XP registry corrupt, can't boot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kenneth Brody
  • Start date Start date
K

Kenneth Brody

Suggestions needed on getting an XP Home laptop with a corrupted
registry to boot.

====

Upon trying to boot an XP Home laptop, the following error appears:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:

\windows\system32\config\system

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using
the original setup CD-ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to repair.

I tried the boot menu and selecting "last known good configuration", but
the same error appears.

Using the XP Home (upgrade) CD, I can boot to the recovery console using
"r", but I don't see anything to fix the registry. The "listsvc" command
shows nothing. Trying "enable whatever" gives me:

The system registry does not appear to have an active ControlSet
key. The system registry may be damanged.

If your system is currently not starting correctly, you can try
restarting with the Last Known Good configuration or you can try
repairing the installation of Windows using the setup program's
repair and recovery options.

Hooking it up to our network (this laptop was not attached to the
network prior), I am unable to get the "net use" command to access
the network, in an attempt to save the necessary user files. (I
bring up the network card's status window, which shows number of
packets sent and received, and the received count does not change,
meaning that the other system isn't seeing any packets from the
laptop. The laptop's link and speed lights to light up upon booting
it.)

As I said, the "Last Known Good" configuration doesn't work.

I tried the setup program, but didn't see any "repair and recovery"
options. It went straight to telling me that I needed to insert a
previous Windows version setup disk. Upon inserting the WinMe disk,
it continued, and eventually told me that there was already a \WINDOWS
directory on the disk, and that continuing would wipe out just about
everything about that version, including user accounts and the
associated "My Documents" directories. (Obviously, I did not continue
at that point.)

Note that this laptop originally came with WinMe, so the recovery disk
that came with the system is not an option.



How do I get it to do the "repair and recovery" that it keeps mentioning
is available?

Thanks in advance for any help you may have.
 
Melvin said:
Hi,
This will be the article to save your day.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545
Click to expand...
[...]

Thanks, that did it!

Now, for some reason, the user's home directory has been changed
from "username" to "username.systemname", so none of the user's
files are there. (They're still there in the "username" directory,
but they aren't see on the desktop, "my documents" directory, and
so on. (And simply renaming the old directory won't work, since
applications are still pointing to the "username" directory.)

Is there a way to tell XP to point to the correct directory?
 
Glad it worked.. :)
The easy way is to copy the files directly back to your new folders
Another way you could try is found here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm
Look under Copy a User Profile.

--
Melvin Ho
(e-mail address removed)
Remove NOSPAM to email me



Kenneth Brody said:
Melvin said:
Hi,
This will be the article to save your day.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545
Click to expand...
[...]

Thanks, that did it!

Now, for some reason, the user's home directory has been changed
from "username" to "username.systemname", so none of the user's
files are there. (They're still there in the "username" directory,
but they aren't see on the desktop, "my documents" directory, and
so on. (And simply renaming the old directory won't work, since
applications are still pointing to the "username" directory.)

Is there a way to tell XP to point to the correct directory?
Click to expand...
 
Hello, I was having the same problem and found this post while researching for a resolution. I followed all the steps in the link (steps 1 &2) and I was able to access my Windows XP professional in safe mode. Now, my keyboard and mouse are not responding, and I cannot complete the following steps in the link. Anyone have any suggestions? I restarted my system multiple times and detached the mouse / keyboard.
 
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