Recovering from Corrupted Registry in Windows XP

Question

Hello - I am having a problem trying to recover form a corrupted registry. Turning on my computer, I get the 'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \Windows\System32\Config\System. Using Windows XP cds, I boot from the cd-rom drive and enter the Recovery Console. However, in the recovery console, every time I try to begin the recovery process and back up the corrputed registry and create a default registry, I get an access denied message. Can anyone give me an idea as to why I get this message? A similar thing happens when I use system restore to recover. When I type 'cd \' I get the message 'the path or file specified is not valid.'   One thing that I have noticed is that when I enter the recovery console, the prompt I get is 'C:\', and not 'C:\Windows>'. Is this part of the problem?   Trying a complete reinstall also leads to an error message: 'This partition cannot be deleted.'   I also believe that my laptop came equiped with a PC Restore option my Symantec. I have tried using this option, too, and receive a message that say 'Cannot Restore.'   Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks very much!   Andrew   P.S. I have an Inspiron 700M laptop, just 1 year old.

dunedin · Answer

Hello Andrew :smileyhappy:

At the command prompt in the Recovery Console you have to change to the C:\Windows folder.

Try the instructions here

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

It shows you how to do that

BarcelonaBully · Answer

Hello Dunedin!   Thanks so much for your note and for taking the time to respond. I have followed the instructions on the link you provided, but still receive an error message. While trying to change to the c:\Windows folder by typing 'cd system32\config' or simply 'cd system32,' I get a message that says 'the path or file specified is not valid.' I also tried going directly to 'ren system system.bak', and get a message 'an error occured during directory enumeration.' Going right to typing 'copy c:\windows\repair\system' results in the message 'access is denied.'   I should note that after hitting return on all of these, as well as trying to start my computer normally, and while accessing recovery console, my computer makes a little chirp, kind of like a cricket, two times 'chirp-chirp,' as if it is trying to do something but can't. It will do thsi chirp-chirp every 2 or 3 seconds, and then finally stop. I've run a diagnostic test on the computer, and it says that there is only a software problem, not a hardware problem. Not sure if this helps or complicates matters. Any ideas?   Thanks again for all of your help. I think that I'm running out of options...   Andrew

dunedin · Answer

Andrew

You say you have run the Dell diagnostics and the drive is healthy. The only thing I can think of is that the file system may be damaged which would explain the error message you are getting
Perhaps chkdsk might help

Boot into the Recovery Console again
At the RC's command prompt type in
chkdsk /r (there is a space before /)
Enter
Reboot

The /r command locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

If that does not help, here are some different ways to fix it
http://www.help2go.com/Tutorials/Windows/C:%5Cwindows%5Csystem32%5Cconfig%5Csystem_missing_or_corrupt.html

BarcelonaBully · Answer

Hello Dunedin - thanks again for your response. Here is what I get when I try the chkdsk /r command:   'CHKDSK is checking the volume... CHKDSK is performing additional checking or recovery...(this line appreas 2 more times)   25% completed The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems. C:\>'   Using the instructions in the link you provided, using chkdsk /p results in exactly the same messages as above. All of the other instructions say that the computer provides the following prompt: C:\WINDOWS> where I only get C:\>, and then every time I enter one of the commands listed I get the error message 'The path or file specified is not valid.'   Any last ideas before I go out and buy a new computer? I start school this coming Thursday and need to have a computer in class, so I think that I am running out of options. Thanks again for all of your help - I really appreciate it!   Andrew

dunedin · Answer

Andrew,   '25% completed The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems.'   Well, that just confirms my suspicions It explains why you are not getting the C:\WINDOWS prompt in the Recovery Console (it can`t find Windows).  If chkdsk cannot fix it it looks like your file system is totally hosed.   Use the Dell diagnostics again to check the hard drive as there is a possibility the drive has gone bad. If the hard drive turms out to be OK and you cannot use the Recovery option, you should phone Dell and ask for an XP installation CD for your system (Home or Pro) There is a 'Sticky' at the beginning of this forum with instructions how to phone Dell.   It will only take a few days to come and then you can do a clean reinstall.  This is assuming the hard disk checks out OK. You probably won`t have it up and running by Thursday, but it won`t take much longer and won`t cost you anything rather than buying a new machine.   If you need help with the reinstall just post back.   As far as I know this is your only option. Sorry

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Recovering from Corrupted Registry in Windows XP

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