Windows could not start because the following file is missing or..

Hi,

My computer was working fine all day. I shut down and when I restarted I
get the following Error:

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

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setip using the
original Setup CD-ROM
Select r at the first screen to start repair.

I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in safe
mode but get the same error message.

Any help at all is greatlt appreciated.

thank you!!

"Headlights514" wrote in message
...
Hi,

My computer was working fine all day. I shut down and when I restarted I
get the following Error:

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

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setip using the
original Setup CD-ROM
Select r at the first screen to start repair.

I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get
the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in
safe
mode but get the same error message.

Any help at all is greatlt appreciated.

thank you!!

You won't be able to boot the machine to Windows in any mode until you fix
the registry problem.

You can use any bootable XP CD, Pro or Home, to get into the recovery
console, so if you can borrow one you can proceed.

If your system has a hard drive larger than 40 gig or so, it's almost
certainly formatted as NTFS so win9x boot disks will be useless- they can't
read NTFS.

You can also find bootable Linux disks (for example, Astrumi) that will
allow you to access NTFS drives and you can perform the tasks there. Also,
if you remove the hard disk and attach it to another XP system, you can move
the registry files around from there.

HTH
-pk

X
I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get
the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in
safe
mode but get the same error message.

Any help at all is greatlt appreciated.

thank you!!

You won't be able to boot the machine to Windows in any mode until you fix
the registry problem.

You can use any bootable XP CD, Pro or Home, to get into the recovery
console, so if you can borrow one you can proceed.


NO... you need the same version AFAIK

Headlights514 wrote:
Hi,

My computer was working fine all day. I shut down and when I restarted I
get the following Error:

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

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setip using the
original Setup CD-ROM
Select r at the first screen to start repair.

I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in safe
mode but get the same error message.



You need to find the CD so you can boot into the Recovery Console.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822705


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

Hi all I found the cd!!!!!!

I pressed r but dont know what to do after that.

any1??

thank you

"Headlights514" wrote:

Hi,

My computer was working fine all day. I shut down and when I restarted I
get the following Error:

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

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setip using the
original Setup CD-ROM
Select r at the first screen to start repair.

I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in safe
mode but get the same error message.

Any help at all is greatlt appreciated.

thank you!!

ok when i do repair i get this message:

Which windows installation would you like to log onto. To cancel, press
Enter? _

has space to type 1

???????

Thank You

"Headlights514" wrote:

Hi,

My computer was working fine all day. I shut down and when I restarted I
get the following Error:

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

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setip using the
original Setup CD-ROM
Select r at the first screen to start repair.

I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in safe
mode but get the same error message.

Any help at all is greatlt appreciated.

thank you!!

Headlights514 wrote:

ok when i do repair i get this message:

Which windows installation would you like to log onto. To cancel,
press Enter? _

has space to type 1

You press the number that corresponds to your operating system. If you
only have one, then obviously it's the number 1. Go to the links that
Bruce Chambers gave you and read them first.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

hi,

when trying to do the repair i get this (blue screen)

a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage
to your computer.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

if this is the first time youve seen this stop error screen, restrat your
computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manuf. for any
windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newy installed hardware or
software. Disable BIOS memory options suc as caching or shadowing. If you
need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer,
press f8 to select advanced startup options, and then select safe mode

thank you





The first link u gave me does not work.



"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

Headlights514 wrote:
Hi,

My computer was working fine all day. I shut down and when I restarted I
get the following Error:

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

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setip using the
original Setup CD-ROM
Select r at the first screen to start repair.

I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to get the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start in safe
mode but get the same error message.



You need to find the CD so you can boot into the Recovery Console.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822705


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

"philo" wrote in message
...

X
I can not locate the cd for windows xp right now. Is there a way to
get
the
file needed to correct this problem another way. I have try to start
in
safe
mode but get the same error message.

Any help at all is greatlt appreciated.

thank you!!

You won't be able to boot the machine to Windows in any mode until you
fix
the registry problem.

You can use any bootable XP CD, Pro or Home, to get into the recovery
console, so if you can borrow one you can proceed.


NO... you need the same version AFAIK

I've done this several times, using XP PRO cds on XP Home etc. Since you're
not doing an install, the setup mismatch doesn't matter.

HTH
-pk