I have 2 systems, a labtop and a desktop both running xp prof sp2. On the
labtop I am getting the error. " c:\windows\system32\config\system missing or
corrupt ........... " I would lke to know if I can slave the labtop hdd on
the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If so,
what must I do after I slave it? Thanks

Run System File Checker (SFC) first.

liibm wrote:
> I have 2 systems, a labtop and a desktop both running xp prof sp2. On the
> labtop I am getting the error. " c:\windows\system32\config\system missing
> or corrupt ........... " I would lke to know if I can slave the labtop hdd
> on the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If
> so,
> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks

"liibm" <liibm@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E508981D-2EC8-4E43-A684-6FA4FAA1F9CA@microsoft.com...
>I have 2 systems, a labtop and a desktop both running xp prof sp2. On the
> labtop I am getting the error. " c:\windows\system32\config\system missing
> or
> corrupt ........... " I would lke to know if I can slave the labtop hdd on
> the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If so,
> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks

It would be a good idea to report what happened prior to you noticing this
problem.

There are several ways to access your laptop's hard disk. Here are two of
them:

a) Boot the machine with a Bart PE boot CD (which you have to manufacture
yourself, using a WinXP Professional CD and a CD burner - see
www.bootdisk.com).
b) Remove the laptop's hard disk and install it in a 2.5" USB disk case. Now
connect this case to your desktop PC.

The error message you see is generated beause:
- The "System" registry file is missing; or
- The hidden file c:\boot.ini is missing or points at the wrong Windows
system folder.

Using either of the methods a) or b) above, you can explore which of these
two problems you might have.

If the System registry file is really missing then a manual "System Restore"
might help you - see here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

When does this error occur? There is no such folder as you describe, and
that isn't a realistic command unless you simply want to open the folder in
Windows Explorer (note, there's no filename.) I suspect that all you have is
broken startup command and that it was probably meant to launch Spyware or a
Virus that you recently removed from the laptop.

Does any of this cause anything to click in your memory? Did you perform a
malware scan just before the error started occurring? What anti-malware
utilities do you use?

Go to Start>Run, type in MSCONFIG and then <enter>. Look on the Startup tab
for anything that has that path. Also look on the Services tab, check the
box that says Hide all Microsoft services, then look for the path again. If
you still haven't found it, on that Services tab, with the checkbox checked,
click the Disable All button, then on the General tab, uncheck Load Startup
Items. Click OK and reboot when prompted. While the machine is rebooting,
unplug the ethernet cable from the computer or the router (if using
broadband), or if using Dial-up, be sure that when you boot back up you stop
any dial-up connection attempt, and even temporarily go to Control
Panel>Internet Options (or right-click the big E on the Desktop, then
Properties), then go to the Connections tab and change it to "Never dial a
connection.)

Does the error still occur?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"liibm" <liibm@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E508981D-2EC8-4E43-A684-6FA4FAA1F9CA@microsoft.com...
>I have 2 systems, a labtop and a desktop both running xp prof sp2. On the
> labtop I am getting the error. " c:\windows\system32\config\system missing
> or
> corrupt ........... " I would lke to know if I can slave the labtop hdd on
> the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If so,
> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks

liibm wrote:
> I have 2 systems, a laPtop and a desktop both running XP Pro sp2. On the
> laPtop I am getting the error, "C:\Windows\System32\Config\System missing or
> corrupt.". I would like to know if I can slave the laPtop hdd on
> the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If so,
> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks

That might work, but here's how you're supposed to do it.

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

--
Joe =o)

I'm pretty sure that message is a good indication that your registry is corrupt

You also got very good answers from others and the link for recovering from the corrupt registry if that is the case is already posted by Elmo above

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"liibm" <liibm@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:E508981D-2EC8-4E43-A684-6FA4FAA1F9CA@microsoft.com...
>I have 2 systems, a labtop and a desktop both running xp prof sp2. On the
> labtop I am getting the error. " c:\windows\system32\config\system missing or
> corrupt ........... " I would lke to know if I can slave the labtop hdd on
> the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If so,
> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks

liibm wrote:
> I have 2 systems, a labtop and a desktop both running xp prof sp2. On the
> labtop I am getting the error. " c:\windows\system32\config\system missing or
> corrupt ........... " I would lke to know if I can slave the labtop hdd on
> the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop?


Not if you want a usable laptop. Copying a portion of the desktop's
registry onto the laptop can only make things much, much worse.


> If so,
> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks


Nothing. Instead, fix the problem:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;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...b;en-us;822705


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Elmo wrote:
> liibm wrote:
>> I have 2 systems, a laPtop and a desktop both running XP Pro sp2. On the
>> laPtop I am getting the error, "C:\Windows\System32\Config\System missing or
>> corrupt.". I would like to know if I can slave the laPtop hdd on
>> the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the desktop? If so,
>> what must I do after I slave it? Thanks
>
> That might work, .....


.... only to make things much, much worse. The System file is the
portion of the registry that contains information about the computer's
hardware and device drivers. Attempting to "clone" one computer's
hardware information into a completely different computer's registry is
a recipe for disaster.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Bruce Chambers wrote:
> Elmo wrote:
>> liibm wrote:
>>> I have 2 systems, a laPtop and a desktop both running XP Pro sp2. On
>>> the laPtop I am getting the error, "C:\Windows\System32\Config\System
>>> missing or corrupt.". I would like to know if I can slave the laPtop
>>> hdd on the desktop and copy the missing or corrupt file from the
>>> desktop? If so, what must I do after I slave it? Thanks
>>
>> That might work, .....
>
>
> .... only to make things much, much worse. The System file is the
> portion of the registry that contains information about the computer's
> hardware and device drivers. Attempting to "clone" one computer's
> hardware information into a completely different computer's registry is
> a recipe for disaster.

Agreed, but if the op copied the "repair" copy from the other system, it
would be the same as copying it from the damaged system, except the op
could use the XP interface rather than a CMD line. That's why I offered
the link to the MSKB article.

--
Joe =o)