Windows 2000 Bootup problems - reinstall?

[JeansBoy]

Hello:

I have a laptop with Windows 2000 and get the following error message when I bootup:

""Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM""


I wish to recover the data (files) from the hard drive. When I try reinstalling windows, i get the following message:

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer. Use the up and down arrows to select an item on this list:

-to set up Windows 2000 on the selected items, press enter
-to create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C
-to delete the selected partition, press D

19078 MB disk 0 at ID 0 on bus 0 on atapi
C: NTFS 19072 MB (7756 MB free)


I am unsure which option to choose. I want to keep the existing data on the hard drive and not erase it. Will one of the 3 options above be able to fix my bottup problem, while still keeping the existing data?

Thanks.

 

[computerhakk]

Don't try to reinstall it. Try to fix it. It seems like an easy fix. Reboot and press "R" go to the recovery console.

I had the same issue - I went into the windows 2000 repair console, and navigated to the directory: c:\winnt\system32\config
Take a look at the two files: system and system.alt
If system.alt has a slightly older timestamp, then rename the 'system' file to 'system.old' and copy the 'system.alt' file to 'system' and attempt to reboot.

Worked for me, after about 2 hours of banging my head!

Many people have this problem and here is the link from that source.
http://forums.kisland.com/read.php?f=4&i=894&t=894&v=f