i really need help!

callmescratch

hi, i'm in a bit of a panic at the moment and i'd really appreciate some help.
when i start up my pc i get the following error message:

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

it goes on to suggest booting from my windows cd into the recovery console to attempt to repair the file.

well i did this and ran "chkdsk" but it didnt find any problems.
should i do something else in recovery?

please don't tell me i'm ****ed.

i'm running XP pro btw
i had my hard drive in a mates pc for the weekend, could this have done something?

cheers

Zonko

So, have you actually re-installed windows yet or not?

SantaHoe

Try holding F8 while/before XP boots, and chose "Last known good configuration" from the menu, it didn't work for me the last time I dealt with this problem, but it's definitly worth a try.
Otherwise I'd just reinstall XP from scratch... as far as I recall \config\system is your registry (or at least a component there of), so you're pretty buggered without it, and you can't just restore it from the CD since it's generated both on install and changed over time.
None of the recovery options I tried were satisfactory either, just ended up with blue screens all the time.

If anyone has a painless way of recovering from this I'd love to hear it, as right now it's the worst thing to see on windows boot that I can think of.

tk123

Reintstall windows and choose repair or "leave file system intact" that way your settings should[1] be ok. In the time you spend troubleshooting you'd probably have the repair done.


[1]See how I said should - thats a trick I use on our helpdesk so I dont get blamed if it doesn't work!!

Webmonkey

Theres a much easier way to do this.

Go into Repair Console.

Type 'CD \' hit return/enter

Now Type 'CD Windows\System32\Config' (Where windows is ur windows dir.) hit return
Now type 'Ren system system.bak2' hit return
type 'Ren system.bak system' hit return

restart and should work fine.

callmescratch

Zonko wrote:

So, have you actually re-installed windows yet or not?

are all your posts this constructive?

i found a solution from experts-exchange which did the job by replacing the system files.

it screwed up all my display settings and i'm having a bitch of a time finding all the right drivers i need to re-install. graphics are stuttering like hell but at least i didnt lose anything

Webmonkey

callmescratch wrote:

are all your posts this constructive?

i found a solution from experts-exchange which did the job by replacing the system files.

it screwed up all my display settings and i'm having a bitch of a time finding all the right drivers i need to re-install. graphics are stuttering like hell but at least i didnt lose anything

My way wud have worked and ud have the system back to normal as it was in 2 seconds ....it might help others

callmescratch

cheers for the suggestions tho