XP Won't Boot; Urgent Help !

sa3dos · 06-05-2006, 07:44 AM

Hello folks,

very annoying problem I am facing, I powered on my PC today morning, boot up begins normally till a window that says:

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.

Here is what I did;
- I inserted XP "Home" CD
- Changed settings to Boot from CD Drive
- I reach to the blue window of Windows Setup, pressed 'r' to get in the Recovery Console
- After that, I reached to the a window saying:

Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console.
The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
C:\>

Windows Xp is installed on a C drive of a 200GB Hard Drive, but surprisingly, if I type dir, I get the Directory of my Old 30GB Hard Disk instead of the 200GB. (By the way, both Drives are actually connected.)

The 200GB Hard Drive is connected through a SATA adapter.

I opened the PC, disconnected the adapter and hard drive wires and re-attached them, i power on the pc again, same thing.

Does anybody have an explaination and a solution to my situation

Is it the HardDrive? is it the SATA Adapter?

Jesse1984 · 06-05-2006, 08:00 AM

You can read this microsoft knowlege base article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/ it addresses: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Other than that im not sure about a faulty drive or sata adapter, it sounds like a corrupt registry. Maybe some type of virus or malware.

Goodluck!

sa3dos · 06-05-2006, 08:31 AM

thanks for the reply Jesse, I am aware of that post actually, I have tried to do what it says, but turn's out that the C drive is not the same one which windows is installed on, this C drive is for my old 30GB Hard Disk, which was H drive when my 200GB hard drive was working.

06-05-2006, 07:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
sa3dos Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Canada Age: 22 Posts: 30	XP Won't Boot; Urgent Help ! Hello folks, very annoying problem I am facing, I powered on my PC today morning, boot up begins normally till a window that says: 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. Here is what I did; - I inserted XP "Home" CD - Changed settings to Boot from CD Drive - I reach to the blue window of Windows Setup, pressed 'r' to get in the Recovery Console - After that, I reached to the a window saying: Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console. The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality. Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer. C:\> Windows Xp is installed on a C drive of a 200GB Hard Drive, but surprisingly, if I type dir, I get the Directory of my Old 30GB Hard Disk instead of the 200GB. (By the way, both Drives are actually connected.) The 200GB Hard Drive is connected through a SATA adapter. I opened the PC, disconnected the adapter and hard drive wires and re-attached them, i power on the pc again, same thing. Does anybody have an explaination and a solution to my situation Is it the HardDrive? is it the SATA Adapter?

06-05-2006, 08:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jesse1984 Silver Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Victoria, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 100	You can read this microsoft knowlege base article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/ it addresses: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM Other than that im not sure about a faulty drive or sata adapter, it sounds like a corrupt registry. Maybe some type of virus or malware. Goodluck! __________________ Case:Inwin Corp Desktop Mid Tower ATX Mobo: ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe CPU: AMD Athlon 64 4400+ Dual Core @2.42Ghz Optical:Pioneer DVR-110D + Asus DRW-1608P3S RAM:Corsair CMX1024-3200-C2PRO (1GBx2)HDDs:2x74GB 10,000RPM Sata WD Raptor's Raid0 (system) + 400GB WD sata + 80GB WD + 200GB MaxtorGraphics: XFX 7900GT 256mb @520 Core 1.62Ghz Mem Display: 2x CMV 19" LCD - 1280x1024max, 8ms Refresh DVI/VGA in Sound: Creative AudigyZS2 Psu:XConnect 500watt Modular 3DMark05 = 8686 3DMark06 = 4786

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-05-2006, 08:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
sa3dos Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Montreal, Canada Age: 22 Posts: 30	thanks for the reply Jesse, I am aware of that post actually, I have tried to do what it says, but turn's out that the C drive is not the same one which windows is installed on, this C drive is for my old 30GB Hard Disk, which was H drive when my 200GB hard drive was working.