Cannot Boot into Windows ?

[BoboBobo]

Hello

After switch on receive the following message :

C:\Windows\System32\Config\System

is either missing or corrupted.....

Cannot even go into safe mode and last known good config didn't work either ?

I'm hoping someone has experienced this before and has a simple yet effective solution.

Incidentally it was XP pro if that helps.

Cheers.

[Cricket]

Is this a new computer or an existing one?

Is it home built or a name brand computer?

What are the full system specs? List the parts by brand and model.

What did you do to try to fix this so far?

Is the computer overclocked?

Cricket

[glc]

No need for 20 questions on this one, Cricket.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;307545

[BoboBobo]

Originally Posted by glc No need for 20 questions on this one, Cricket. http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;307545

Tried this - didn't get very far.

Booted into recovery console.
The next step was to make a ' tmp ' folder so I typed ' md tmp '
I'm supposed to copy a bunch of files and when I typed the first line i.e.

copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

The computer (or rather the next line in DOS) says it could not be copied ?

So why won't it copy the file ?

[glc]

Maybe the file is totally gone.

cd \windows\system32\config

dir

Is it there?

[BoboBobo]

Originally Posted by glc Maybe the file is totally gone. cd \windows\system32\config dir Is it there?

yes it is ?

[glc]

Were you at a c:\windows> prompt when you typed md tmp?

[BoboBobo]

Originally Posted by glc Were you at a c:\windows> prompt when you typed md tmp?

yes

I have typed md tmp both under C:\Windows and also just under C:\

making the directory isn't a problem just copying the files appears to be tricky

[glc]

You don't have anything to lose - just proceed to the next step.

[BoboBobo]

Hooray some good news !!

I have fixed the computer and I have not lost any data.

All I had to do was boot from xp disc, enter recovery console and type the following :

cd \
cd windows
cd system32
cd config

copy c:\windows\repair\system system

typed exit and re-booted then it just loaded windows as normal..phew !

Hope this info helps somebody else one day !