Corrupt/missing file in \WINDOWS|system32\config\SYSYTEM

[jana]

Hello.

Booted up my desktop 2001 Dell dimension 8100 to find a message:
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\WINDOW|system32\config\SYSTEM"

Recently upgraded to XP Professional SP2 from Window ME.

The next part of the message reads: "You can attempt to repair this file by
starting Window setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the
first screen to start repair."

Action: I inserted XP SP2 upgrade CD as instructed. Nothing happened.
Pressed F8. Safe mode does not appear, computer just reboots back to error
message screen. When pressing F2, I get a screen with time, date, drive,
boot sequence, sys memory, cpu info as well as other system info.

Went to MS download for floppy (Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install) and says I need a higher
capacity floppy to accomendate download. I have blank TDK high Density
formated disks and they aren't working for the download. Any suggestions
there?

Hmmmm. I cannot get out of the error message screen. Any suggestions?

Reviewed: How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP
from starting. MS article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/. But
cannot even get to step #2.

Checked: CD player in computer in recent days has worked properly (plays
music, records data files).

Thank you in advance for your help.
--
jana

[KLHNet]

1. Make sure that your computer's BIOS has been configured to boot from
CD-ROM a drive. (Check the manufactures instructions for the particular
settings for your BIOS version.)
2. Make sure that the CD you are using is “Bootable”.

ken

"jana" wrote:

> Hello.
>
> Booted up my desktop 2001 Dell dimension 8100 to find a message:
> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
> \WINDOW|system32\config\SYSTEM"
>
> Recently upgraded to XP Professional SP2 from Window ME.
>
> The next part of the message reads: "You can attempt to repair this file by
> starting Window setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the
> first screen to start repair."
>
> Action: I inserted XP SP2 upgrade CD as instructed. Nothing happened.
> Pressed F8. Safe mode does not appear, computer just reboots back to error
> message screen. When pressing F2, I get a screen with time, date, drive,
> boot sequence, sys memory, cpu info as well as other system info.
>
> Went to MS download for floppy (Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
> Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install) and says I need a higher
> capacity floppy to accomendate download. I have blank TDK high Density
> formated disks and they aren't working for the download. Any suggestions
> there?
>
> Hmmmm. I cannot get out of the error message screen. Any suggestions?
>
> Reviewed: How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP
> from starting. MS article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/. But
> cannot even get to step #2.
>
> Checked: CD player in computer in recent days has worked properly (plays
> music, records data files).
>
> Thank you in advance for your help.
> --
> jana

[jana]

Hello. Thank you for your prompt response.

To answer your inquiry, I think my BIOS is just about out of date, but still
bootable.
Can it be updated on this old system? If so, where do I go and what do I get?


SYSTEM/PROBLEM: Dell (2001) Desktop dimension 8100. Registry crash. It was
somewhat recovered with a re-install of XP.

Now I can not boot computer without the XP upgrade disk.

ACTION:
at MS the procedures of "How to recover from a corrupted registry that
prevents Windows XP from starting- Article ID : 307545 READ in part:

"WARNING: Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your
computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM
installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist
previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you
may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original
registry hives."


I had already gone into the registry (step 1 of repair) and when proceeding
to step 2, I could not get into safe mode by pressing F8 on the reboot.

After trying to reboot into safe mode I could only reach the recovery
Console - it asked again for an adminstrative password and I did not have
one, therefore I was locked out. Hmmm...DELL must have an OEM-installed
operating system (called Windows ME) on my computer. This is only a wild
guess... what other reason would I be locked out?

Anyway, I have to leave in the XP CD in to boot to the desktop. Once it is
removed, the computer will not boot to Windows on its own. I just get a black
screen saying "press F1 to reboot or F2 for setup ultility." When I press F1
there is no response (when XP upgrade CD is out of the cd drive).
When I put the XP upgrade CD in the Cd drive, a black screen automatically
reads: "Push any key to boot from CD..." It then asks for a password
(required at this last re-install) and the desktop then opens up.

I only had the option of re-installing the XP upgrade from scatch. After
re-installation, the original desktop returned and all of my files, outlook
express, virus protection, internet connection, etc. I only had to put in all
the MS XP critical security updates again.

At this point I cannot boot the computer to windows without the XP upgrade
disk in the CD Drive!

What do you suggest my next steps should be? How do I get XP to boot without
the use of the CD? I searched the MS knowledge base, but was not sure what
phrase/words to place in the search.

I did not continue with the steps of part 2-4 of Article ID : 307545. Will
this help with the booting of Windows or is there another can of worms i need
to munch on?


Thanks in advance for your help.
--
jana


"KLHNet" wrote:

> 1. Make sure that your computer's BIOS has been configured to boot from
> CD-ROM a drive. (Check the manufactures instructions for the particular
> settings for your BIOS version.)
> 2. Make sure that the CD you are using is “Bootable”.
>
> ken
>
> "jana" wrote:
>
> > Hello.
> >
> > Booted up my desktop 2001 Dell dimension 8100 to find a message:
> > "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
> > \WINDOW|system32\config\SYSTEM"
> >
> > Recently upgraded to XP Professional SP2 from Window ME.
> >
> > The next part of the message reads: "You can attempt to repair this file by
> > starting Window setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the
> > first screen to start repair."
> >
> > Action: I inserted XP SP2 upgrade CD as instructed. Nothing happened.
> > Pressed F8. Safe mode does not appear, computer just reboots back to error
> > message screen. When pressing F2, I get a screen with time, date, drive,
> > boot sequence, sys memory, cpu info as well as other system info.
> >
> > Went to MS download for floppy (Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
> > Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install) and says I need a higher
> > capacity floppy to accomendate download. I have blank TDK high Density
> > formated disks and they aren't working for the download. Any suggestions
> > there?
> >
> > Hmmmm. I cannot get out of the error message screen. Any suggestions?
> >
> > Reviewed: How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP
> > from starting. MS article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/. But
> > cannot even get to step #2.
> >
> > Checked: CD player in computer in recent days has worked properly (plays
> > music, records data files).
> >
> > Thank you in advance for your help.
> > --
> > jana