Need help: Config System file missing

[plowexvii]

Hey guys,

I'm in a lot of trouble (well my friend is). He had recently got a virus... and started deleting stuff. Well, I believe he deleted his system config file located at:

C:\windows\system32\config\system

Is this possible? I've tried the steps here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Only when I try to delete the file system32/config/system, it says it doesn't exist. I don't think it's corrupted; the file is completely missing! When I try to repair the system32/config, it will not do anything either. My question is, hoping someone has experience in this, If the config/system file is completely gone, what other alternatives do I have to getting it back? I am not sure how it all works, but any help in the situation would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[tlarkin]

boot into recovery console off your XP CD (assuming you are running XP) and then do the following codes once you've logged into the command prompt as an administrator

bootcfg /rebuild

chkdsk /r

 

[plowexvii]

Hey tlarkin,

Thanks for the quick reply. I've just tried what you were talking about, but i'm still getting stuck at the "File is missing or corrupted: config/system" screen.

Instead, now when i Boot i get two options: both are for windows xp home edition (which is what i typed up for it's name). I've tried running in safe mode but neither one works

 

[PC eye]

Before performing the last option of a repair install of Windows to replace the files that may have been deleted boot to the recovery console and try the "Fixboot" and "Fixmbr" commands to see if the boot sector is the actual problem. By the description of having deleted an eintire folder in the Windows sub directories you may want to plan on an "Install to Repair" option for XP described in length in the article seen at http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm