lnmst6 said:
when my computer is turning on, it displays this message:
"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system
you can repair this file by starting windows setup using the original
setup
cd-rom. Press 'r' at the first screen."
I am not sure what cd they are referring to or how to correct the problem.
I tried the cd that came with it, a cd that said setup 2, but it would not
read the disk at all. I really need someone's help. Thank you.
The CD referred to is a bootable Windows XP CD, and you use it to get to
what's called the "Recovery Console".
In fact for this purpose, you can use *any* bootable Windows XP Setup CD,
regardless of service pack level or type - Home or Pro, retail, OEM, VL,
etc. You aren't installing, so it doesn't matter if you borrow one.
However, what you *can't use* is what it sounds like you have. It sounds
like you have a "system restore" CD, provided to take the system to a
specific factory configuration with drivers and applications installed.
These aren't the Windows XP Setup CD that you need.
Mr. Grey, another poster, has provided you with the link to the Microsoft KB
article that details what's gone wrong and how to fix it with the Recovery
Console, this one:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
It's very helpful if you have a floppy drive available for this, as you can
automate much of the process. External floppy drives are around $20.
Unfortunately if you don't have the correct CD and can't borrow one, you
can't use those directions directly.
But, there are other ways to gain access to the drive and perform the task
that's described in the KB article. How you perform the task varies with
how you gain access to the drive. Two alternate options for gaining access
are connecting the drive to another working XP system, or booting with a
Linux or other recovery boot CD that has file management capabilities and
understands NTFS.
It's quite possible that you may need to pay someone to fix this. On the
occasions when I've had to do this, it's taken up to an hour, sometimes as
little as 20 minutes.
As long as you have had System Restore turned on, you should be in good
shape after recovery. If for whatever reason there are no restore points,
you may have to reinstall software, as the base registry that you'd have to
use predates software installation.
Please also note that a "repair install" generally will *not* fix this kind
of problem, because repair installs use most of the existing registry, and
that's what's damaged here.
HTH
-pk
