missing / corrupt file

[lildutchman]

ok...all was working fine, then today I tried to boot and at the black Windows 2000 screen (with the loading bars across bottom) it halts with the message

"missing or corrupt file...\\winnt\system32\config\SYSTEMced"

I've tried using the Emergency Repair Disk to no avail, and have gone into the Recovery Console, but not sure what I am looking for or what to attempt to solve there.

Any help greatly appreciative.....

If I reinstall Windows 2000 over itself, will I loose all my data as well??

 

[paulbenn]

Hi,

I had this happen to me about a week ago!!

Here's what it means and how to recover it, my backups were 4 Months old and I ended up reinstalling the Machine for the best results!!!

Basicly your System hive is missing or damaged.

1. Start the setup media and press R at Welcome to Setup.

2. Press C to start the Recovery Console.

3. Select the install instance you wish to repair.

4. Enter the administrator password. If this is a domain controller, you must enter the Directory Services Restore Mode Adminstrator password.

5. Type the following commands:

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old

6. Copy the more recent of %SystemRoot%\repair\regback\system or %SystemRoot%\repair\system to the current folder (%SystemRoot%\System32\Config).

7. Type exit to restart.
Kind Regards, Paul Benn

**** Never Giveup, keep trying, the answer is out there!!! ****

 

[wolluf]

Paul,

Isn't it worth trying the system.alt file in \config first (as other files may be very old, depending on whether the user has recently backed up the registry to the repair folder or not?) - ie, renaming it to system.

 

[paulbenn]

Wolluf,

you are right try and find the newest file you can, however all of mine were way out of date!! Damn!


Kind Regards, Paul Benn

**** Never Giveup, keep trying, the answer is out there!!! ****