Hi,

Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the
following message: Windows could not start because the following file is
missing or corrupt
C:\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 start repair.

I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused!

My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went bust
a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do
have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site)

Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my
pictures/music/documents etc??

If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that was
written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful!

Thanks in advance

"mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the
> following message: Windows could not start because the following file is
> missing or corrupt
> C:\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 start repair.
>
> I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused!
>
> My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went
bust
> a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do
> have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site)
>
> Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my
> pictures/music/documents etc??
>
> If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that
was
> written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful!
>
> Thanks in advance


Don't panic...
your pictures/music/documents are more than likley perfectly OK...
but your Windows installation is corrupt.

The best thing to do would be to take your machine to a repair shop
or a knowledgeable friend...
remove the drive from the machine and backup your data.

Either copy it to another harddrive and/or burn the data to DVD's

Once the data are backed up,
there may be a backup registry on the machine that can be used to repair
your missing "system"

There should be a backup copy in the "repair" folder


Note: if the problem can be repaired
it would be a good idea to run a hardware check on both your RAM
and your harddrive

"mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the
> following message: Windows could not start because the following file is
> missing or corrupt
> C:\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 start repair.
>
> I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused!
>
> My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went
> bust
> a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do
> have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site)
>
> Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my
> pictures/music/documents etc??
>
> If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that
> was
> written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful!
>
> Thanks in advance

Further to philo's excellent advice: Having a PC with important
documents that are not backed up regularly is asking for trouble.
Many people choose to wait until they suffer a major disaster.
A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is a low-cost but highly
effective backup medium - what's keeping you?

Added info:


To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
Xp wont boot:

Go to Recovery Console and type:

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
exit

Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q307545

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the
> following message: Windows could not start because the following file is
> missing or corrupt
> C:\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 start repair.
>
> I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused!
>
> My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went
> bust
> a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do
> have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site)
>
> Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my
> pictures/music/documents etc??
>
> If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that
> was
> written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful!
>
> Thanks in advance

"Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message
news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com...
> Added info:
>
>
> To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt"
> where Xp wont boot:
>
> Go to Recovery Console and type:
>
> cd system32\config
> ren system system.old
> ren system.alt systemalt.old
> copy c:\windows\repair\system
> copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
> exit
>
> Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q307545
>
> --
>
> All the Best,
> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)
>
> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
>
>
> "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com...

Entirely appropriate advice but a little hard to follow for the OP
since he has no WinXP CD. It would be a good idea for him to
get one ASAP.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:eL9dHO6sIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message
> news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com...
> > Added info:
> >
> >
> > To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt"
> > where Xp wont boot:
> >
> > Go to Recovery Console and type:
> >
> > cd system32\config
> > ren system system.old
> > ren system.alt systemalt.old
> > copy c:\windows\repair\system
> > copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
> > exit
> >
> > Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q307545
> >
>

Good advice ...
just wanted to mention that sometimes if the registry is corrupted...
the Recovery Console will not recognize the Windows installation at all...
but it is an option well worth trying!

True, true! :o)

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
news:eL9dHO6sIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message
> news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com...
>> Added info:
>>
>>
>> To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt"
>> where Xp wont boot:
>>
>> Go to Recovery Console and type:
>>
>> cd system32\config
>> ren system system.old
>> ren system.alt systemalt.old
>> copy c:\windows\repair\system
>> copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
>> exit
>>
>> Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q307545
>>
>> --
>>
>> All the Best,
>> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)
>>
>> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
>>
>>
>> "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com...
>
> Entirely appropriate advice but a little hard to follow for the OP
> since he has no WinXP CD. It would be a good idea for him to
> get one ASAP.
>

True, true again. :o)

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:ed5jBy6sIHA.2292@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote in message
> news:eL9dHO6sIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message
>> news:8BDA3BED-7FBB-41D3-A26E-620BF787404D@microsoft.com...
>> > Added info:
>> >
>> >
>> > To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt"
>> > where Xp wont boot:
>> >
>> > Go to Recovery Console and type:
>> >
>> > cd system32\config
>> > ren system system.old
>> > ren system.alt systemalt.old
>> > copy c:\windows\repair\system
>> > copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
>> > exit
>> >
>> > Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
>> > http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q307545
>> >
>>
>
> Good advice ...
> just wanted to mention that sometimes if the registry is corrupted...
> the Recovery Console will not recognize the Windows installation at all...
> but it is an option well worth trying!
>
>

"Kelly" wrote:

> Added info:
>
>
> To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
> Xp wont boot:
>
> Go to Recovery Console and type:
>
> cd system32\config
> ren system system.old
> ren system.alt systemalt.old
> copy c:\windows\repair\system
> copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
> exit
>
> Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q307545
>
> --
>
> All the Best,
> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)
>
> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
>
>
> "mf27" <mf27@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0CF0A419-BA97-4918-BDC6-BE3B5269B6AA@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Im looking for some help, my pc will not boot up and i am getting the
> > following message: Windows could not start because the following file is
> > missing or corrupt
> > C:\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 start repair.
> >
> > I have read several article regarding this but i am getting confused!
> >
> > My PC came with xp pre-installed and the company i bought it from went
> > bust
> > a few years ago. I have no xp cd as i was not provided with one, but i do
> > have xp sp2 setup floppies ( used the download on the microsoft site)
> >
> > Is there any way to fix this issue without losing my
> > pictures/music/documents etc??
> >
> > If so can someone point me in the direction of a step by step guide that
> > was
> > written with newbies in mind i would be eternally grateful!
> >
> > Thanks in advance
>