windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system

This is a nasty little greeting that has appeared on my Windows XP machine a couple of time recently, it's also popped up at work and on a friends computer.

Thankfully, it has a fairly simple solution. During the last 4 times of fixing it, I have streamlined the solution which cuts out a few unnecesary steps I've seen mentioned in the first few articles I looked to for help.

The Solution:

1. Turn your computer off

2. Insert your Windows XP CD and reboot from the CD drive

To boot from CD, press DEL on startup and enter into the system BIOS setup and select your CD drive as the first boot drive, press F10 to save your settings and exit

Your computer will reboot from the XP disc

3. Press 'R' when offered the option of using the Windows Recovery Console

(Note: there are lots of articles telling you NOT to do it this way, but from my recent experience this is the quickest and easiest way.)

4. The Recovery Console

At the prompt type the following:

C:\WINDOWS >cd system32\

this changes the current directory to C:\Windows\System32

ren config configold

This renames the config folder to configold

mkdir config

this makes a new directory called config

cd config

changes the current directory to c:\Windows\System32\Config

then type the following lines pressing enter after each one

copy c:\windows\repair\system

[EDIT added 17/04/2007] If the system file is the only one missing / corrupted, it may not be necessary to continue with the other 4 lines of code. The reason they are here is that the second tme it happened to me, when I rebooted after replacing the system file, it then asked me for the next, then the next etc.[end EDIT]

copy c:\windows\repair\software

copy c:\windows\repair\sam

[EDIT added 17/04/2007] Be warned, replacing the SAM file can overwrite your current windows password - if you have changed your password since installing windows you may not be able to get access to your computer.

A safe way of doing this is to replace all other files but ONLY replace the SAM file if you get an error message on startup saying it is missing or corrupted.

A few people on here have had this issue and I apologise for not realising this was possible.[end EDIT]

copy c:\windows\repair\security

copy c:windows\repair\default

after each line it should say:

1 file copied

type:

exit

5. Reboot

(you will have to go back into the BIOS setup and change the boot drive back from CD to your primary Hard Disk)

When your computer boots, it will probably run CHKDSK and show lots of orphaned files which it will automatically repair [EDIT added 17/04/2007] It would make sense to run check disk after your first successful reboot.[end EDIT]

Windows should boot normally and everything should be fine!

If this article has helped you out of a sticky spot, please feel free to make a donation