Hardware

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Computer wont boot- \WINOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIC\SYSTEM error

0 helpful
4 replies

by thumps2001

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

When i turn my computer on, all i get is a black and white screen that reads:
"windows coul no start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIC\SYSTEM

you can attempt to repai this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup cd-om. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

I have tried restarting my computer with the windows XP home disk, and nothing works, tried hitting F10 and r and nothing seems to get any other screen besides this one. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I have googled the error message and read the threads on here about it but i dont seem to find anything about what to do if it wont start. I have tried running the cd from the both the cd and dvd drive but nothing for either one.

Thanks

4 replies

by deepsand

The "Discussion" forum is for matters of general discussion, not specific problems in search of a solution.

Post problems such as this to the "Question" forum, rather than the "Discussion" forum. There are those who specifically seek out problems in need of a solution, and that's where they go to look for such.

by deadly ernest

you need to either do r full re-install of the OS from the proper discs. Sometimes you can get away with copying this file from another machine of the same type to the folder Windows\System32 - I'd use a Linux live CD to do this with a USB thumb drive.

by bcpgm

This typically happens when Windows File System got corrupted.

I recommend

1. run CHKDSK /R from Repair Console
2. if this does not work, refer to http://tinyurl.com/4y24g

I have used both successfully.

If the above do not work, back up data and clean install Windows. Reinstallation (repair installation or in-place upgrade) of Windows would not work because there is no Windows to reinstall.

by remailer000

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.

This error is a registry error, One of the systems registry hives is corrupted and needs to be repaired. This repair process will take aprx. 30 min ? 1.5 hours. The steps that will be taken to repair this error will include coping registry files from the System restore folder that is a hidden directory in the ? SYSTEM VOULME INFORMATION? folder on the root directory.

1. Boot into the Windows XP recovery console.
2. Hit 1. to boot into the Current windows installation.
3. Type in the administrator password
4. once you get to the c:\windows directory type ? cd .. ?this will take you to the c:\ then type ?md t? this is making a folder on the c: drive called T ( you can name it what ever you want but there will be a lot of typing involved in the fix and it just makes it a little easyer)
5. then ? cd system~1?
6. Next type ? cd _resto~1 ? then type ? dir ? to show a list of files in the directory
7. then look for a set of folders named ? RPxxx? (XXX- there will be numbers here)
8. You will then want to type ? cd RPxxx ? ( go into the folder that has the highest number (i.e. rp201,rp202,rp203, You would want to go into the 203)
9. Then type ?cd snapshot? then type ?dir?
10. You will see a list of files that start with _registry_machine_X
11. You will need to copy the SAM,SYSTEM,SOFWARE,SECURITY,.DEFAULT to the c:\t folder you made in step 4.
12. type ?copy _registery_machine_sam c:\t? You will need to do this to all the files named in step 10 ( PLEASE NOTE the .DEFAULT is named _registery_user_.default And there is a period in front of default( not a typo )
13. once you have copied all the files to the T folder on the c: drive you will need to type ?cd c:\t? this will take you to the T folder then type ?dir? to see a list of files in the t folder.
14. You will then need to rename all the files to their names ( i.e. _Registery_Machine_SAM would be renamed to SAM)
15. To do this type ?ren _registery_machine_SAM sam? Repeat for all 5 file names ( NOTE: the _registery_user_.default will be renamed to DEFAULT leave out the period this time( ?ren _registry_user_.default Default?))
16. once all the files have been renamed, you can then copy them back to the system folder and finish the repair.
17. To do this type ?copy X c:\windows\system32\config\? (X being the name of each file you renamed) for each 5 files. ( i.e. copy system c:\windows\system32\config\)
18. then type ?exit? to reboot.

This should repair the registry error with a back up copy that was created with the system restore feature in windows XP. If windows XP system restore has been or is disabled you will not be able to use this fix to repair windows.

This discussion is closed to new replies.