XP will not boot-files missing

[George]

Xp will not boot I get messages that files are missing. I
restored several but could not find c:\windows\system32
\config\system on the xp cd. I assume that more will be
missing.
How can I reinstall or use the xp feature that goes back
to previous working version if I cannot get it to boot. I
don't want to lose all my data or settings. Will an
install overwrite everything? Probably one of the viruses
or worms or possibly a bad hard drive.
HELP!!!

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

There is a rather lengthy procedure to fix the problem you are having (a
damaged registry), read here:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry [Q307545]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

However, you may find it just as easy to do a repair install. Follow these
steps to do a repair install which should preserve your data, settings, and
programs:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM
drive.
2. Restart your computer. If you have to, change the BIOS settings to start
from
the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer again.
3. At the "Welcome to Setup" page, press ENTER.
4. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
5. Use the arrow keys to select the installation of Windows XP that you want
to
repair, and then press R to start the automatic repair process.
6. When Setup is completed, activate Windows XP.

Note that you will need your Product Key for this procedure, so have it
handy before you begin.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"George" > wrote in message
...
> Xp will not boot I get messages that files are missing. I
> restored several but could not find c:\windows\system32
> \config\system on the xp cd. I assume that more will be
> missing.
> How can I reinstall or use the xp feature that goes back
> to previous working version if I cannot get it to boot. I
> don't want to lose all my data or settings. Will an
> install overwrite everything? Probably one of the viruses
> or worms or possibly a bad hard drive.
> HELP!!!

[George]

Strangely that menu option did not come up. The only
choices were to overwrite the windows directory with
possible/probable loss of data or do a new xp install in
another directory. I did the latter. I will still try to
repair the first install with files from the second.
>-----Original Message-----
>Hi,
>
>There is a rather lengthy procedure to fix the problem
you are having (a
>damaged registry), read here:
>
>How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry [Q307545]
>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
>
>However, you may find it just as easy to do a repair
install. Follow these
>steps to do a repair install which should preserve your
data, settings, and
>programs:
>
>1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM
drive or DVD-ROM
>drive.
>2. Restart your computer. If you have to, change the BIOS
settings to start
>from
>the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your
computer again.
>3. At the "Welcome to Setup" page, press ENTER.
>4. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
>5. Use the arrow keys to select the installation of
Windows XP that you want
>to
>repair, and then press R to start the automatic repair
process.
>6. When Setup is completed, activate Windows XP.
>
>Note that you will need your Product Key for this
procedure, so have it
>handy before you begin.
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"George" > wrote in message
...
>> Xp will not boot I get messages that files are missing.
I
>> restored several but could not find c:\windows\system32
>> \config\system on the xp cd. I assume that more will be
>> missing.
>> How can I reinstall or use the xp feature that goes back
>> to previous working version if I cannot get it to boot.
I
>> don't want to lose all my data or settings. Will an
>> install overwrite everything? Probably one of the
viruses
>> or worms or possibly a bad hard drive.
>> HELP!!!
>
>
>.
>