boot error system32\config\system file corrupt or missing

Question

After an application program crashed I could no longer boot up. A boot error  came up with 'system32\config\system' and told me I could repair with 'r'.... I have tried this and it seems to be stuck in a repeating loop and after a few minites shows the same message. I have tried several fixes I read on this Forum, but nothing is working. I have tried to boot-up from the CD-ROM (using the DELL start-up CD), but it didn't work. I tried changing the BIOS so that the CD-ROM is the first boot seq device, but also does not work. I can't even get a boot-up using SAFE Mode or any other mode. Just getting a blank screen, and then this error message.   Please HELP !!!!   Shall I just wirte the hard drive off and replace it ????   Any advise would be helpful...   (DELL 8300 Windows XP)   ?

shesagordie · Answer

mscatoloni.

Try reinstalling XP and if that fails, then replace the hard drive.

First Configure the BIOS to Boot from the CD Drive.

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

How Install the Windows XP on a Dimension 8300

How to Install the Software Applications

Bev.

Message Edited by shesagordie on 08-09-2005 10:56 AM

mscatoloni · Answer

Bev,

Thanks for the response.

At this point, I don't think I will be able to recover this hard drive, I've tried everything, and it just won't boot-up. I would like to save some data files from this drive though, before I replace it. Do you know if it's possible to either boot-up using a laptop connected via USB, and then copying these files over, or, would I have better luck just removing the hard drive and re-installing it in a spare pc as a "slave drive" and trying to read/copy the data that way ???

Any thoughts ???

Thanks,

- mscatoloni

shesagordie · Answer

mscatoloni.   Try installing it as a 'Slave' in the spare system.   Bev.

fivestringxxx · Answer

I have the exact same problem... but not a spare system I feel like risking. Anything particularly wrong with option a?

mscatoloni · Answer

Update to my delema.... I was finally able to boot-up using my floppy drive. I had to download a Windows XP boot-up disk from Microsoft.com and use floppies. The CD drive still does not boot-up with the XP CD. Once booted-up from the floppies (it takes 6) I could use the Recovery Console utillity. NOW a new issue.... I can not read anything from the C: hard drive.!!!!! When I do a DIR, it says 'an error occured during directory enumeration' I think the hard drive is lost forever !!!!!!   Any suggestions out there ?

Windows General

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