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General discussion

Granny needs help fast!

Mar 2, 2004 2:35AM PST

I am running XP Home, and I received a prompt to run Scan Disk. I did so immediately, but it did not complete the scan. An error message appeared that read, Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup by using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

I tried the CD, but it never did anything. Only the above message continued to appear on the screen. I even tried by emergency backup floppy and that did not work.

How do I get rid of this DOS screen and make the machine recognize the XP CD again? Thanks so much!
Granny Sunny

Discussion is locked

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Re:Granny needs help fast!
Mar 2, 2004 3:21AM PST

Sounds like an important system kernel crashed, and windows is not very good at repairing blasted kernel files, which if you do have any important data you need saved, you can try to rerun setup to get your operating system semi working to save your data, then I would consider a fresh installation of the operating sysem.

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Re:Re:Granny needs help fast!
Mar 2, 2004 9:00AM PST

Thanks for the reply. I have tried to reinstall XP using the original CD, but the puter will not recognize it because it is "stuck" on the error screen. The emergency boot disk will not work either. I just don't know how to get around the stuck error message on the screen. The usual remedies are not working! Very frustrating.

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Re:Re:Re:Granny needs help fast!
Mar 2, 2004 9:26AM PST

Are you sure you have the boot order set to have the CD boot before the hardrive? It should boot up straight into where you can attempt the repair, when the CD is in, and shouldn't be trying to scandisk, as far as I know. Joe

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Re:Granny needs help fast!
Mar 2, 2004 10:50PM PST

1. It would certainly seem that the article [Q307545] would effectively apply to the reported anomaly.

2. The article [Q315341] describes how to perform an in-place upgrade/repair, or reinstallation to the same folder, and discusses the procedures and obsticles which may be encountered during the process.

3. Supplemental reading:

a. "You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows XP (Q312369)."

b. "Data Loss May Occur After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows XP (Q31236Cool."

Note: If WinXP came preinstalled, the information in the article could apply to you. Check and see if there is a file named Undo_guimode.txt resident in the Windows\System32 folder. Note that will apply each time an OEM restore disk is used.