Windows Help Desk
C:\windows\system32\config\system is corrupt
This error can come from
nowhere. Once day the computer will be fine the next it will say this
error message and wont go into windows. There are 2 solutions around
this problem.
1. Reinstall windows and
lose all data and start again
2.Use recovery console fix
the problem
Using Recovery Console
To use recovery console
place your Windows XP CD into the drive and boot from it. Press F10 then
R and Select the recovery console. Press C to start recovery console.
Select your installation of Windows and type the administrator password.
In recovery Console type the
following command pressing return after each one:
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
When
windows loads shut it down and boot in safe mode by pressing F8 and
choosing safe mode
When
in safe mode select windows explorer and click folder options on the
tools menu. Go to the View Tab and select "Show hidden files and
folders" Click Yes on the box that pops up.
Click the drive where you installed Windows and open the system volume
information folder.
If
this says access denied see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309531/
Open
a folder that was not created at the current itme and select one of the
folders starting with Rpx. THese are your restore points
Open
one of hese folders to find the restore points
Copy
the following files and rename as described:
Copy the following files to the C:\Windows\Tmp folder
_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY
_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM
Rename the files in the C:\Windows\Tmp folder
Rename _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT to DEFAULT
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to SOFTWARE
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to SECURITY
Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEM
Shut down the computer again and place the Windows CD in the drive and boot from it. Go into recovery console once again:
Once into recovery console type the following pressing Return after each line:
del c:\windows\system32\config\default
del c:\windows\system32\config\software
del c:\windows\system32\config\sam
del c:\windows\system32\config\security
del c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\tmp\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
copy c:\windows\tmp\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\tmp\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\tmp\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\tmp\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
Type Exit and let windows boot up
Once in windows select All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools and Select System Restore.
Select Restore to a previous point and Windows should be back to Normal
For more information see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
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