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Thread ID: 95370 2008-12-03 19:23:00 WinXP Repair - CONFIG SYSTEM Strommer (42) Press F1
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725532 2008-12-03 19:23:00 When starting WinXP, this error message appears:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair . . . . original CD . . .

I inserted the orignal XP CD and now am at the C\WINDOWS prompt .
I can get the list of options from HELP, but do not know what to choose .

Where is the Repair option?

Thanks .
Strommer (42)
725533 2008-12-03 19:34:00 Did you reboot and boot from the cd?

Not run it from within windows

Make a batch file from the info here (support.microsoft.com)

Did you press R to get to the recovery console?
Speedy Gonzales (78)
725534 2008-12-03 19:35:00 So far, I found this:
support.microsoft.com

Do I really have to enter all of these command lines??!

At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

# Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.
Strommer (42)
725535 2008-12-03 19:35:00 Speedy, yes I booted from the original XP CD Strommer (42)
725536 2008-12-03 19:37:00 Like it says under it do it on another computer save it as a batch file then run it from the recovery console Speedy Gonzales (78)
725537 2008-12-03 19:37:00 Make a batch file from the info here (support.microsoft.com)

Did you press R to get to the recovery console?

Yes I pressed R.

LOL, we cross posted with the same MS page. Ugggh, it looks like I DO have to enter all of those command lines. Correct?
Strommer (42)
725538 2008-12-03 19:40:00 Like it says under it do it on another computer save it as a batch file then run it from the recovery console

Well, I do not understand what "save it as a batch file" means. Hopefully the MS page will explain what this means.

I am using a laptop in the same room as my desktop - the one with the problem.
Strommer (42)
725539 2008-12-03 19:40:00 Well you must be on another computer, since youre here.

Copy those commands then save it as it says with a name.. regcopy1.txt

Then somehow (does this PC have a floppy)?? There must be some way OF running it after.

What it means is all those commands (you copy all of it ie: this)

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Then paste it into notepad, go to save as give it a name as it says regcopy1.txt

And hopefully you've got a floppy, on this desktop or something (if recovery console can cd to a floppy or whatever), then all you do is cd to it, then to run that batch file you type batch regcopy1.txt to run the commands above so it does its thing, (the main thing is it saves you typing the lines above)
Speedy Gonzales (78)
725540 2008-12-03 19:43:00 OK, found the MS instructions but do not understand it:

----------------------------
If you have access to another computer, to save time, you can copy the text in step five, and then create a text file called "Regcopy1.txt" (for example). To use this file, run the following command when you start in Recovery Console:
batch regcopy1.txt
With the batch command in Recovery Console, you can process all the commands in a text file sequentially. When you use the batch command, you do not have to manually type as many commands.
----------------------

I could create the text file on this laptop but how do I then transfer it to the desktop? Surely a USB stick cannot be used...
Strommer (42)
725541 2008-12-03 19:47:00 Copy those commands then save it as it says with a name.. batch regcopy1.txt

Then somehow (does this PC have a floppy)?? There must be some way OF running it after.

The floppy drive is kaput - stopped working a couple of years ago and since I no longer use floppies I have not bothered to fix it.

Its strange that the MS instruction page does not say how to copy the text file commands to the corrupt pc, but that's typical MS I guess!

Looks like I will have to enter each line manually. :groan:
Strommer (42)
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