System32/Config file missing?

Question

My PC shows an error msg tht "system32/config file is missing". It also indicates to insert XP CD-ROM and click R to repair. I have informed the computer guy and he said formatting will be needed. Now, I have many important files in my C Drive and can't afford to loose 'em. Is it possible to save/backup a copy of my whole C Drive in my system along wid getting the above problem corrected so I tht I can access them later?? Can I get them copied to a CD and delete those fro my system?

Answer 1

If you have your operating system disk, try the following. I have save many computers by doing this.



USING THE WINDOWS REPAIR CONSOLE (works for both XP and Vista)



Put your XP disk into your CD drive and restart your system. This will start the XP installation process. When you come to the screen that asks if you want to install XP or if you would like to “Repair” XP, choose Repair. This will open the repair console command prompt. At the prompt, type: chkdsk /r. (There is a space between the k and the /. Now hit “Enter”. The repair should now start. Allow it to run until it stops. This can take some time, so be patient.



If all goes well, XP will replace or repair any and all missing operating system files.



Note 1: Before attempting the above, you must first enter the BIOS to make sure that the boot sequence is set so that the CD drive boots before the hard drive.



Note 2: If you do not have an XP installation CD, you can borrow one for this operation, just be sure it is the same version (Home or Pre) that you are running. Since you are “Repairing” Windows and not “installing” it, you will not be required to supply an installation KEY.

Answer 2

Hi its a long Process

NOTE : Be careful while u r doing these steps



If the file system is damaged, you can use chkdsk /r command to repair the volume. However, if you use the chkdsk /r command, you may lose some data.

You will need the Windows startup disks or the Windows installation disk



To repair the volume, follow these steps:

Start your computer by inserting the Windows startup disks or the Windows installation disk if your computer can start from the CD drive.

When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R to select the repair option.

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

Type the administrator password when you are prompted to do this.



Note If no administrator password exists, press ENTER.

At the command prompt, on the drive where Windows is installed, type chkdsk /r, and then press ENTER.

At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER to restart your computer.

After you repair the volume, check your hardware to isolate the cause of the file system damage.

If this procedure does not work, repeat it, but type fixboot instead of chkdsk /r in step 5.







this problem occurs when you try to update drivers in the computer..sometimes windows XP cannot update the driver and that corrupts system.ini file as it has a lot of bad entries..Due to this you will get this error mesage..No its not due to virus.its due to an attempt to change system.ini file



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



That means the System Registry Hive has become corrupted.



There are two ways to get back up and running. The easy way which doesn't always work, and then there is the hard way.



Easy Way --- Note that this doesn't always work.

When you are booting your system, press the F8 key during the start of the bootup sequence, meaning after it does the Power On Self Test.



Once you press the F8 key, you will be taken to a Menu. Select "Boot Using Last Known Good Configuration".



It will now attempt to load Windows XP using a past set of configuration files.



If that doesn't work, there is the next step....the hard way.



Hard Way

Boot your system with the Windows XP Install CD, let the system boot into the Setup. Once in the Setup, choose to run the Recovery Console.



You will now be presented with a screen similar to good old DOS.



First, we will recover the System Hive.



Now, type in the following commands with pressing Enter after each line.



md tmp

copy C:\windows\system32\config\system C:\windows\tmp\system.bak

delete C:\windows\system32\config\system

copy C:\windows\repair\system C:\windows\system32\config\system



Be very careful when you are typing in these commands, one wrong move, and you have, broken Windows XP.



Also, change the C in the commands to whatever your Windows XP drive letter is.



Attempt to boot the system, if it doesn't boot, get back into the Recovery Console and do the following commands.



md tmp

copy C:\windows\system32\config\software C:\windows\tmp\software.bak

delete C:\windows\system32\config\software

copy C:\windows\repair\software C:\windows\system32\config\software

Answer 3

you have have been given a hardware failure of a few style. the 1st clue, residing house windows system32 config device record corrupted or lacking might component to a foul no longer easypersistent or malware/virus of a few style. If residing house windows setup will start up from CD or flashpersistent, yet fails at component the place you go with partition, that ought to component to a foul no longer easypersistent. you have have been given 2 indicators that component to a foul no longer easypersistent. yet that must be brought about via: - undesirable no longer easypersistent - undesirable motherboard - undesirable RAM - undesirable capability furnish Any of those ought to furnish indicators that ought to look to signify that a no longer easypersistent is undesirable. nevertheless, as no longer undemanding drives are annoyingly carriers to failure and you have have been given indicators of a foul no longer easypersistent, i might attempt changing the no longer easypersistent. however, if the device is greater advantageous than 2 years previous, that's possibly time for a whole new laptop.

Answer 4

this happened to me once and i got a portable hard drive and then downloaded a linux OS called puppy, very small easy to use, and from there i could copy all my files to the portable hdd. since then i have made two partitions on my hard drive, one for operating system and one for files and programs, so now if windows sucks i can easily reinstall without having to backup anything.

URL FOR PUPPY!!-- http://www.puppylinux.org/downloads

Answer 5

nope you're ******, might be able to get a new harddrive and transfer them over

otherwise your files are done =/

sorry