Windows start up????

hi everyone,
i have a problem when i try to start my pc up. this is what it says...
windows could not start up because the following file is missing or corrupt
\windows/system32/confiure/system
to repair start windows set up using the original set up cd-rom.

I dont have this!! is it serious? please help!!

thanx

 

Is it a pre-build computer (HP, Dell)? If so, I think there's a recovery partition in the hard disk.

 

hi, im so sorry im really dim but what do you mean "pre-build"? i bought it new already built... it is a packard bell.

 

does it help if i tell you its a packard bell easy note E6100 with windows xp home edition? or how do i access the recovery prtition in the hard disk?

 

hi, i have since asking found this fix.... can somebody just confirm i am about to do the right fix please?!! also do i need to download all six set up floppy disks or just this oneMicrosoft Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=E8FE6868-6E4F-471C-B455-BD5AFEE126D8 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=E8FE6868-6E4F-471C-B455-BD5AFEE126D8)

this is the fix i found....
#5 11-19-06, 22:26
Shadow_Puter_Dude
MG Authorized Malware Fighter Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 7,881

Re: Corrupt or System Missing

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That error messege is cause by a corrupt registry. A repiar install is not necessary.

If you do not have the XP CD and have a floppy drive. Download teh XP system disks and create Disk 1. It is the only one you need to access the Recovery Console.

How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks



How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting


Please print out these instructions so that you can operate with All Browser Windows CLOSED.


This article describes how to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry. This procedure does not guarantee full recovery of the system to a previous state; however, you should be able to recover data when you use this procedure.

Warning: Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives.

You can repair a corrupted registry in Windows XP. Corrupted registry files can cause a variety of different error messages. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base for articles about error messages that are related to registry issues.

This article assumes that typical recovery methods have failed and access to the system is not available except by using Recovery Console. If an Automatic System Recovery (ASR) backup exists, it is the preferred method for recovery. Microsoft recommends that you use the ASR backup before you try the procedure described in this article.

NOTE: Make sure to replace all five of the registry hives. If you only replace a single hive or two, this can cause potential issues because software and hardware may have settings in multiple locations in the registry.

When you try to start or restart your Windows XP-based computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE

Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE or its log or alternate

System error: Lsass.exe
When trying to update a password the return status indicates that the value provided as the current password is not correct.

The procedure that this article describes uses Recovery Console and System Restore. This article also lists all the required steps in specific order to make sure that the process is fully completed. When you finish this procedure, the system returns to a state very close to the state before the problem occurred. If you have ever run NTBackup and completed a system state backup, you do not have to follow the procedures in parts two and three. You can go to part four.

Download and save regcopy1.txt and regcopy2.txt to Floppy Part one

In part one, you start the Recovery Console, create a temporary folder, back up the existing registry files to a new location, delete the registry files at their existing location, and then copy the registry files from the repair folder to the System32\Config folder. When you have finished this procedure, a registry is created that you can use to start Windows XP. This registry was created and saved during the initial setup of Windows XP. Therefore any changes and settings that occurred after the Setup program was finished are lost.

To complete part one, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer. Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.

2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.

4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.

5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following commands and press ENTER after each line:

copy a:\regcopy1.txt c:\
copy a:\regcopy2.txt c:\
batch regcopy1.txt

DO NOT run regcopy2.txt at this time, it is needed latter in Part three of this article.

6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.

NOTE: This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:\Windows folder. Make sure to change C:\Windows to the appropriate windows_ folder if it is a different location. Part two

To complete the procedure described in this section, you must be logged on as an administrator, or an administrative user (a user who has an account in the Administrators group). If you are using Windows XP Home Edition, you can log on as an administrative user. If you log on as an administrator, you must first start Windows XP Home Edition in Safe mode. To start the Windows XP Home Edition computer in Safe mode, follow these steps.

NOTE Print these instructions before you continue. You cannot view these instructions after you restart the computer in Safe Mode. If you use the NTFS file system, also print the instructions from Knowledge Base article KB309531.

1. Click Start, click Shut Down (or click Turn Off Computer), click Restart, and then click OK (or click Restart).

2. Press the F8 key.

On a computer that is configured to start to multiple operating systems, you can press F8 when you see the Startup menu.

3. Use the arrow keys to select the appropriate Safe mode option, and then press ENTER.

4. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, use the arrow keys to select the installation that you want to access, and then press ENTER.

In part two, you copy the registry files from their backed up location by using System Restore. This folder is not available in Recovery Console and is generally not visible during typical usage. Before you start this procedure, you must change several settings to make the folder visible:

1. Start Windows Explorer.

2. On the Tools menu, click Folder options.

3. Click the View tab.

4. Under Hidden files and folders, click to select Show hidden files and folders, and then click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box.

5. Click Yes when the dialog box that confirms that you want to display these files appears.

6. Double-click the drive where you installed Windows XP to display a list of the folders. If is important to click the correct drive.

7. Open the System Volume Information folder. This folder is unavailable and appears dimmed because it is set as a super-hidden folder.

NOTE This folder contains one or more _restore {GUID} folders such as "_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F- F86E30B3E7F8}".

NOTE You may receive the following error message:
C:\System Volume Information is not accessible. Access is denied.
If you receive this message, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article to gain access to this folder and continue with the procedure:
309531 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309531/ ) How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder

8. Open a folder that was not created at the current time. You may have to click Details on the View menu to see when these folders were created. There may be one or more folders starting with "RPx under this folder. These are restore points.

9. Open one of these folders to locate a Snapshot subfolder. The following path is an example of a folder path to the Snapshot folder:
C:\System Volume Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC- A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}\RP1\Snapshot

10. From the Snapshot folder, copy the following files to the C:\Windows\Tmp folder:
_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM

11. Rename the files in the C:\Windows\Tmp folder as follows:
Rename _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT to DEFAULT
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to SECURITY
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to SOFTWARE
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEM
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM

These files are the backed up registry files from System Restore. Because you used the registry file that the Setup program created, this registry does not know that these restore points exist and are available. A new folder is created with a new GUID under System Volume Information and a restore point is created that includes a copy of the registry files that were copied during part one. Therefore, it is important not to use the most current folder, especially if the time stamp on the folder is the same as the current time.

The current system configuration is not aware of the previous restore points. You must have a previous copy of the registry from a previous restore point to make the previous restore points available again.

The registry files that were copied to the Tmp folder in the C:\Windows folder are moved to make sure that the files are available under Recovery Console. You must use these files to replace the registry files currently in the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder. By default, Recovery Console has limited folder access and cannot copy files from the System Volume folder.
NOTE The procedure described in this section assumes that you are running your computer with the FAT32 file system.
Part Three

In part three, you delete the existing registry files, and then copy the System Restore Registry files to the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder:

1. Start Recovery Console (or by using a Windows 98 Boot Disk).

2. At the command prompt, type the following command and press ENTER after you type the line:
batch regcopy2.txt

3. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer restarts.
NOTE This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:\Windows folder. Make sure to change C:\Windows to the appropriate windows_folder if it is a different location.

Part Four

1. Click Start, and then click All Programs.

2. Click Accessories, and then click System Tools.

3. Click System Restore, and then click Restore to a previous RestorePoint.

 

This is the right fix for your problem. You will download

You will download all the disks but when you create them you can stop after creating the first disk.
This is what you need.
XP Home Edition setup floppies

The process seems daunting at first but just take it step by step and it won't be to bad.

 

thanx for that... just another silly question! my laptop doesnt have a floopy disk drive o can i save these windows set up boot disks to cd?

 

Hi Gingermenacejess,
If you have a pre-installed Windows XP, then it probably is OEM, which means that the procedure you listed won't work for you.

abri

 

hi. oh right. so if i dont have a windows disk there really isnt anything i can do? mabye take it in somehwere to fix?

 

If you bought it new, you need to call Packard Bell and ask them to send you a disk. If you didn't get one with it, they will often send you a single one when you request it.
abri

 

I just posted on a different thread w/ a link to the Microsoft fix for your problem. You'll need the XP CD however to enter the Recovery Console.
Here's the link:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us
Read the other thread 'cuz I posted some other suggestions in there also.

 

Thanx everyone for your help.... I hope one of these suggestions work!

 

A lot of OEM systems have the recovery console installed on the hard disk (i know HP and Packard Bell do it). You can access it via the 'Select operating system' screen when you turn on the computer. This way, the windows CD is not required.

You can only restore your registry when system restore is turned on. If system restore is turned off, there will be no backups of the registry, so you can't restore it.
On OEM systems the c:\windows\repair folder is usually empty, so the microsoft KB article is useless. Even if the repair folder is not empty, the backups located there are way too old. You should follow these instructions instead. As stated in this article, try running chkdsk /f before trying anything else.

Screenshot of the 'Select Operating System' screen on win2000 (winxp is very similar)