Instructions for Repair Installation

  • Thread starter Thread starter billurie
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billurie

One of my hard drives has developed a problem.
When running as Slave, I have done defrag and
full chkdsk/r and it comes out clean.

But when booting as single drive, it stops quickly
with message:

Windows\System32\config\system is missing.
You can attempt a repair installation by using
Installation CD, type 'r' at first screen.

I tried that, type 'r', and it took me to the
Recovery Console, where I selected the only
Windows system existing. It then took me to
a C: prompt, where many commands are available.
Some time ago, I printed out the KB article on
Recovery Console, but as I recall it, it was no
help in answering the question as to what to do,
to get the 'missing file' installed. Or to do a
'Repair Installation".....
 
One of my hard drives has developed a problem.
When running as Slave, I have done defrag and
full chkdsk/r and it comes out clean.

But when booting as single drive, it stops quickly
with message:

Windows\System32\config\system is missing.
You can attempt a repair installation by using
Installation CD, type 'r' at first screen.

I tried that, type 'r', and it took me to the
Recovery Console, where I selected the only
Windows system existing. It then took me to
a C: prompt, where many commands are available.
Some time ago, I printed out the KB article on
Recovery Console, but as I recall it, it was no
help in answering the question as to what to do,
to get the 'missing file' installed. Or to do a
'Repair Installation".....
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

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

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



--

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
 
Bruce 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

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

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705
Click to expand...
Thank you, those several of you who have provided links to
a number of KB and other articles on this subject. Following
any of the processes they lead to, involves lengthy, time-
consuming, and hazardous procedures. One might be tempted to
ask the question, "The system has detected that a file is
missing, and knows where it belongs, and of course that file
is on the installation CD, why doesn't a simple batch file
exist which will read it off the Installation CD and file
it where it belongs?".

I'll study those documents, including the very loud warnings
in bold red lettering, but for now I will follow my old
brute-force procedure: Copy the recently-updated files from
the damaged drive to a CD, make a new working clone from my
most recent backup hard drive, and update its files from the
CD.
 
Thank you, those several of you who have provided links to
a number of KB and other articles on this subject. Following
any of the processes they lead to, involves lengthy, time-
consuming, and hazardous procedures. One might be tempted to
ask the question, "The system has detected that a file is
missing, and knows where it belongs, and of course that file
is on the installation CD, why doesn't a simple batch file
exist which will read it off the Installation CD and file
it where it belongs?".
Click to expand...

Ah! But the missing/corrupt file (C:\Windows\System32\Config\System)
does not exist in any way shape or form on the installation CD. The
file in question is an essential part of the Windows registry, and is
unique to *your* current installation.

I'll study those documents, including the very loud warnings
in bold red lettering, but for now I will follow my old
brute-force procedure: Copy the recently-updated files from
the damaged drive to a CD, make a new working clone from my
most recent backup hard drive, and update its files from the
CD.
Click to expand...

Suit yourself, of course, but that's the hard way.


--

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
 
Bruce said:
Ah! But the missing/corrupt file
(C:\Windows\System32\Config\System) does not exist in any way shape or
form on the installation CD. The file in question is an essential part
of the Windows registry, and is unique to *your* current installation.
Click to expand...
Ah, so! That does splain why it simply can't be copied
back.
Suit yourself, of course, but that's the hard way.
Click to expand...
Hard way, perhaps, but straightforward and logical,
comprehensible, safe, and guaranteed to work. As you
say, chacun à son gout.
 
One of my hard drives has developed a problem.
When running as Slave, I have done defrag and
full chkdsk/r and it comes out clean.

But when booting as single drive, it stops quickly
with message:

Windows\System32\config\system is missing.
You can attempt a repair installation by using
Installation CD, type 'r' at first screen.

I tried that, type 'r', and it took me to the
Recovery Console, where I selected the only
Windows system existing. It then took me to
a C: prompt, where many commands are available.
Some time ago, I printed out the KB article on
Recovery Console, but as I recall it, it was no
help in answering the question as to what to do,
to get the 'missing file' installed. Or to do a
'Repair Installation".....
Click to expand...

Hi Bill. It is for this very reason that you expended countless hours
learning how to make full system backups. I bet you are glad now that you
did.
 
Harry said:
Hi Bill. It is for this very reason that you expended countless hours
learning how to make full system backups. I bet you are glad now that you
did.
Click to expand...
Quite true, Harry. I have come to learn that a system like
XP is so horribly intricate and complex that one really can
not use simple logic to solve what appears to be a simple
problem (e.g., 'file xxx missing'). Reading the KB instructions
for many of these 'repair' processes ends up with nested KB
articles, pages and pages of printout, and hours and hours of
study, and all I want is a good system and a reliable backup
always on hand. I hope that my aired frustations will teach
other people. You MVPs have certainly done great work with
direct answers, but systems like XP do not always respond to
or offer a simple and viable solution. For me, starting with
a good copy of the system seems to be the most economical.
 
Mike said:
Bill

You press ENTER to set up Windows, then you have to accept the EULA by
pressing F8.. Harry has done a really good piece for you.. it really is a
very simple procedure..
Click to expand...
Thank you both, Mike and Harry. Tomorrow I'll try the links
and more detailed instructions. I'm sure you understand how
I can get frustrated when I try to follow instructions
ostensibly from "the horse's mouth" and find that I can't
get to the screens and options they have given me. It's a
shame that the rest of the World has to see all this back and
forth chatter, with numerous false starts........but that's
what these blind bulletin boards are all about. Well, maybe
it will guide others. By the way, with all the Microsoft
genu-wine KB articles around, doesn't this specific task....a
"Repair Installation" deserve one.
 
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