Corrupt system.sav file

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Guest

Upon booting, I am receiving the error message:

Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM.SAV

I have used the repair feature from windows setup, but this did not work. I
have seen repairs for system file in XP but I am not sure if this is the same
file or the same process.

Please help! Thank you, thank you for any help.
 
Try renaming it to 'SYSTEM.old' from the recovery console and restart the
pc.

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer:
%systemroot% and %windir%

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Upon booting, I am receiving the error message:
|
| Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
| \WINNT\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM.SAV
|
| I have used the repair feature from windows setup, but this did not work.
I
| have seen repairs for system file in XP but I am not sure if this is the
same
| file or the same process.
|
| Please help! Thank you, thank you for any help.
|
|
 
Try renaming it to 'SYSTEM.old' from the recovery console and restart the
pc.

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer:
%systemroot% and %windir%

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Upon booting, I am receiving the error message:
|
| Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
| \WINNT\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM.SAV
|
| I have used the repair feature from windows setup, but this did not work.
I
| have seen repairs for system file in XP but I am not sure if this is the
same
| file or the same process.
|
| Please help! Thank you, thank you for any help.
|
|
 
And to add to this if 'SYSTEM.SAV' is missing and assuming you already tried
LKG, It may be possible to rename the system hive (also from the recovery
console) found in
%windir%\system32\config\system
to system.old
then rename
%windir%\system32\config\system.alt
to
%windir%\system32\config\system

You can also try using the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the
original-as-installed system hive from
%windir%\repair\system
to
%windir%\system32\config\system
You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the
original OS install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
And to add to this if 'SYSTEM.SAV' is missing and assuming you already tried
LKG, It may be possible to rename the system hive (also from the recovery
console) found in
%windir%\system32\config\system
to system.old
then rename
%windir%\system32\config\system.alt
to
%windir%\system32\config\system

You can also try using the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the
original-as-installed system hive from
%windir%\repair\system
to
%windir%\system32\config\system
You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the
original OS install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Thanks Dave. The system.sav was there and I was able to rename it to
system.old. When I boot, it is still saying that it is missing or corrupt.
Would I then follow the instructions from your last post. If that is the
case, how does it work when there is already a system.old? Thanks again.
 
Thanks Dave. The system.sav was there and I was able to rename it to
system.old. When I boot, it is still saying that it is missing or corrupt.
Would I then follow the instructions from your last post. If that is the
case, how does it work when there is already a system.old? Thanks again.
 
Yes try the suggestion in my second reply. You can rename the original
'system.sav' to 'system.zzz' or anything else for that matter. Just so you
can keep track of things.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks Dave. The system.sav was there and I was able to rename it to
| system.old. When I boot, it is still saying that it is missing or
corrupt.
| Would I then follow the instructions from your last post. If that is the
| case, how does it work when there is already a system.old? Thanks again.
 
Yes try the suggestion in my second reply. You can rename the original
'system.sav' to 'system.zzz' or anything else for that matter. Just so you
can keep track of things.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks Dave. The system.sav was there and I was able to rename it to
| system.old. When I boot, it is still saying that it is missing or
corrupt.
| Would I then follow the instructions from your last post. If that is the
| case, how does it work when there is already a system.old? Thanks again.
 
Thanks again Dave and thanks for your patience with my ignorance :)

I am alittle confused with how 'system' relates to 'system.sav'. I tried
what you mentioned in your second post and it still says 'system.sav is
missing or corrupt'. If I originally changed 'system.sav' to 'system.old'
wouldn't I want to rename something back to 'system.sav'?

I went to the 'repair' directory and there wasnt a 'regback'. I don't know
if this is also a problem. Could it be somewhere else?

If I do copy the 'system' file from 'repair' and paste it in 'config', won't
I still get that error? In addition, will the drivers be the only thing I
will lose?

I hope you are having a good weekend and I thank you so much for your help.

Carrie
 
Thanks again Dave and thanks for your patience with my ignorance :)

I am alittle confused with how 'system' relates to 'system.sav'. I tried
what you mentioned in your second post and it still says 'system.sav is
missing or corrupt'. If I originally changed 'system.sav' to 'system.old'
wouldn't I want to rename something back to 'system.sav'?

I went to the 'repair' directory and there wasnt a 'regback'. I don't know
if this is also a problem. Could it be somewhere else?

If I do copy the 'system' file from 'repair' and paste it in 'config', won't
I still get that error? In addition, will the drivers be the only thing I
will lose?

I hope you are having a good weekend and I thank you so much for your help.

Carrie
 
The system hive of the registry is corrupt hence the error message you
receive. Try using 'system.alt' first (if it exists)

If;
%windir%\repair\regback
doesn't exist then this just means you have never backed up the registry so
you'll need to use the original as installed copy of the system hive found
in;
%windir%\repair

'system.alt' and 'system.sav' are transaction log components of the
registry. Generally speaking the system hive contains hardware, driver and
service related entries and configurations.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks again Dave and thanks for your patience with my ignorance :)
|
| I am alittle confused with how 'system' relates to 'system.sav'. I tried
| what you mentioned in your second post and it still says 'system.sav is
| missing or corrupt'. If I originally changed 'system.sav' to 'system.old'
| wouldn't I want to rename something back to 'system.sav'?
|
| I went to the 'repair' directory and there wasnt a 'regback'. I don't
know
| if this is also a problem. Could it be somewhere else?
|
| If I do copy the 'system' file from 'repair' and paste it in 'config',
won't
| I still get that error? In addition, will the drivers be the only thing I
| will lose?
|
| I hope you are having a good weekend and I thank you so much for your
help.
|
| Carrie
 
The system hive of the registry is corrupt hence the error message you
receive. Try using 'system.alt' first (if it exists)

If;
%windir%\repair\regback
doesn't exist then this just means you have never backed up the registry so
you'll need to use the original as installed copy of the system hive found
in;
%windir%\repair

'system.alt' and 'system.sav' are transaction log components of the
registry. Generally speaking the system hive contains hardware, driver and
service related entries and configurations.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks again Dave and thanks for your patience with my ignorance :)
|
| I am alittle confused with how 'system' relates to 'system.sav'. I tried
| what you mentioned in your second post and it still says 'system.sav is
| missing or corrupt'. If I originally changed 'system.sav' to 'system.old'
| wouldn't I want to rename something back to 'system.sav'?
|
| I went to the 'repair' directory and there wasnt a 'regback'. I don't
know
| if this is also a problem. Could it be somewhere else?
|
| If I do copy the 'system' file from 'repair' and paste it in 'config',
won't
| I still get that error? In addition, will the drivers be the only thing I
| will lose?
|
| I hope you are having a good weekend and I thank you so much for your
help.
|
| Carrie
 
Dave,
I seem to be having the same problem here.
Backstory:
I purchased an agp vido card that was not compatible with my machine.
after I recieved the BSD I installed a second version of windows 2000
on the system. The new system had the same problem so I switched to a
PCI card. THe nmew system works fine,. NOw my old system has all of
my installed sofftware so I reallly want to get it back. I tried to
repair the old oS but setup would hang on restart. I logged into the
new os and copied the system.save file to the old os config directory.
That worked fine but I still did not have my software. I tried to open
the system.sav in notepad and find the setup command but now the .sav
is corrupt. Suggestions ?. I just want my old software without having
to reinstall eerything.

Thanks
 
Dave,
I seem to be having the same problem here.
Backstory:
I purchased an agp vido card that was not compatible with my machine.
after I recieved the BSD I installed a second version of windows 2000
on the system. The new system had the same problem so I switched to a
PCI card. THe nmew system works fine,. NOw my old system has all of
my installed sofftware so I reallly want to get it back. I tried to
repair the old oS but setup would hang on restart. I logged into the
new os and copied the system.save file to the old os config directory.
That worked fine but I still did not have my software. I tried to open
the system.sav in notepad and find the setup command but now the .sav
is corrupt. Suggestions ?. I just want my old software without having
to reinstall eerything.

Thanks
 
Glad to hear it! Thanks for the feedback.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks Dave!
| Making a copy of the system file worked! I have to reinstall the drivers
| but at least I didn't lose my data. Thanks again.
| Carrie
 
Glad to hear it! Thanks for the feedback.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks Dave!
| Making a copy of the system file worked! I have to reinstall the drivers
| but at least I didn't lose my data. Thanks again.
| Carrie
 
Let's start with the exact error message you're receiving when you boot the
original install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dave,
| I seem to be having the same problem here.
| Backstory:
| I purchased an agp vido card that was not compatible with my machine.
| after I recieved the BSD I installed a second version of windows 2000
| on the system. The new system had the same problem so I switched to a
| PCI card. THe nmew system works fine,. NOw my old system has all of
| my installed sofftware so I reallly want to get it back. I tried to
| repair the old oS but setup would hang on restart. I logged into the
| new os and copied the system.save file to the old os config directory.
| That worked fine but I still did not have my software. I tried to open
| the system.sav in notepad and find the setup command but now the .sav
| is corrupt. Suggestions ?. I just want my old software without having
| to reinstall eerything.
|
| Thanks
 
Let's start with the exact error message you're receiving when you boot the
original install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dave,
| I seem to be having the same problem here.
| Backstory:
| I purchased an agp vido card that was not compatible with my machine.
| after I recieved the BSD I installed a second version of windows 2000
| on the system. The new system had the same problem so I switched to a
| PCI card. THe nmew system works fine,. NOw my old system has all of
| my installed sofftware so I reallly want to get it back. I tried to
| repair the old oS but setup would hang on restart. I logged into the
| new os and copied the system.save file to the old os config directory.
| That worked fine but I still did not have my software. I tried to open
| the system.sav in notepad and find the setup command but now the .sav
| is corrupt. Suggestions ?. I just want my old software without having
| to reinstall eerything.
|
| Thanks
 
Dave Patrick said:
Let's start with the exact error message you're receiving when you boot the
original install.
Click to expand...

Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM.SAV

Then it says something about fixing the problem using the windows 200
disk.

I tried your method of renaming files but that didn't work either I
received the same error.
I tried the repair utility on the windows 2000 disk and it hung after
it loaded all of the drivers.
Help? Or if not is there a way to transfer my software installations
to the new version of windows 2000? In particular outlook. Losing
email sux.

thanks
 
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