Cannot access Recovery Console/Windows Setup

Question

I have a corrupt registry file and need to get into the recovery console. I have the Windows XP CD (purple disk that says 'Operating System' on top), have gone into f2 and made sure the IDE CD ROM booting option is first on the list, have also gone through f12 and selected the IDE CD-ROM (no. 5) option.   However, the screen goes back to the error message saying windows could not startup due to corrupt file, windows\system32\config....   Ive talked to someone from Dell and the rep. said i should see a prompt to 'hit any key' to continue into windows setup after selecting to boot from the CD. But, again, i see no prompt as the screen goes back to the error message. What should I do from here? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Majestic · Answer

Sounds like the system is still trying to boot from the hard drive even though you have the boot order changed to the CD as the first device.   If you have more than one optical drive then try booting from the other drive.  Only one optical drive will be the bootable drive and it may not be the upper most drive in the tower.  Try both drives.

Stefan0314 · Answer

Thanks Majestic.

Now when I am in recovery console an attempting to correct the registry files, I am getting an "access denied" error. So, i looked around the site and found this method to correct it:

1. Type cd \ and press the key.
2. Type cd windows\system32\config and press the key.
3. Type ren system system.bak and press the key.
4. Type exit and press the key.
5. Restart the computer.

However, after step 2 i get a message stating that the file could not be found.

Then i tired a procedure i dug up from poster 'dunedin' :

""These instrucions don`t use 'tmp dir '

To Repair
c:\windows\system32\config\system

In Recovery Console, at prompt,
1.Type cd system32\config and then press ENTER.

2.Type dir system and then press ENTER.

If you cannot run the preceding command successfully (because the file is missing), skip to step 3. If you can run the preceding command successfully,
Type ren system system.bak and then press ENTER.

3. Type copy c:\windows\repair\system and then press ENTER.

You should receive a "One file copied" informational message.

Type exit , and then press ENTER to quit Recovery Console and restart the computer.

IMPORTANT : If you encounter problems when you run the preceding commands, you may need to use the Change Directory command ( cd ) one folder at a time before you run the preceding commands.
For example ( in #1) type cd system32 , press ENTER, type cd config , and then press ENTER""

However, after step 1 of this procedue, I got the same message saying file not found. I only have the C-drive for a hard drive. Also, I am never prompted for an administrator password.

What do i do from here to get passed this access denied message?

Message Edited by Stefan0314 on 05-01-200610:32 PM

Message Edited by Stefan0314 on 05-01-200610:33 PM

Majestic · Answer

Unfortunately I am not the best person to ask with technical Windows XP questions since I'm a relatively newbie to that operating system.  I would suggestion posting your problem in the Software - Windows XP forum.  That forum is very popular and you shouldn't have to wait long for an answer.   You can click here for a direct link to the XP forum.

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Cannot access Recovery Console/Windows Setup

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