System32 error

Question

Today I received the 'system32/config is either missing or corrupt' error upon start-up.  After some research I learned that it may have been an improper shutdown that caused it (I accidentally switched off the PC last night after it was on stand-by).    I tried Microsoft's solution ( http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545), but it didn't work; the prompt kept asking for a valid command.   I then tried to load the last good boot settings from the F8 menu and that didn't work either.   I then tried these solutions: http://www.5starsupport.com/xp-faq/1-11.htm and http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-146299.php, and neither worked.   Worse, now the repair console isn't even working anymore.  When I get to the blue screen the whole thing just freezes and I have to switch off the power.   Can anyone help?

maxd · Answer

Question: Can't tell if you're doing it right; do you realize that you have to go into the BIOS and change the boot order so that D (cd-rom) is the first boot device ?

Denny Denham · Answer

steve1113895,

When you tried the first link (the Microsoft knowledge base document) what prompt were you unable to provide. Was it perhaps that you were unable to enter the Administrator password?

If your system is new so you will not lose much perishable data an option available to you is PC Restore (directions here) which will return your system to its "as shipped" condition.

steve111385 · Answer

@maxd wrote:
Question:

Can't tell if you're doing it right; do you realize that you have to go into the BIOS and change the boot order so that D (cd-rom) is the first boot device ?

I went to system setup and made it so that the CD-Rom loads first. That seemed to solve the problem with Windows Repair freezing, but it didn't help anything else.

steve111385 · Answer

@Denny Denham wrote:
steve1113895,

When you tried the first link (the Microsoft knowledge base document) what prompt were you unable to provide. Was it perhaps that you were unable to enter the Administrator password?

If your system is new so you will not lose much perishable data an option available to you is PC Restore (directions here) which will return your system to its "as shipped" condition.

It didn't ask me for an admin password. It asks what I would like to log on to, and it gives me one choice: Windows. So I type in 1 for Windows, and it gives me a C:/windows prompt. I then try typing in the first line that the microsoft solution gives me, and it says File Could Not Be Copied.

And no, my PC isn't new, it's two years old. It's a Dimension 8300.

Denny Denham · Answer

steve11385,

You are not in Recovery Console, you are at the start of Repair Reinstall. You need to enter R at the Setup screen and it appears you hit to get past this screen. See the screen shots in this document.

steve111385 · Answer

@Denny Denham wrote:
steve11385,

You are not in Recovery Console, you are at the start of Repair Reinstall. You need to enter R at the Setup screen and it appears you hit to get past this screen. See the screen shots in this document.

OK I tried this, but after I agree to the licensing agreement it gives me a different screen. Instead of the repair screen it gives me an install screen with two Partitions: FAT and NTFS. The only options I have with these two things are to install or delete.

Windows General

System32 error

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