XP Repair disaster in the making - HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike D
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike D

I'm running XP Home. When I started the computer this
morning, I was unable to boot Windows. I got a message
that my Windows\system\configuration\system 32 (or some
such) file is missing or corrupt. I ran XP Reparir
Console and executed the fixboot and fixmbr commands, but
this did not help. I then tried to do a fill Windows
repair by booting from the XP CD, but after I accept the
Microsoft licensing agreement, instead of getting
a "repair" option, I get a screen that shows the NTFS
partition on my C drive (no Windows installation is
visible to select). If I select that partition and
hit "enter (equated to install), I get dire warnings that
proceeding will likely erase all my folders and data.

I really could use some help on this one. Thanks!
 
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I'm running XP Home. When I started the computer this
| morning, I was unable to boot Windows. I got a message
| that my Windows\system\configuration\system 32 (or some
| such) file is missing or corrupt. I ran XP Reparir
| Console and executed the fixboot and fixmbr commands, but
| this did not help. I then tried to do a fill Windows
| repair by booting from the XP CD, but after I accept the
| Microsoft licensing agreement, instead of getting
| a "repair" option, I get a screen that shows the NTFS
| partition on my C drive (no Windows installation is
| visible to select). If I select that partition and
| hit "enter (equated to install), I get dire warnings that
| proceeding will likely erase all my folders and data.
|
| I really could use some help on this one. Thanks!
 
Cary -

Thanks for the prompt reply. I think my problem is worse
than I thought. From the Windows Repair Console, I ran
the "dir" command. The Windows\system 32 directory has 0
bytes of content. It's as if all content in this
directory has been delected. I suspect I've been hit by a
virus. Is there any way to restore this without
reformatting my C drive and losing all my data? I
suspect the deletion of this content is the reson I have
no "repair" option within the Windows installation
function.

Thanks! Mike
 
If you properly follow the "Repair Install" procedure are
suggested earlier, you will not lose your files, programs
or data. Do not use the Recovery Console method.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Cary -
|
| Thanks for the prompt reply. I think my problem is worse
| than I thought. From the Windows Repair Console, I ran
| the "dir" command. The Windows\system 32 directory has 0
| bytes of content. It's as if all content in this
| directory has been delected. I suspect I've been hit by a
| virus. Is there any way to restore this without
| reformatting my C drive and losing all my data? I
| suspect the deletion of this content is the reson I have
| no "repair" option within the Windows installation
| function.
|
| Thanks! Mike
|
| >-----Original Message-----
| >How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
| >http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
| >
| >[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]
| >
| >--
| >Carey Frisch
| >Microsoft MVP
| >Windows XP - Shell/User
| >
| >Be Smart! Protect your PC!
| >http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
| >
| >----------------------------------------------------------
| ---------------------------
| >
| message:
| > | >
| >| I'm running XP Home. When I started the computer this
| >| morning, I was unable to boot Windows. I got a message
| >| that my Windows\system\configuration\system 32 (or some
| >| such) file is missing or corrupt. I ran XP Reparir
| >| Console and executed the fixboot and fixmbr commands,
| but
| >| this did not help. I then tried to do a fill Windows
| >| repair by booting from the XP CD, but after I accept
| the
| >| Microsoft licensing agreement, instead of getting
| >| a "repair" option, I get a screen that shows the NTFS
| >| partition on my C drive (no Windows installation is
| >| visible to select). If I select that partition and
| >| hit "enter (equated to install), I get dire warnings
| that
| >| proceeding will likely erase all my folders and data.
| >|
| >| I really could use some help on this one. Thanks!
| >.
| >
 
Carey -

Again, Thanks for your response and help. I'm not being
given the option of "Repair Install" - that's the rub. It
looks like my windows\system32 directory has disappeared.
I suspect this may be why I get no option to "Repair
Install". I would love to call you to discuss. If you
would be willing to email me a contact number at
(e-mail address removed), I'll give you a call.

Thanks!

Mike
-----Original Message-----
If you properly follow the "Repair Install" procedure are
suggested earlier, you will not lose your files, programs
or data. Do not use the Recovery Console method.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------


| Cary -
|
| Thanks for the prompt reply. I think my problem is worse
| than I thought. From the Windows Repair Console, I ran
| the "dir" command. The Windows\system 32 directory has 0
| bytes of content. It's as if all content in this
| directory has been delected. I suspect I've been hit by a
| virus. Is there any way to restore this without
| reformatting my C drive and losing all my data? I
| suspect the deletion of this content is the reson I have
| no "repair" option within the Windows installation
| function.
|
| Thanks! Mike
|
| >-----Original Message-----
| >How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
| >http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
| >
| >[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]
| >
| >--
| >Carey Frisch
| >Microsoft MVP
| >Windows XP - Shell/User
| >
| >Be Smart! Protect your PC!
| >http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
| >
| >------------------------------------------------------- ---
| ---------------------------
| >
| message:
| > | >
| >| I'm running XP Home. When I started the computer this
| >| morning, I was unable to boot Windows. I got a message
| >| that my Windows\system\configuration\system 32 (or some
| >| such) file is missing or corrupt. I ran XP Reparir
| >| Console and executed the fixboot and fixmbr commands,
| but
| >| this did not help. I then tried to do a fill Windows
| >| repair by booting from the XP CD, but after I accept
| the
| >| Microsoft licensing agreement, instead of getting
| >| a "repair" option, I get a screen that shows the NTFS
| >| partition on my C drive (no Windows installation is
| >| visible to select). If I select that partition and
| >| hit "enter (equated to install), I get dire warnings
| that
| >| proceeding will likely erase all my folders and data.
| >|
| >| I really could use some help on this one. Thanks!
| >.
| >
.
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