[skimark]

Out of the blue, XP Pro decided not to start up. I get the message
"windows\system32\config\system is damaged or missing" and then the
instructions to use my install CD and the "r" command. This is a PC that I
built myself, and I purchased an OEM version of XP Pro from NewEgg when I
bought the parts.
When I get to the Restore Console C prompt and try typing in the
instructions indicated by MS to restore my config file, after typing the
first line "md tmp" I get the message "Access Denied" with no further
explanation. I can't type in anything but "help" and get anything to happen.
Any ideas on what is going on here and what I can do to fix the problem? I
also tried booting from Systemworks 2005 Premier and found out that it
doesn't do anything. What a waste of money! I haven't got any other ideas of
what to do to get this thing to boot.

Thanks for your help

[Kelly]

To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
Xp wont boot:

Go to Recovery Console and type:

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
exit

Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545

Added option to consider:

In the Recovery Console:

Type cd sytem32\config , and then press ENTER.
Type dir system , and then press ENTER.

Depending on your error message, use as follows:

Next type: ren software software.bak and then press ENTER.

or:

type ren system system.bak and then press ENTER.

Next type:

copy c:\windows\repair\software , and then press ENTER.

or:

copy c:\windows\repair\system , and then press ENTER.

Exit, reboot.

More info here:

Recovering XP using the Recovery Console (Line 333) right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com



"skimark" <skimark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EB9D6DC3-5A4B-4ADB-9CE0-FB2439ECD57F@microsoft.com...
> Out of the blue, XP Pro decided not to start up. I get the message
> "windows\system32\config\system is damaged or missing" and then the
> instructions to use my install CD and the "r" command. This is a PC that I
> built myself, and I purchased an OEM version of XP Pro from NewEgg when I
> bought the parts.
> When I get to the Restore Console C prompt and try typing in the
> instructions indicated by MS to restore my config file, after typing the
> first line "md tmp" I get the message "Access Denied" with no further
> explanation. I can't type in anything but "help" and get anything to
> happen.
> Any ideas on what is going on here and what I can do to fix the problem? I
> also tried booting from Systemworks 2005 Premier and found out that it
> doesn't do anything. What a waste of money! I haven't got any other ideas
> of
> what to do to get this thing to boot.
>
> Thanks for your help

[skimark]

Thanks for the response, this is what is happening now: I figured out that I
had to have 3rd party drivers for the hard disks to be accesible. I got to
the screen with the repair console and it found the existing windows
installation, but when I select it it get the blue screen of death with the
message about a bad pool which means nothing to me. When I try to do an
install, it hangs on the portion when it says it is looking ofr existing
Windows systems, no disk activity and stays that way until you finally have
to turn it off to get out of it. Any ideas from here? It seems that I can't
even do a new install with the set of circumstances.
This may be of assistance too: this is a home built pc with an Asus MB and
it has a Promise controller that is set up for RAID. I have a raid with 2
120G drives attached. Could this be part of the problem? Do I need to
disconnect the redundant drive to restore the main one and then reconnect the
redundant drive? Raids are kind of foreign to me in that I only worked with
it to set it up 2 yrs ago when I built the PC and haven't had to interract
with it.

Thanks for your assistance.

"Kelly" wrote:

> To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
> Xp wont boot:
>
> Go to Recovery Console and type:
>
> cd system32\config
> ren system system.old
> ren system.alt systemalt.old
> copy c:\windows\repair\system
> copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
> exit
>
> Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545
>
> Added option to consider:
>
> In the Recovery Console:
>
> Type cd sytem32\config , and then press ENTER.
> Type dir system , and then press ENTER.
>
> Depending on your error message, use as follows:
>
> Next type: ren software software.bak and then press ENTER.
>
> or:
>
> type ren system system.bak and then press ENTER.
>
> Next type:
>
> copy c:\windows\repair\software , and then press ENTER.
>
> or:
>
> copy c:\windows\repair\system , and then press ENTER.
>
> Exit, reboot.
>
> More info here:
>
> Recovering XP using the Recovery Console (Line 333) right hand side
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm
>
>
> --
>
> All the Best,
> Kelly (MS-MVP)
>
> Troubleshooting Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
>
>
>
> "skimark" <skimark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:EB9D6DC3-5A4B-4ADB-9CE0-FB2439ECD57F@microsoft.com...
> > Out of the blue, XP Pro decided not to start up. I get the message
> > "windows\system32\config\system is damaged or missing" and then the
> > instructions to use my install CD and the "r" command. This is a PC that I
> > built myself, and I purchased an OEM version of XP Pro from NewEgg when I
> > bought the parts.
> > When I get to the Restore Console C prompt and try typing in the
> > instructions indicated by MS to restore my config file, after typing the
> > first line "md tmp" I get the message "Access Denied" with no further
> > explanation. I can't type in anything but "help" and get anything to
> > happen.
> > Any ideas on what is going on here and what I can do to fix the problem? I
> > also tried booting from Systemworks 2005 Premier and found out that it
> > doesn't do anything. What a waste of money! I haven't got any other ideas
> > of
> > what to do to get this thing to boot.
> >
> > Thanks for your help
>
>
>

[John]

skimark wrote:

> Thanks for the response, this is what is happening now: I figured out that I
> had to have 3rd party drivers for the hard disks to be accesible. I got to
> the screen with the repair console and it found the existing windows
> installation, but when I select it it get the blue screen of death with the
> message about a bad pool which means nothing to me. When I try to do an
> install, it hangs on the portion when it says it is looking ofr existing
> Windows systems, no disk activity and stays that way until you finally have
> to turn it off to get out of it. Any ideas from here? It seems that I can't
> even do a new install with the set of circumstances.
> This may be of assistance too: this is a home built pc with an Asus MB and
> it has a Promise controller that is set up for RAID. I have a raid with 2
> 120G drives attached. Could this be part of the problem? Do I need to
> disconnect the redundant drive to restore the main one and then reconnect the
> redundant drive? Raids are kind of foreign to me in that I only worked with
> it to set it up 2 yrs ago when I built the PC and haven't had to interract
> with it.
>
> Thanks for your assistance.
>
> "Kelly" wrote:
>
>
>>To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
>>Xp wont boot:
>>
>>Go to Recovery Console and type:
>>
>>cd system32\config
>>ren system system.old
>>ren system.alt systemalt.old
>>copy c:\windows\repair\system
>>copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
>>exit
>>
>>Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
>>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545
>>
>>Added option to consider:
>>
>>In the Recovery Console:
>>
>>Type cd sytem32\config , and then press ENTER.
>>Type dir system , and then press ENTER.
>>
>>Depending on your error message, use as follows:
>>
>>Next type: ren software software.bak and then press ENTER.
>>
>>or:
>>
>>type ren system system.bak and then press ENTER.
>>
>>Next type:
>>
>>copy c:\windows\repair\software , and then press ENTER.
>>
>>or:
>>
>>copy c:\windows\repair\system , and then press ENTER.
>>
>>Exit, reboot.
>>
>>More info here:
>>
>>Recovering XP using the Recovery Console (Line 333) right hand side
>>http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>>
>>http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>All the Best,
>>Kelly (MS-MVP)
>>
>>Troubleshooting Windows XP
>>http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
>>
>>
>>
>>"skimark" <skimark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>news:EB9D6DC3-5A4B-4ADB-9CE0-FB2439ECD57F@microsoft.com...
>>
>>>Out of the blue, XP Pro decided not to start up. I get the message
>>>"windows\system32\config\system is damaged or missing" and then the
>>>instructions to use my install CD and the "r" command. This is a PC that I
>>>built myself, and I purchased an OEM version of XP Pro from NewEgg when I
>>>bought the parts.
>>>When I get to the Restore Console C prompt and try typing in the
>>>instructions indicated by MS to restore my config file, after typing the
>>>first line "md tmp" I get the message "Access Denied" with no further
>>>explanation. I can't type in anything but "help" and get anything to
>>>happen.
>>>Any ideas on what is going on here and what I can do to fix the problem? I
>>>also tried booting from Systemworks 2005 Premier and found out that it
>>>doesn't do anything. What a waste of money! I haven't got any other ideas
>>>of
>>>what to do to get this thing to boot.
>>>
>>>Thanks for your help
>>
>>
>>

I would think that you would need to supply raid drivers (on floppy via
F6) anytime you boot with the XP CD even to run the repair console.

John

[skimark]

I did supply the drivers but still can't get anywhere with either repair or
reinstall.

"John" wrote:

> skimark wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the response, this is what is happening now: I figured out that I
> > had to have 3rd party drivers for the hard disks to be accesible. I got to
> > the screen with the repair console and it found the existing windows
> > installation, but when I select it it get the blue screen of death with the
> > message about a bad pool which means nothing to me. When I try to do an
> > install, it hangs on the portion when it says it is looking ofr existing
> > Windows systems, no disk activity and stays that way until you finally have
> > to turn it off to get out of it. Any ideas from here? It seems that I can't
> > even do a new install with the set of circumstances.
> > This may be of assistance too: this is a home built pc with an Asus MB and
> > it has a Promise controller that is set up for RAID. I have a raid with 2
> > 120G drives attached. Could this be part of the problem? Do I need to
> > disconnect the redundant drive to restore the main one and then reconnect the
> > redundant drive? Raids are kind of foreign to me in that I only worked with
> > it to set it up 2 yrs ago when I built the PC and haven't had to interract
> > with it.
> >
> > Thanks for your assistance.
> >
> > "Kelly" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is mising or corrupt" where
> >>Xp wont boot:
> >>
> >>Go to Recovery Console and type:
> >>
> >>cd system32\config
> >>ren system system.old
> >>ren system.alt systemalt.old
> >>copy c:\windows\repair\system
> >>copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
> >>exit
> >>
> >>Recover from a Corrupted Registry Preventing Win XP from Starting
> >>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q307545
> >>
> >>Added option to consider:
> >>
> >>In the Recovery Console:
> >>
> >>Type cd sytem32\config , and then press ENTER.
> >>Type dir system , and then press ENTER.
> >>
> >>Depending on your error message, use as follows:
> >>
> >>Next type: ren software software.bak and then press ENTER.
> >>
> >>or:
> >>
> >>type ren system system.bak and then press ENTER.
> >>
> >>Next type:
> >>
> >>copy c:\windows\repair\software , and then press ENTER.
> >>
> >>or:
> >>
> >>copy c:\windows\repair\system , and then press ENTER.
> >>
> >>Exit, reboot.
> >>
> >>More info here:
> >>
> >>Recovering XP using the Recovery Console (Line 333) right hand side
> >>http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
> >>
> >>http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>
> >>All the Best,
> >>Kelly (MS-MVP)
> >>
> >>Troubleshooting Windows XP
> >>http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>"skimark" <skimark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >>news:EB9D6DC3-5A4B-4ADB-9CE0-FB2439ECD57F@microsoft.com...
> >>
> >>>Out of the blue, XP Pro decided not to start up. I get the message
> >>>"windows\system32\config\system is damaged or missing" and then the
> >>>instructions to use my install CD and the "r" command. This is a PC that I
> >>>built myself, and I purchased an OEM version of XP Pro from NewEgg when I
> >>>bought the parts.
> >>>When I get to the Restore Console C prompt and try typing in the
> >>>instructions indicated by MS to restore my config file, after typing the
> >>>first line "md tmp" I get the message "Access Denied" with no further
> >>>explanation. I can't type in anything but "help" and get anything to
> >>>happen.
> >>>Any ideas on what is going on here and what I can do to fix the problem? I
> >>>also tried booting from Systemworks 2005 Premier and found out that it
> >>>doesn't do anything. What a waste of money! I haven't got any other ideas
> >>>of
> >>>what to do to get this thing to boot.
> >>>
> >>>Thanks for your help
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
> I would think that you would need to supply raid drivers (on floppy via
> F6) anytime you boot with the XP CD even to run the repair console.
>
> John
>

[Rich Barry]

Take a look at this MS KB Article on the Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314058

It may be just as easy or easier to do a Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm



"skimark" <skimark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EB9D6DC3-5A4B-4ADB-9CE0-FB2439ECD57F@microsoft.com...
> Out of the blue, XP Pro decided not to start up. I get the message
> "windows\system32\config\system is damaged or missing" and then the
> instructions to use my install CD and the "r" command. This is a PC that I
> built myself, and I purchased an OEM version of XP Pro from NewEgg when I
> bought the parts.
> When I get to the Restore Console C prompt and try typing in the
> instructions indicated by MS to restore my config file, after typing the
> first line "md tmp" I get the message "Access Denied" with no further
> explanation. I can't type in anything but "help" and get anything to
> happen.
> Any ideas on what is going on here and what I can do to fix the problem? I
> also tried booting from Systemworks 2005 Premier and found out that it
> doesn't do anything. What a waste of money! I haven't got any other ideas
> of
> what to do to get this thing to boot.
>
> Thanks for your help