Error: System32 Config System File not found or corrupted

Hi all, Here are my two cents after reading many threads on this error in here.  I fixed my problem after step 3 below (ran chkdsk twice).  THis is only an outline of the major steps.   I am on my way to finally purchase a backup drive now.  I almost lost many pictures of my two year old !

 

 

Upon bootup, press

F2 -

F8 – startup method (SAFE mode, last known configuration, etc.)

F12 – choose boot device, DELL Diagnostics

CTRL-F11

 

 

#1) Run DELL Diagnostics to check for bad hard drive.

 

#2a) Get WinXP Recovery disk from DELL.  DELL provides you one copy of the disk regardless of your warranty condition.

#2b) Run Recovery Console first to get to DOS prompt

 

#3) Run chkdsk /r from the C:\ directory to repair (repeat until no errors encountered – if possible).

 

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

#4) Check the existence of the system file – copy it from repair dir.

 

Eg.

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
exit

or

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

 

#5)  Fix Registry errors

from http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm  see MS article

Q307545 How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry

 

If there's data on the drive you need that isn't backed up start here:

Buy a notebook to desktop drive cable or an external USB 2.0/firewire 2.5" drive enclosure, attach the drive to a working desktop or notebook and copy your data for backup.

DO NOT PROCEED WITHOUT A BACKUP - DOING SO COULD BE FATAL TO YOUR DATA.

Return the drive to the notebook. Boot, press F12 and run the extended diagnostics on the drive. If the drive passes, skip the next step.

If the drive fails and you're under warranty, call Dell, report the error and they'll ship you a new drive.

If the drive fails and you're out of warranty, bin it and replace it - any 120G or smaller, EIDE (NOT SATA) notebook 2.5" drive will work.

If the drive passes, you can continue to try a repair (which fails more often than it succeeds) or bite the bullet and reinstall everything from scratch.

Recovery usually fails to restore the registry; in about 70-80% of all cases, it's a hardware fault that causes the problem.

Message Edited by ejn63 on 01-06-2008 08:03 PM