Booting into Windows XP prevented by missing or corrupt file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fenz
  • Start date Start date
F

Fenz

I cannot boot into windows XP.
Upon XP boot up I get this:

hive? file will not load, root/system32/config/software

This file is visible in windows folder. It must be corrupted?
root/system32/config/software



A real headache. I have win2000 and win XP home edition on a computer I'm
trying to fix. XP will not boot up. I cannot boot into any of the safe modes
(with/without prompts/networking) The "system restore to last good
configuration" option doesn't work either

I try to solve the problem by booting up with the win XP CD in the CD
player, loading windows recovery console from the XP CD. I load up and go to
the recovery console option. I am the administrator and cannot log onto
windows xp there. I never even created a password for win XP. I simply
(without typing in password) push the ENTER button but it does no good

LASTLY, I took this hard drive and installed it as a slave on another
computer with XP. I cannot even reach (access) the administrator files where
the created documents are and I suppose the outlook express data
oo ----->>

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator

If only I could reach the administrator files, I would copy the important
files to another hard drive or the win2000 partition and just re-install
XP. I would not be posting here.

The created documents WERE NOT saved here --->C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users

The created documents WERE NOT saved here --->C:\Documents and
Settings\Default User





Any help much appreciated,
Fenz



EMAIL: zendo7000 - at - yahoo.com
 
Fenz said:
I cannot boot into windows XP.
Upon XP boot up I get this:

hive? file will not load, root/system32/config/software

This file is visible in windows folder. It must be corrupted?
root/system32/config/software



A real headache. I have win2000 and win XP home edition on a computer
I'm trying to fix. XP will not boot up. I cannot boot into any of the
safe modes (with/without prompts/networking) The "system restore to
last good configuration" option doesn't work either

I try to solve the problem by booting up with the win XP CD in the CD
player, loading windows recovery console from the XP CD. I load up
and go to the recovery console option. I am the administrator and
cannot log onto windows xp there. I never even created a password for
win XP. I simply (without typing in password) push the ENTER button
but it does no good

LASTLY, I took this hard drive and installed it as a slave on another
computer with XP. I cannot even reach (access) the administrator
files where the created documents are and I suppose the outlook
express data
oo ----->>

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator

If only I could reach the administrator files, I would copy the
important files to another hard drive or the win2000 partition and
just re-install XP. I would not be posting here.

The created documents WERE NOT saved here --->C:\Documents and
Settings\All Users

The created documents WERE NOT saved here --->C:\Documents and
Settings\Default User
Click to expand...

Fenz

Your options are limited. The error message indicates a corrupted registry.
Go to the following websites and try the repair install. If this does not
work, then use the in-place reinstallation.

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341


--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
 
Fenz said:
I cannot boot into windows XP.
Upon XP boot up I get this:

hive? file will not load, root/system32/config/software

This file is visible in windows folder. It must be corrupted?
root/system32/config/software
Click to expand...

"How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545

A real headache. I have win2000 and win XP home edition on a computer
I'm trying to fix. XP will not boot up. I cannot boot into any of the
safe modes (with/without prompts/networking) The "system restore to
last good configuration" option doesn't work either
Click to expand...

It usually doesn't.
I try to solve the problem by booting up with the win XP CD in the CD
player, loading windows recovery console from the XP CD. I load up
and go to the recovery console option. I am the administrator and
cannot log onto windows xp there. I never even created a password for
win XP. I simply (without typing in password) push the ENTER button
but it does no good

LASTLY, I took this hard drive and installed it as a slave on another
computer with XP. I cannot even reach (access) the administrator
files where the created documents are and I suppose the outlook
express data
Click to expand...

You may need to take ownership:
"HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

If you search using the Advanced Search Options, turn on System, Hidden, and
Sub-directories. Messages are *.dbx files, address book is an *.wab file.
oo ----->>

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator

If only I could reach the administrator files, I would copy the
important files to another hard drive or the win2000 partition and
just re-install XP. I would not be posting here.

The created documents WERE NOT saved here --->C:\Documents and
Settings\All Users

The created documents WERE NOT saved here --->C:\Documents and
Settings\Default User
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be stored in either of those locations. Look in C:\Documents and
EMAIL: zendo7000 - at - yahoo.com
Click to expand...

We don't do that. Hanky Boys are the only ones who Email.
 
Hi, Fenz.

I'm not clear as to whether you're trying to recover your WinXP Registry so
that you can boot into WinXP, or whether you are trying to rescue some
"administrator files where the created documents are".

Since you have Win2K also installed on this machine, apparently in a
dual-boot configuration, you should be able to boot into Win2K and use it to
perform the needed surgery on your WinXP Registry files. It may be as
simple as copying software.sav to software, but I don't know enough about it
to come right out and recommend that.

If that is a reasonable approach for you, and if you need instructions for
how to do this, please post back. I've done a little bit of that and there
are several gurus here who know a lot more about it. Having the dual-boot
available should make it a fairly easy project for a Registry expert using
RegEdit or RegEdt32.

RC
 
R. C. White said:
Hi, Fenz.

I'm not clear as to whether you're trying to recover your WinXP Registry so
that you can boot into WinXP, or whether you are trying to rescue some
"administrator files where the created documents are".
Click to expand...

Either one is OK....recovering registry involves less work. If I have to do
it the hard way I would reinstall XP after recovering my important files
which are in---> C:\Documents and Settings\administrator But when I boot
into win2000 I am prevented from opening up administrator in the XP
partition . Same for when I make this entire disk a slave on another XP
machine. I am prevented from opening up administrator folder.


Since you have Win2K also installed on this machine, apparently in a
dual-boot configuration, you should be able to boot into Win2K and use it to
perform the needed surgery on your WinXP Registry files.
Click to expand...

Now there's a great idea. Work on the registry while booted to win2000.

It may be as
simple as copying software.sav to software, but I don't know enough about it
to come right out and recommend that.
Click to expand...

Exactly what's the name of the file not loading?
Software.sav?
There are a few files in ---> root/system32/config/ with the name
"software"

Thanks
Fenz
 
Thanks will take a look there

Fenz


relic said:
"How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307545



It usually doesn't.


You may need to take ownership:
"HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

If you search using the Advanced Search Options, turn on System, Hidden, and
Sub-directories. Messages are *.dbx files, address book is an *.wab file.


It wouldn't be stored in either of those locations. Look in C:\Documents and
Settings\<YourUserName>\. Show Hidden and System Files and Folders (Explorer,
Tools, Folder Options, View tab).


We don't do that. Hanky Boys are the only ones who Email.
Click to expand...
 
I can't even log onto the recovery console. A password was never created for
this XP installation. When recovery console asks for password it does not
accept me just punching the enter key. Have any advice on that one?

fenz
 
Thanks for the leads. Do you have any answer to this: I cannot log onto
recovery console because the XP partition never was given a pass word.

Simply pressing enter doesn't log me in. I read that starting XP with the 6
boot disks floppies may allow me log on.


fenz
 
Fenz said:
I can't even log onto the recovery console. A password was never
created for this XP installation. When recovery console asks for
password it does not accept me just punching the enter key. Have any
advice on that one?
Click to expand...

"'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308402

If it's not that, you may have to boot using the 6-floppy set of XP Startup
disks. The repairs can be made using them.
 
Thanks for the 6 floppies advice. I've seen that elsewhere too. Microsoft
revised them (updated) , took care of some problems including password
recognition. Shall make floppies after dinner.

f
 
Hi, Fenz.
Exactly what's the name of the file not loading?
Software.sav?
There are a few files in ---> root/system32/config/ with the name
"software"
Click to expand...

The actual registry file is "software", with NO extension. You should also
see "system", "sam", "default" and "security"; some have matching *.sav
files for backups. But the no-extension files are the ones actually in use
as the Registry.

RC
 
Looks like it'll work but I cannot log onto recovery console. It does not
accept my lack of any password for administrator. (password was never
created when XP was installed) Some say using the 6 XP boot floppies instead
should fix this log on problem

fenz
 
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