Windows Could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt..what should i do?

Question

I restarted my pc and got this error message "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.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."
Then I followed these steps :

Boot to the Recovery Console.
At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
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

My problem is after typing
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak then i press enter it says "the system cannot find the file specified" and so on the c:\windows\system32\config\default.
Please Help

Answer 1

If you're running Windows Setup, skip the first Repair option, and choose Install Windows..Press Enter...it should detect that you have a version of Windows currently installed and ask if you'd like to repair this version...thats when you will choose to repair by pressing 'R'.



This method will install Windows System files overtop of the existing ones, while (usually)..lol...leaving your data and programs intact.

Answer 2

No you cant do that because your computer is built by "sysprep"



boot the recovery CD, ignore the first option to repair and continue to completely re-install, after that again you will see the same options, press R...now your in normal mode

Answer 3

Leave thoselast 2 files out of your cmd lines

Answer 4

I think your RAM has dust or be dead. Remove your RAM and clean it with Erases (rubber).



This not solve your problem buy another RAM.

Answer 5

try the other repair, the one not from the console. if it still doesn't work, reformat your pc