How to Repair the Windows/System32/Config/System File Is Missing or Corrupt Message

If you receive an error message stating, "Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM," your computer likely has some kind of corruption in its system registry. Repairing this problem is a lengthy process. And even after the procedure is complete there is no guarantee that your system will be fully restored to the state it was in before the problem began. This procedure assumes that access to your system through the normal boot up process is unavailable.

Things You'll Need

• Windows startup CD

Instructions

Recover System Access

1. Insert your Windows startup CD into your CD-ROM drive and reboot your computer. Having a CD loaded during boot up may trigger a series of prompts. Select any option in the prompt consistent with instructing your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive.

2. Press "R" on your keyboard after the "Welcome to setup" screen loads to launch the Recovery Console.

3. Enter your administrator credentials.

4. Type the following commands at the command prompt and press "Enter" after each command.

   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

   delete c:\windows\system32\config\system

   delete c:\windows\system32\config\software

   delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam

   delete c:\windows\system32\config\security

   delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

   copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

   copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software

   copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam

   copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security

   copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

5. Type "Exit" to close the Recovery Console.

Copy Registry Files

1. Shutdown your computer and restart it. Begin pressing the "F8" key on your keyboard as soon as your computer restarts. When the DOS menu appears, use the arrow key on your keyboard to highlight the Start in Safe Mode option. Press "Enter" on your keyboard to boot your computer in Safe Mode. Log into your computer using an account with administrator rights.

2. Click "Start," select "All Programs," choose "Accessories," and click "Windows Explorer." Open the "Tools" drop-down menu and select "Folder Options." Click the "View" tab. Click the "Show hidden files and folders" radio button. Remove the check mark in the box next to "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)." Click "OK."

3. Navigate to "C:\System Volume Information." Right-click on one of the subfolders in your System Volume Information folder and select "Properties" from the shortcut menu. Make a note of the time the file was created. Repeat this action for the other subfolder within the System Volume Information folder. Open the subfolder created prior to the current time and date.

4. Locate and open the Snapshot folder. It may look something like "C:\System Volume Information\_restore{D96440E3-63EF-47AC-A0BB-A81EE6BB3AD8}\RP1\Snapshot." Copy the following files in the Snapshot folder:

   _REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT

   _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY

   _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE

   _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM

   _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM

5. Paste the files you just copied into the "C:\Windows\Tmp" folder. Rename the files "DEFAULT," "SECURITY," "SOFTWARE," "SYSTEM, and "SAM" respectively.

Restore

1. Open the Recovery Console as you did in Steps 1 through 3 in Section 1.

2. Type the following commands at the command prompt:

   del c:\windows\system32\config\sam

   del c:\windows\system32\config\security

   del c:\windows\system32\config\software

   del c:\windows\system32\config\default

   del c:\windows\system32\config\system

   copy c:\windows\tmp\software c:\windows\system32\config\software

   copy c:\windows\tmp\system c:\windows\system32\config\system

   copy c:\windows\tmp\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam

   copy c:\windows\tmp\security c:\windows\system32\config\security

   copy c:\windows\tmp\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

3. Close the Recovery Console.

4. Click "Start," select "All Programs," choose "Accessories," click "System Tools," and select "System Restore." Click "Restore to a previous Restore Point" and follow the wizard prompts to execute a system restore.

References

• Microsoft: How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from Starting