Looks like I have a possible corrupt registry too!
I am having a similar problem as Assenad...I also have an apparent registry corruption (receiving the same message when I attempt to boot Windows XP Home Edition on my PC).
I had some time this weekend to mess with my old PC (attempt to fix it). I intended to "clean" some things up and run HiJack This before submitting questions to you folks, however in the middle of cleaning my C: it crashed and automatically restarted. Following the first "Dell splash screen" I get a black screen with gray text stating:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original setup cd-rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
I did so and found my way to the Recovery Console. There I got to the C:\WINDOWS> prompt where I attempted a series of things to resolve the issue (chkdsk /r, chkdsk /p, followed the Microsoft website suggestions at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3084/en-us), nothing has been resolved. After completing the Microsoft website stuff XP did start however when I started it in Safe Mode (as they suggested) and attempted to use administrator privileges, I was not allowed to open hidden folders and files as within My Computer (e.g. Windows Explorer, Folder Options, View Tab, etc.). I attempted the "recovery from a corrupted registry..." via the Microsoft website. That was not successful and now if I attempt to do the same thing, within the Recovery Console, I receive the following messages: A directory or file with the name tmp already exists...or...The system cannot find the file specified...or...The parameter is not valid. Try /? for help.I think I made things worse.
I can no longer start XP in Safe Mode and I am back to the part where the black screen appears with the above-mention "Windows could not start" message. And it appears I cannot even proceed to repair the registry. Is their anyway to get rid of the changes I have recently conducted in the Recovery Console?
I fear I have really F'd things up! Any help would be most appreciated.
I had some time this weekend to mess with my old PC (attempt to fix it). I intended to "clean" some things up and run HiJack This before submitting questions to you folks, however in the middle of cleaning my C: it crashed and automatically restarted. Following the first "Dell splash screen" I get a black screen with gray text stating:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original setup cd-rom. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
I did so and found my way to the Recovery Console. There I got to the C:\WINDOWS> prompt where I attempted a series of things to resolve the issue (chkdsk /r, chkdsk /p, followed the Microsoft website suggestions at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3084/en-us), nothing has been resolved. After completing the Microsoft website stuff XP did start however when I started it in Safe Mode (as they suggested) and attempted to use administrator privileges, I was not allowed to open hidden folders and files as within My Computer (e.g. Windows Explorer, Folder Options, View Tab, etc.). I attempted the "recovery from a corrupted registry..." via the Microsoft website. That was not successful and now if I attempt to do the same thing, within the Recovery Console, I receive the following messages: A directory or file with the name tmp already exists...or...The system cannot find the file specified...or...The parameter is not valid. Try /? for help.I think I made things worse.
I can no longer start XP in Safe Mode and I am back to the part where the black screen appears with the above-mention "Windows could not start" message. And it appears I cannot even proceed to repair the registry. Is their anyway to get rid of the changes I have recently conducted in the Recovery Console?
I fear I have really F'd things up! Any help would be most appreciated.
. This page is asking me to choose which partition I want to install XP. The 'R' for repair is not one of the choices here. I am very hesitant to choose Install because it was not what I expected to be the next page XP setup.
Linear Mode
