BleepingComputer.com: \windows\system32\config\system is corrupt

I have an filenote laptop and suddenly when i turned it on it came up with an error message saying: \windows\system32\config\system is corrupt or missing. you can fix this by using the original cd rom press 'r' in the first screen. something like that,what should I do? I am renting a comp right now. Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by sm24: 27 July 2011 - 09:54 PM

Follow the steps outlined here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

What exactly is a "filenote laptop"?

Please try the following firstly ...

If you do not have an XP installation CD, using a working computer, create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD.

Please download ARCDC from Artellos.com.

• Double-click ARCDC.exe
  
• Follow the dialog until you see 6 options. Please pick the appropriate selection, for example: Windows Professional SP2 & SP3
  
  ( Replace "Windows Professional SP2 & SP3" with the OS required. <<< IMPORTANT)
  
  
• You will be prompted with a Terms of Use by Microsoft: Please accept.
  
• You will see a few DOS screens flash by: This is normal.
  
• Next you will be able to choose to add extra files: Select the Default Files.
  
• The last window will allow you to burn the disk using BurnCDCC.
  
• Burn the .ISO image file to a CD, to make a bootable CD.
  
  (The ISO file is located on your Desktop.)

On the ailing computer, run chkdsk /r from the XP Recovery Console to repair the file system.

• Insert an XP installation CD or the newly created XP Recovery Console CD in the computer's optical disk drive tray.
  
• Start or re-start the computer so that it boots from the CD. You may be prompted to "Press any key". (If the system does not appear to be booting from the CD, you may need to enter the BIOS Setup Menu and change the boot order, so that the CD-ROM/optical disk drive is set to boot before the hard disk drive.)
  
• When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press the R key on your keyboard to start the Recovery Console.
  
• The Recovery Console will ask which Windows installation you would like to log on to.
  If you have multiple Windows installations, it will list each one, and you would type the number (that is 1, 2, or 3 etc) associated with the installation you would like to work on (usually C:\Windows) and press the <ENTER> key.
  Please advise if you are not seeing C:\Windows listed.
  If you have just one Windows installation showing, type 1 and press <ENTER>.
  
• You will be prompted for the Administrator's password. If there is no password, (and this is most likely), simply press <ENTER>.
  
• You will be presented with a C:\Windows> prompt.
  Please advise if you are not seeing a C:\WINDOWS> prompt.
  
  At the C:\Windows> prompt, type chkdsk /r and press <ENTER> (Note: There is a space between "chkdsk" and "/r")
  This will take some time to run and at times may appear stalled but just let it run.
  
• If any errors are found/repairs made, run chkdsk /r again, and repeat if necessary.
  
• Type "exit" at the prompt and press <ENTER> to close the Recovery Console and restart your system.

Does Windows start normally now?

Boot to the XP CD and select R (Recovery Console)

At the command prompt type:

ren c:\windows\system32\config\system system.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config

Reboot

Documentation: Corrupted Registry, Config.sys Missing or Corrupt - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Louis