installed a parallel system it would be as simple as deleting the old Windows directory. Just make sure you are certain which directory the new system is on.

[xiankai]

i installed a parallel system... but even if i deleted the windows directory, there would be still other files to contend with like the boot.ini , which will still show up as an alternative boot option will it not?

[glc]

You can run msconfig, on the boot.ini tab there's a button to check all boot paths.