missing or corrupt SYSTEM file

[Dan]

Several months ago I updated an old PC form WIN98 to XP HOme and it was working find until yesterday when it displayed a message that :

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

and suggests repairing it with the Windows CD using option R but when I run the XP CD I get as far as:

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C:\WINDOWS

Which Windows Installation would you like to log onto
(To cancel, press ENTER)?

.... but after I type 1 and enter nothing happens except the CDROM drive light freezes.

I can boot the computer with a WIN98 recovery disk.. is there anyway to obtain the SYSTEM file to put on a CD which I could then copy to the hard drive? I can't copy it off my other computer since it says the file is in use.

[Kaylene aka Taurarian]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b307654
Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
See also
How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
> Several months ago I updated an old PC form WIN98 to XP HOme and it was
working find until yesterday when it displayed a message that :
>
> Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>
> and suggests repairing it with the Windows CD using option R but when I run
the XP CD I get as far as:
>
> The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
> Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
>
> 1: C:\WINDOWS
>
> Which Windows Installation would you like to log onto
> (To cancel, press ENTER)?
>
> ... but after I type 1 and enter nothing happens except the CDROM drive light
freezes.
>
> I can boot the computer with a WIN98 recovery disk.. is there anyway to obtain
the SYSTEM file to put on a CD which I could then copy to the hard drive? I
can't copy it off my other computer since it says the file is in use.

[Taurarian]

How desperate are you, perhaps a repair install - may or
may not work since you have a corrupted registry?
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm

>-----Original Message-----
>Thank you for your reply. However, as I mentioned the
recovery console freezes when you press and enter 1. And
since I can't start windows I can't install it to the
boot menu. Is there any furhter recourse?
>
>
>----- Kaylene aka Taurarian wrote: -----
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
> How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That
Prevents Windows XP from Starting
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%
3ben-us%3b307654
> Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
> See also
> How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
scid=kb;en-us;822705
>
> "Dan" > wrote
in message
> news:94584BD4-A07E-44A6-A2ED-
...
> > Several months ago I updated an old PC form WIN98
to XP HOme and it was
> working find until yesterday when it displayed a
message that :
> >> Windows could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt:
> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
> >> and suggests repairing it with the Windows CD
using option R but when I run
> the XP CD I get as far as:
> >> The Recovery Console provides system repair and
recovery functionality.
> > Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and
restart the computer.
> >> 1: C:\WINDOWS
> >> Which Windows Installation would you like to log
onto
> > (To cancel, press ENTER)?
> >> ... but after I type 1 and enter nothing happens
except the CDROM drive light
> freezes.
> >> I can boot the computer with a WIN98 recovery
disk.. is there anyway to obtain
> the SYSTEM file to put on a CD which I could then
copy to the hard drive? I
> can't copy it off my other computer since it says
the file is in use.
>.
>

[Dan]

Thank you for your reply. However, as I mentioned the recovery console freezes when you press and enter 1. And since I can't start windows I can't install it to the boot menu. Is there any furhter recourse?


----- Kaylene aka Taurarian wrote: -----

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b307654
Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
See also
How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705

"Dan" > wrote in message
...
> Several months ago I updated an old PC form WIN98 to XP HOme and it was
working find until yesterday when it displayed a message that :
>> Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>> and suggests repairing it with the Windows CD using option R but when I run
the XP CD I get as far as:
>> The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
> Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
>> 1: C:\WINDOWS
>> Which Windows Installation would you like to log onto
> (To cancel, press ENTER)?
>> ... but after I type 1 and enter nothing happens except the CDROM drive light
freezes.
>> I can boot the computer with a WIN98 recovery disk.. is there anyway to obtain
the SYSTEM file to put on a CD which I could then copy to the hard drive? I
can't copy it off my other computer since it says the file is in use.