Windows could not start because the following file......

CrazyTom · Feb 28, 2003

I was playing half life when my computer freezes. I restart becasue this happens alot but when i restart i get a error message like this:
Windows could not start because the following file tis missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system

You can attempt to repair this file by starting windows setup using the origirnal setup CD-ROM
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair

Any ideas on how to repair? Or even backup my files? Im sort of lost here. Please help

My specs:
AMD 1.2 T-bird
512 MBRAM
30 gig HDD
ATAPI-CD ROM-Drive56MAX
PHILIPS PCRW804
Floppy Drive
NVIDIA Geforce 4 Ti 4200 64 MB

I have/had Windows XP Professional installed.

Thanks in advance.

Johner · Feb 28, 2003

put your win xp cd in while running window, you will see screen come up where you will see repair, click it. I believe that what it means.

Major Attitude · Feb 28, 2003

Ive done it before, its quick and works well. Do as it said, follow the prompts and you will be back up in no time. Only had to do it once on my sond pc, so cant really tell you much more then it was very easy.

CrazyTom · Feb 28, 2003

I cant even get to windows. It just says that and makes me restart. When i do the Cd then it goes to the supposed recovery prompt. All it is is a C:\WINDOWS prompt what do i do from there?

DavidGP · Mar 1, 2003

Cannot guarantee it will save your data

If you cannot enter the repair function as outlined in the above posts then you are going to have to do it a different way... this way involves entering your Bios and setting the First Boot device to CDROM, then with your XP cd in the drive restart your machine..... when it says "press any key to boot from cd" do so ANY key will do

you then get to the menu screens where you will see 3 options, press ENTER for option 1 ( DO NOT pick R for recovery console ) some files will load this takes a few seconds or so...

at the next menu pick the drive which has your XP installation on ( I guessing you only have one OS installed eg. not dual booting? ) it should look something like this on screen...

C:\WINDOWS "Microsoft Windows XP Professional"

if its the one highlighted then press R for repair selected windows installation and this will start the repair function....

You will be prompted to enter your XP CD Key again as this method is more like installing a fresh copy over an old damaged version but it SHOULD retain all your installed programs and settings BUT you will have to install all service packs again!

once its finished and rebooted once then shutdown and enter Bios again to change the First Boot device back to your HD

IMO repairs are no substitute for a fresh install BUT at least they give you a chance to backup your data.

exeter_acres · Mar 1, 2003

WAIT< WAIT>>>WAIT....

I get this exact error in WinXP if there is something not quite right in the BIOS!!!

Not that I would ever change anything in the BIOS , that would make Mastertech mad!

try going in to your bios and resetting it to failsafe defaults or something like that and then try and reboot....

Works EVERY time for me...

Curtis

CrazyTom · Mar 1, 2003

exter i tried what you said and made all my bio settings default. it didnt work same error. Im going to try what halo said now.

Thank you everyone for replying this is a great forum I think ill stick around maybe i can help some people out like you folks did for me (i hope)

Thanks again everyone

exeter_acres · Mar 1, 2003

shoot... works every time for me....

Good Luck.... keep us posted as to the results..'

CrazyTom · Mar 1, 2003

I hate microsoft with a passion (maybe because I bought XP professional for $300 then the next day my friend handed me the corporate copy paying exactly nothing for it!) but they sure do have wonderful tech support my friend and I were doing some browsing for somthing that might fix this and he found the solution to the problem: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

Step one worked. Moving on to Step two.........

Major Attitude · Mar 1, 2003

Well, I am not sure, not pointing finger, but if your friend handed you the Corporate version and he downloaded it and YOU went to Windows Update and\or updated to the new Service Pack, your all done.

Otherwise, in your BIOS, find BOOT ORDER. Make CD the first bootable drive. Then it will boot from the CD. If not, I suspect the problem above.

I had a friend who got the corporate version at work (a computer place) and when the info was released to make sure yours was legit, I checked and mine was a pirated version. I tossed it, formatted and bought XP that day... So it happens

CrazyTom · Mar 1, 2003

that wasn't the problem. I was just complainging about buying XP for 300 bucks. i figured out the problem. it was a registry thing. sorry for making it all confusing.

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