windows/system32/config/system is missing or is corrupted

Question

I am currently on a back up PC but i desperately need to get back on my dell without losing all my work or else I'm not gonna get paid! (and stupidly I hadn't backed up the most recent work)   Operating System: Windows XP Problem Description: windows/system32/config/system is missing or is corrupted   I tried booting in safe mode and last good known configuration but neither work, I emailed dell and they sent me a fix but I'm having problems with it - anyone able to help? I would really appreciate it!     My original message was that 'windows/system32/config/system is missing or is corrupted' and my computer is unbootable not an 'ntoskernl' error (which is what Dell sent me the fix for, but I'm a bit of a computer dummy so I tried it anyway) and it didn't work at the following points.   In the recovery panel dell told me I should select the following option after I had selected repair * Press [1] to choose the Dell installation.   There was nowhere to select [1] dell installation.  When I tried to enter 1 it said no such command     The next step was.... * Next you will be asked to enter the Administrator password. Dell computers ship with no password, so just press [Enter].   It didn't ask me to enter my password once I had typed a few more commands it asked me to type in the following to copy over the needed file * Now type this:  expand ntkrnlmp.ex_   C:\Windows\System32
toskrnl.exe [Enter]  When I typed this it said access denied     The screen is completely black when I try to boot, it cycles through booting again and again, always stopping to say that 'windows/system32/config/system is missing or is corrupted.  Please inster XP disc and select R for repair'  I have tried last good configuration, I have tried booting into safe mode but they all result in the same message.    It also once told me that hal.dll was corrupt.    Anyone have in insight into things I could try while I patiently wait the 48 hours for dell to get back to me.   Many thanks in advance for any help  :smileyhappy:

Denny Denham · Answer

wrf81,

You have a corrupted registry. The information here should help you correct the current situation.

Note also that if your backup PC has a free drive bay you have the option of installing the hard drive from your non-bootable system into it and copying your work there.

Message Edited by Denny Denham on 08-01-2005 09:51 AM

wrf81 · Answer

Ugh... printed it out, tried it, access denied.

I genuinely do not have the skill to remove the hard drive from one machine and put it in the other though - I'd be too scared of breaking it. Guess I'll just have to wait and see what dell say.

Thanks for trying though :-)

wrf81 · Answer

Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a try :-)

redwolfe_98 · Answer

you could try doing a 'repair install' of win xp.. maybe then you can retrieve whatever data it is that you are not wanting to lose.. a 'repair install' supposedly does not overwrite your data..   look at 'method 2' on this page:   http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

wrf81 · Answer

I have a friend who can come and do that for me at the weekend as I seem to have lost my confidence slightly!  In the meantime I'll see if dell have a better solution, but yeah a repair install is a great idea thank you :smileyhappy:

Denny Denham · Answer

wrf81, Unfortunately, your problem is a corrupted registry and a repair reinstall does nothing to the registry.

wrf81 · Answer

oh :-( I didn't know that - thank you for saving me from a wasted couple of hours!  I guess i shall just have to hope that Dells technical support email will arrive soon and will bring me a little hope :-)

Blew · Answer

I just ran into the same problem. Search www.microsoft.com for 307545 9.2 which provides a step by step set of instructions on how to recover. On my Inspiron 600m, it is set to look for diskette drive, hard drive and then CD drive in that order for booting. While booting, I pressed F2 to get into setup to change the order of the drives. Good luck!

Windows General

windows/system32/config/system is missing or is corrupted

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