Windows System File Corrupted

Question

I'm posting this on behalf of my roommate, who has by now thrown her hands up in the air and abandoned all hope. We've attempted to use the troubleshooting article here. Upon start up, an error message appears stating that windows is unable to start because the following file is corrupted: c:\windows\system32\config\system. We've tried inserting the operating system CD and using the repair utility offered along with the error, but pressing 'r' does nothing. We've tried booting the system from the CD and using the repair utility there, but as soon as we choose the windows installation we want to log onto, a REGISTRY_ERROR message appears (the technical information at the bottom is as follows: *** STOP: 0x00000051 (0x00000003, 0x00000003, 0x00000000, 0xe10F2000)). It suggests that we start the computer in safe mode, but the message reappears there, also. We're at a loss- any help at all would be appreciated. Thanks. :)

Denny Denham · Answer

Dust_Entropy,

Boot to Recovery Console using the procedure here. Note that you must boot from the XP CD to do so. In order to do this you must set the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device in BIOS unless your computer offers the option of booting from the CD by pressing F12.

If you have done that and receive an registry error message when choosing the Windows installation you wish to log in to (and the error repeats in Safe Mode) you are left with only one option and that is to do a reinstallation of XP, but that would be highly unusual since Recovery Console is nearly always accessible. If, however, this is required, the procedure for it is here.

If you are able to boot to Recovery Console follow the steps given here to correct the problem.

Dust_Entropy · Answer

*rubs her temples* We ran through the procedures you linked to, but kept getting the same kind of error over and over. Since my roommate doesn't have anything she can't replace on her computer right now, we decided to try the clean installation of XP- but lo and behold, the "registry error" resurfaced. I'm not sure if we're doing something glaringly wrong, but we can't do anything with the system, whether we're booting from the CD or not. And her computer isn't equipped with the capability to read floppy discs, so there are limited ways to try and reinstall. =\ Oh my. I suppose we'll have to try and rope in one of the computer literate people on campus, or something.

We do appreciate your help, though. ^_^ However, I've got to get to bed before my head explodes.

Denny Denham · Answer

Dust_Entropy,

If you boot from the Windows XP reinstallation CD and begin a clean install of Window you cannot get a registry error because the installation procedure does not utilize the existing registry but creates a new one as it is installed. It does not sound like you are booting from the CD but rather letting it autostart. If her computer has two optical drives (two CD-ROM drives or one CD-ROM and one DVD-ROM) the XP CD may have been inserted into the wrong drive, as has happened with other users.

deltec · Answer

I have exact same problem. Could not wipe it if I wanted to! If you choose to "setup XP now" the error appears before you get to the option to format etc.

Please let me know how you are doing, or if anyone else has a clue. My machine is a Dell Latitude D800.

I bought a converter so that I could put the laptop hard drive into my PC, only to find the D800 has an ATA-6 drive!

Any clues, ideas, theories??

Thanks

Windows General

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