I screwed up my exs computer...

I need some help here..I am getting an error that says...windows cannot open because the file WNNT\system32\config\system is missing..it says that I can fix it with the set up disk..I don't have one for XPpro.. can anyone help me? Do I really need the disk or is there a way around it?...:banghead

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us
Check this link. Read the info carefully and print it out if possible for reference while performing the tasks....

hopperdave2000

 

thanks hopper, I did look at that page..it still says to use a disc...I have him scrambling to get one..when he bought his computer, the guy he bought it from used a counterfiet O.S...I was going to use my O.S. oh his..now I'm stuck...lol

 

You can use your CD on his PC if both OS's are the same (ie; XP Home CD and XP Home on PC) and if there's a product key sticker on the PC.... on 2nd thought, you'd only need the product key to reload the OS which you won't be doing (hopefully) according to the link above.............

 

thanks again, hopper..he told me that he had XP home on his and I have my XP home disc that I was going to upgrade his pc with..come to find out he has XP Pro on his machine....It didn't work...lol

 

what would have taken that file anyway???

 

The error you're getting is actually pretty common (just run a search thru the forums and you'll see what I mean). The file in question is a registry 'hive' file- meaning that it's the registry stored on the hard drive in its own special registry type of format. As to why it's corrupt or missing, your guess is as good as mine. Windows gets mixed up sometimes and corrupts its own files, viruses/malware can mess things up, cleaning the registry, a software install or uninstall gone awry, anything....
So- did you boot to your XP CD and follow the info from the link I posted? What's your current status?

hopperdave2000

 

OH!!!! Dave, Dave, Dave..I cannot get this thing to read the disc. I had to boot from the disc one other time on my friends computer but I forget how to do it. Any suggestions. Dave, thanks you so much for your help and yes I do know what you mean, I have read the forum till I'm blue in the fingers. Abby

 

and dave?..I did go to the link that you suggested.that didn't help.It referred to a file by the name of windows\system\config\system. the file that is missing from his computer is...\WINNT\system 32\config\system. what is WINNT? and HUH???

 

Ahem!!! is being dumb why I'm private E2?...lol

 

you prob need to set your BIOS to boot from CD-ROM, there is an option useally to pres F5,Delete etc when u first turn the comp on, you are looking 4 Boot order, Boot sequence, First boot device etc.
Set it to boot from cd rom first and then HDD.

put the windows XP disc in, save the changes and exit/restart.

If it worked it should ask you 2 press any key to boot from cd.

 

I did that and nothing happened I don't know how to get the boot from the cd-rom to change to the topthis is a way different bios set up than I've seen before.. my ex had a guy he worked with build his computer for him..I can't tell what is what in it or what the real name of the thing is. Never have someone build you a computer. He had a packet of discs and booklets in a baggie, inside of the computer. I don't know anything...lol

 

The file names WINNT\System32\..... and windows\system32... are more or less identical. Following the procedure will be the same. Just substitue WINNT instead of WINDOWS in the instructions from the link. To boot to the CD, you have to find a place in the BIOS (also known as Setup, usually pressing F2 or DEL at power up will get you there) called 'Boot' or maybe 'Boot Oder' or even 'Boot Device Priorty' and make sure the CD (or DVD) drive is listed first. You may have to use the '+' or the '-' keys or the arrow keys to move it into first position. When the CD boots, you'll see 'Press any key to boot from CD.....' so press any key.... Many PC's have a one-time boot menu you can access by pressing either F10, F12, or ESC upon power up... after you press any key, follow the info in the link PERFECTLY! Print out the instructions if possible or write it down.... keep us posted!

hopperdave2000

 

Thank you, Dave. Well, I spent many hours on the phone with ms today..we got the machine to boot from the disc that my ex had gien me, we ran the setup only to get to the product key page..I didn't have the key..ms found the one that matched the part # on the disc and after trying several times..the little window kept popping up telling me that the product key was not valid..now...myself and MS are in a quandry as to what to do next. any ideas why this would happen, Dave?....Thanks

 

Oh boy.

This happened because you didn't follow the article properly.

You were supposed to press R at the first screen of setup, when it was done booting to CD to get to recovery console. You can still try it, but the damage may already be done, and saving your operating system a complete loss.

Once a repair is started (I will assume thats what you did), it takes the current registry hives, even if corrupted, and updates your repair hives with the corrupted copies. You gotta go to the Recovery Console.

Boot to CD. First screen of setup, press 'R'.

 

The product key is stored in a registry 'hive' file (as mentioned above); your hive files were corrupted or damaged and that's what started this whole mess. If your PC came w/ WinXP preloaded, there should be sticker on it (on laptops it's on the bottom) with the valid product key. Be sure that you're installing the same version of XP as shown on the product key sticker; XP Home, Pro, Media Center. The keys are NOT interchangeable! You can't use an XP Home upgrade key on a XP Home full version CD; you can't use a Media Center key to install XP Pro, and so on. This is the only reason why the key that Microsoft gave you isn't working. It may match the CD, but if you have leftover (and corrupt) hive files on the hard drive that still contain the original key, you'll probably run into problems..... also, as Adrynalyne stated, you should have pressed 'R' at the first screen for the recovery console to rebuild/repair your corrupt hive files by following the info in the link posted way earlier; and (as posted above) it may be too late at this point. Formatting the drive and reloading a 100% clean Windows may be the only option left Keep us posted.....

hopperdave2000

 

Thank you Dave and Adrenalyn I'm sorry if I didn't mention that we did hit the "r" upon booting from the disc. Today I took a break from it..I was getting pretty weary. I spent time in my garden today..that was a lot more fun...