Corrupted c:\winnt\system32\config\system file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Edward Diener
  • Start date Start date
E

Edward Diener

I am unable to boot into my main Win2k installation because at bootup time a
message comes up that says that c:\winnt\system32\config\system is
corrupted. Is there any way out of this predicament ? I tried using my Win2k
CD-ROM and my Emergency Repair Disk but evidently there was no backup of
this file which could be used to restore a non-corrupted version. Am I
completely hosed or is there a way to get a non-corrupt system file somehow
so that I can boot into my main Win2k installation. If I am hosed it will
naturally be onerous for me to configure my secondary Win2k installation
with all the software and registry settings that I have built up over the
years in my main Win2k installation.
 
If the system hive is corrupt, and assuming you already tried LKG (F8 and
choose Last Known Good), It may be possible to rename the system hive 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.

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: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%


--
Regards,

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

:
|I am unable to boot into my main Win2k installation because at bootup time
a
| message comes up that says that c:\winnt\system32\config\system is
| corrupted. Is there any way out of this predicament ? I tried using my
Win2k
| CD-ROM and my Emergency Repair Disk but evidently there was no backup of
| this file which could be used to restore a non-corrupted version. Am I
| completely hosed or is there a way to get a non-corrupt system file
somehow
| so that I can boot into my main Win2k installation. If I am hosed it will
| naturally be onerous for me to configure my secondary Win2k installation
| with all the software and registry settings that I have built up over the
| years in my main Win2k installation.
|
|
|
 
Edward said:
I am unable to boot into my main Win2k installation because at bootup time a
message comes up that says that c:\winnt\system32\config\system is
corrupted. Is there any way out of this predicament ? I tried using my Win2k
CD-ROM and my Emergency Repair Disk but evidently there was no backup of
this file which could be used to restore a non-corrupted version. Am I
completely hosed or is there a way to get a non-corrupt system file somehow
so that I can boot into my main Win2k installation. If I am hosed it will
naturally be onerous for me to configure my secondary Win2k installation
with all the software and registry settings that I have built up over the
years in my main Win2k installation.
Click to expand...


How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705

Registry Repair Utility download for Windows 2000-based computers
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830570


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Back
Top