Boot Failure Using XP Pro SP2

[Ken]

Anyone have an idea o=ADn how to repair the Windows XP Pro=20
SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but=20
whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the=20
following error message:

"Windows could not start bcause the following file is=20
missing or corrupt:
Windows\System32\Config\System
You can attempt to repair this file by starting=20
Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start repair."

Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com=20
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -=20
307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents=20
Windows XP from starting."

I tried this cut and past method of substituting the=20
files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,=20
software, sam, security, and default) for those in the=20
c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o=ADnce again,=20
instead of starting, I receive the error message noted=20
above.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ken

[Bryan Martin]

I beleve this to be due to a virus as I recently had to clean up a clients
pc w/the same symptoms. My only option was a in place install. I also did
the steps you show below but after the install I notice that the virus had
removed alot of the files needed for the OS.

Bryan Martin


"Ken" > wrote in message
...
Anyone have an idea o*n how to repair the Windows XP Pro
SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but
whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the
following error message:

"Windows could not start bcause the following file is
missing or corrupt:
Windows\System32\Config\System
You can attempt to repair this file by starting
Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start repair."

Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents
Windows XP from starting."

I tried this cut and past method of substituting the
files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,
software, sam, security, and default) for those in the
c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o*nce again,
instead of starting, I receive the error message noted
above.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ken

[Ken]

Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP=20
Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP=20
CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,=20
I get an error message that a newer version of XP already=20
exists.

>-----Original Message-----
>I beleve this to be due to a virus as I recently had to=20
clean up a clients
>pc w/the same symptoms. My only option was a in place=20
install. I also did
>the steps you show below but after the install I notice=20
that the virus had
>removed alot of the files needed for the OS.
>
>Bryan Martin

>
>"Ken" > wrote in=20
message
...
>Anyone have an idea o=ADn how to repair the Windows XP Pro
>SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but
>whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the
>following error message:
>
> "Windows could not start bcause the following file is
>missing or corrupt:
> Windows\System32\Config\System
> You can attempt to repair this file by starting
>Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
> ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start=20
repair."
>
>Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com
>Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
>307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents
>Windows XP from starting."
>
>I tried this cut and past method of substituting the
>files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,
>software, sam, security, and default) for those in the
>c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o=ADnce again,
>instead of starting, I receive the error message noted
>above.
>
>Any assistance will be appreciated.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Ken
>
>
>.
>

[Herb Fritatta]

Ken wrote:

> Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
> Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
> CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
> I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
> exists.
>
>

You're probably screwed. Unless you have a slipstreamed install CD you
won't be able to do a repair install. Ironically, the
corrupted-registry issue that has befallen you was a problem with with
the original release of XP, and was fixed with SP1. Maybe SP2 unfixed
it. BTW, having a slipstreamed disk didn't help me--I wound up having to
wipe and clean install. Good luck.

[Bryan Martin]

See if this works for you

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&c2coff=1&selm=O65U%23t51CHA.2868%40TK2MSFTNGP12

Bryan Martin


"Ken" > wrote in message
...
Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
exists.

>-----Original Message-----
>I beleve this to be due to a virus as I recently had to
clean up a clients
>pc w/the same symptoms. My only option was a in place
install. I also did
>the steps you show below but after the install I notice
that the virus had
>removed alot of the files needed for the OS.
>
>Bryan Martin

>
>"Ken" > wrote in
message
...
>Anyone have an idea o*n how to repair the Windows XP Pro
>SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but
>whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the
>following error message:
>
> "Windows could not start bcause the following file is
>missing or corrupt:
> Windows\System32\Config\System
> You can attempt to repair this file by starting
>Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
> ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start
repair."
>
>Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com
>Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
>307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents
>Windows XP from starting."
>
>I tried this cut and past method of substituting the
>files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,
>software, sam, security, and default) for those in the
>c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o*nce again,
>instead of starting, I receive the error message noted
>above.
>
>Any assistance will be appreciated.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Ken
>
>
>.
>

[Bryan Martin]

If what I sent doesn't work you should be able to go into the recovery
console and remove the "windows" directory.


"Herb Fritatta" > wrote in message
...
> Ken wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
> > Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
> > CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
> > I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
> > exists.
> >
> >
>
> You're probably screwed. Unless you have a slipstreamed install CD you
> won't be able to do a repair install. Ironically, the
> corrupted-registry issue that has befallen you was a problem with with
> the original release of XP, and was fixed with SP1. Maybe SP2 unfixed
> it. BTW, having a slipstreamed disk didn't help me--I wound up having to
> wipe and clean install. Good luck.

[Rock]

Ken wrote:

> Thanks for the raply Bryan. But after upgrading to XP
> Pro SP 2, how did you reinstall XP from the original XP
> CD-ROM? Whenever I try the install option frome the CD,
> I get an error message that a newer version of XP already
> exists.
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I beleve this to be due to a virus as I recently had to
>
> clean up a clients
>
>>pc w/the same symptoms. My only option was a in place
>
> install. I also did
>
>>the steps you show below but after the install I notice
>
> that the virus had
>
>>removed alot of the files needed for the OS.
>>
>>Bryan Martin

>>
>>"Ken" > wrote in
>
> message
>
...
>>Anyone have an idea o*n how to repair the Windows XP Pro
>>SP2 registry? Have been using SP2 for about 2 weeks, but
>>whenever I now try and start the computer, I get the
>>following error message:
>>
>> "Windows could not start bcause the following file is
>>missing or corrupt:
>> Windows\System32\Config\System
>> You can attempt to repair this file by starting
>>Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-
>> ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to start
>
> repair."
>
>>Tried this without success. Then went to Microsoft.com
>>Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
>>307545, "How to recover a corrupted registry that prvents
>>Windows XP from starting."
>>
>>I tried this cut and past method of substituting the
>>files in the c:\windows\repair directory (system,
>>software, sam, security, and default) for those in the
>>c:\windows\system32\config directory. But o*nce again,
>>instead of starting, I receive the error message noted
>>above.
>>
>>Any assistance will be appreciated.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Ken

Create a slipstreamed windows install disk with SP2. Then do the repair
installation with that.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm