Well, Girlfriends PC Failed to boot up after a restart recently. Windows XP Home installed....

The error message reads " File missing or corrupt - {drive}\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\system

I fitted the drive to another WinXP PC to allow the copying of data from the HDD for recovery (also XP Home). However when going to the "Documents and settings etc folder for her user folder "Access Denied".

I tried a Windows XP boot from CD and CHKDSK says there are one or more unrecoverable errors on the drive. Mind you I can drill my way down to the folders in her local settings folders. . . But there is no "Move" command :o(

I tried the Factory Restore CD to complete a "None destructive Restore". After about half an hour or so the re-boot came up with the same error!!!!

Would rarther NOT reformat as much of the data in said folders is important!

Any help would be most appreciated... :o)

This one is frustrating me no end! ! !

:o)

ERRORS:
missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM, or
missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE, or
Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}

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

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

Interesting . . . .

I suspected maybe a registry error, but when the HDD was back in the original PC I couldn't find a console command like regfix or scanreg as in WinMe or 98 . ..

I will give this a tryout later (Had enough of that PC for the moment!) :oD

Thanks for the fast answer Chuck. . .

:o)

if you are getting unrecoverable error
try Western Digital's Data Lifeguard tools quick test the drive if it is WD you may be able to repair the errors.Good Luck

Well, That was a pal-ava and no mistake!

Chuck Your suggestion re Knowledge base was correct - Thanks :o)

The drive is a Maxtor so WD tools don't work but thanks for the idea Sabertooth :o)

However, the KB answer did miss out one problem - Accessing the "System Volume Information" folder. I couldn't! They tell you to look in KB article on how to access - but all their answers are based on your being in windows to start! I couldn't do that!!!! Duh....

What did finally work was using a Win2K install CD NOT a WinXP CD. Went straight in :o) allowed me to copy the necessary file and rename them etc . . .

Thank god for good old Win2K ! ! !

:o)