corrupt system32 file

kimchicowboy · 07-12-2004, 04:16 PM

ok. so i got a problem while trying to open up a Word file from a floppy. i shut down the computer and when i restart, i get this error:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\Windows\system32\config\system"

it mentioned that i can try to repair the file with my Windows CD. but after the CD boots and asks me if i want to repair and finally gets me to the repair console, all i see is:

"c:\windows"

and i have no idea what to do from there. i did see the "system" file.

how do i repair the file? should i just reinstall windows? if i reinstall windows, will it delete all of the files i already have? (i.e. my outlook contacts, e-mails, etc)

thanks! help me ASAP!

Jeffbx · 07-13-2004, 05:08 AM

Try the automatic recovery, not the recovery console. All the recovery console does (as you've seen) is bring you to a command prompt where you can manually manipulate the files. Automatic recovery will attempt to overwrite all of your system files with originals. You won't lose any data or program files, but you'll have to re-apply any Windows service packs you're running.

kimchicowboy · 07-13-2004, 04:41 PM

great. i did the automatic recovery and now get this:

"setup cannot set the required windows XP configurations information. this indicates an internal setup error.

contact your system administrator."

wth is this? i think i'm the system administrator. i have no freakin idea what to do. should i just risk losing everything and reformatting?

brainsmile · 07-13-2004, 04:52 PM

do you have your data backed up? Just wondering

kimchicowboy · 07-13-2004, 06:10 PM

actually, i do have a back-up from like a month ago. i just remembered that. i guess i'll just go ahead with it here at work since i have other stuff to do anyway. the only problem is that i use my cousin's DSL at home and he doesn't have a router and he lost the password to the account, so i can't log in with my laptop. bah. i'm sure he can get it again though.

thanks for the help. better than Dell tech support. heheh.

Jeffbx · 07-14-2004, 04:54 AM

One thing you can do if you don't have your data backed up -

Just install Windows into a different directory (C:\newwin or whatever). Assuming you don't have a hardware problem, this will at least allow you to get into your system & backup your files. Once they're backed up I'd still recommend a format & complete re-insall.

seqiro · 07-16-2004, 07:18 AM

When this has happened to the Dell machines here at work, it has been due to a corrupted partition on the hard drive. This happens over and over again until the hard drive enventually fails. And it's always a Maxtor drive that it happens to. After replacing the hard drive with a Seagate or a WD, the problems stopped in each case.

After this happened to over three dozes machines, Dell recently just came in and swapped out all of our Maxtor thin hard drives with Seagates. That was on over 100 machines.

07-12-2004, 04:16 PM	#1
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	corrupt system32 file ok. so i got a problem while trying to open up a Word file from a floppy. i shut down the computer and when i restart, i get this error: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \Windows\system32\config\system" it mentioned that i can try to repair the file with my Windows CD. but after the CD boots and asks me if i want to repair and finally gets me to the repair console, all i see is: "c:\windows" and i have no idea what to do from there. i did see the "system" file. how do i repair the file? should i just reinstall windows? if i reinstall windows, will it delete all of the files i already have? (i.e. my outlook contacts, e-mails, etc) thanks! help me ASAP! __________________ "I pick my nose too but never eat it." - bachviet, 3/30/04 if anyone wants to go scuba diving in oahu or wants to learn who to scuba dive in oahu, PM me.

07-13-2004, 04:52 PM	#4
brainsmile Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: woah... why is welfareloser here with me so early in the morning and more importantly why am I wearing her clothes?!? Posts: 13,754	do you have your data backed up? Just wondering __________________ ********************************** DCM #1 (Founder) "Nobody beats Vitus Gerulaitis 18 times in a row." - Vitus Gerulaitis on beating Jimmy Connors after 17 failed attempts.

07-16-2004, 07:18 AM	#7
seqiro Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,183	When this has happened to the Dell machines here at work, it has been due to a corrupted partition on the hard drive. This happens over and over again until the hard drive enventually fails. And it's always a Maxtor drive that it happens to. After replacing the hard drive with a Seagate or a WD, the problems stopped in each case. After this happened to over three dozes machines, Dell recently just came in and swapped out all of our Maxtor thin hard drives with Seagates. That was on over 100 machines. __________________ Paul Beasi

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07-13-2004, 05:08 AM	#2
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	Try the automatic recovery, not the recovery console. All the recovery console does (as you've seen) is bring you to a command prompt where you can manually manipulate the files. Automatic recovery will attempt to overwrite all of your system files with originals. You won't lose any data or program files, but you'll have to re-apply any Windows service packs you're running.

07-13-2004, 04:41 PM	#3
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	great. i did the automatic recovery and now get this: "setup cannot set the required windows XP configurations information. this indicates an internal setup error. contact your system administrator." wth is this? i think i'm the system administrator. i have no freakin idea what to do. should i just risk losing everything and reformatting?

07-13-2004, 06:10 PM	#5
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	actually, i do have a back-up from like a month ago. i just remembered that. i guess i'll just go ahead with it here at work since i have other stuff to do anyway. the only problem is that i use my cousin's DSL at home and he doesn't have a router and he lost the password to the account, so i can't log in with my laptop. bah. i'm sure he can get it again though. thanks for the help. better than Dell tech support. heheh.

07-14-2004, 04:54 AM	#6
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	One thing you can do if you don't have your data backed up - Just install Windows into a different directory (C:\newwin or whatever). Assuming you don't have a hardware problem, this will at least allow you to get into your system & backup your files. Once they're backed up I'd still recommend a format & complete re-insall.

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