missing or corrupt files...?

Question

i cant get onto my pc because it says:
the following file is missing or corrupt
/windows/system32/config/system
you can attempt to repair this byby starting windows setup cd rom. select R at the first screen to start repair
everyone iv asked havent got a clue howto fix it sowold really appreciate any help,
computers only a year old if that helps

Answer 1

Method 1: Check the Hard Disk for Errors



1. Insert the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer. If you are prompted, select any options that you must select to start Windows XP from the CD.

2. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the instructions that appear on the screen. To select the repair or the recover option, press R.

3. If you have a dual-start or multiple-start computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.

4. When prompted, type the Administrator password.

5. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press the ENTER key:

chkdsk /r

6. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit, and then press the ENTER key.

If the behavior is not resolved, go to the next method.



Method 2: Replace Missing Files



1. Insert the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer. If you are prompted, select any options that you must select to start Windows XP from the CD.

2. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the instructions that appear on the screen. To select the repair or the recover option, press R.

3. If you have a dual-start or multiple-start computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.

4. When prompted, type the Administrator password.

5. At the command prompt, type the following commands ( press ENTER after each command):

cd system32

ren c_1252.nls c_1252.old

expand drive:\i386\c_1252.nl_ c:\windows\system32

Where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

6. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit, and then press the ENTER key.

Note There may be additional files missing. Repeat this method to replace any other missing files.



Method 3: Replace Missing Files Without Console



If you cannot start the recovery console, start the computer with a Windows 98 emergency disk.



Note This method only works on a partition that is formatted with FAT32 and not the NTFS file system.



To start the computer with a Windows 98 emergency disk, follow these steps:1. Insert the Windows 98 emergency disk, and then restart the computer.

2. When prompted, select to start with CD support.

3. Insert the Windows XP CD.

4. At the command prompt, type the following commands (press ENTER after each command):

c:

cd windows\system32

ren c_1252.nls c_1252.old

extract drive:\i386\c_1252.nl_

Where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.



Note The Windows 98 emergency disk creates a RAM drive immediately after the hard disk drive. As a result, the current CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is one letter later in the alphabet.

5. Remove the Windows 98 emergency disk and the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer.

Note There may be additional files missing. Repeat this method to replace any other missing files.



Method 4: In-Place Upgrade



If none of the previous methods resolve the behavior, do an in-place upgrade to reinstall Windows XP.

Answer 2

Sounds like your computer got corrupted somehow and it needs a repair or reinstall of the operating system.

If you have the install disk, probably came with the computer, then insert before restart and follow the prompts (That's what it is asking you to do- Press 'R' etc..)

If you were able to get into the computer, under Windows XP a restore session might help to put computer back to eariler time when it was working correctly.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Start the machine with your OS cd in the drive, boot from the cd. At the first prompt say install, at the second use the R option to repair the installation, this re-installs all the original files.

Answer 4

sounds like you have a computer built 4 years to now! so that is why they didnt send you disc silly!! okay im here to save you alright so newer computers that were built from 4 years ago to computers now have this feature called reimage basically its reseting your computer to factory settings now iam not sure! if you could do it because if the files are forever gone then it wont work but its a shot rite? so i say watch a video on how to do it because it will be easier but look it up on youtube if it still doesnt work then call the manufacture and ask for the disc of windows xp and then your going to have to reinstall windows xp

Answer 5

put your windows cd in follow the instructions its quite simple make sure the bios has the cd as first

Answer 6

keep taping F11 and i will restore your computer frm scratch

Answer 7

This advice worked for me: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_a_missing_or_cor2.htm