Registry corrupted or not present no controlset

[urville]

I got this message on startup /windows/system32/config/system
is missing or corrupt it says to use the repair and recovery options or last known good config.. well last known congif didnt work because i think it's missing, how this happened is unknown, they were uninstalling some software and boom upon restart... The issue is that when we booted form the cd and went in to the install Xp option it didnt find the windows install and so never let me repair it! And the recovery console is not much help... should i delete and reinstall? I realize this will force me to reinstall everything, which of this is the case how should i handle my current installs of everything i imagine windows wont clear out the program files directory... Any help is appreciated!!!! Thank you

ian

 

[linney]

To do a clean install must be proceeded by a format, this inturn will result in the erasing of everything (including Program Files) in the Partition you are installing Windows into.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."



Did you try running Chkdsk from the Recovery Console?

Have another go with repairing Windows and follow the procedure outlined here. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

These are about your original error.

HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

314079 - How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314079&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

319011 - Error Message: Windows 2000 Could Not Start Because the Following File Is Missing or

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;319011&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

269075 - Error Message: Windows Could Not Start Because the Following File Is Missing or Corrupt:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;269075&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[urville]

i ended up finding a knowledge base article for exactly this problem but i posted it under another thread, it requires copying all the c:\windows\system32\config\ i think
it was sam, software, system, security, and default and then replace them with those from the repair directory, then you log in in safe mode and copy all the registry snapshots renaming them to the above forementioned files, then reboot, and restore to the last known good restore point and it worked perfect for me, just in case you hear that again.

 

[linney]

Thanks for the feedback and just to tie up loose ends here is the other link you mentioned.

BOOT PROBLEM
thread779-598118