Member Avatar for deminip

I am starting this thread in the hope that I might get some help to restore my laptop. On New Years Eve as I booted up I got the "Windows cannot start system32/config/.... file is missing or corrupted. Spoke with Toshiba and since I could not locate my recovery cd had to purchase one for $40.00 plus shipping. Of course the moron I spoke to said that any recovery disk would work and of course it didn't as I tried the windows suggestion and others I found while searching for this info at work. Tech support did suggest getting an external USB stick to back up my personal information etc.... Received cd and purchased USB called tech support last night to get some help on how to save my info. Seems they charge $35.00 for support, well not having superfluous cash and as a matter of principle I politely said "forget it" and here I am.
Might anyone be able to provide detailed instructions on saving my info prior to recovery since that will wipe out everything.
Not exactly the most computer savvy person in the world so please bear with me.
I would appreciate any comments or suggestions, other than "never buy a Toshiba again"
Thank you

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by mjdodd

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The error about "system32\config... missing or corrupted" normally means Windows' registry hive files are damaged. Factory recovery will usually erase the user partition, so the immediate goal is to preserve personal data before using any recovery media. The suggestions from and point in the right direction; below are practical, alternative options that are often easier for non-technical users and one technical fallback that can sometimes avoid a full reinstall.

A simple, non-invasive option is to remove the laptop hard drive and attach it to another PC using a 2.5" USB hard‑drive enclosure or a SATA/IDE-to-USB adapter. General steps: power down and remove the battery, open the HDD access bay (model-specific), slide the drive out, fit it into the USB enclosure/adapter, then connect it to a working computer and copy the user folders (look under C:\Documents and Settings\<username> or C:\Users\<username>). This avoids boot issues and preserves all files unless the drive is physically failing.

If removing the drive is not desirable, a Windows-based rescue environment (Windows PE / Hiren's BootCD PE) is a good alternative to a Linux live CD: create a bootable USB from the ISO on another machine, boot the Toshiba from that USB, then use the included Explorer to copy Documents, Desktop, Pictures and mail/store files to an external USB drive or network share. Note that EFS-encrypted files require the original user certificates and won’t copy usable without them.

A technical fallback (Windows XP era) is attempting to restore registry hives from the Repair folder via the Recovery Console. Example commands after pressing R at the XP CD Recovery Console prompt:

ren c:\windows\system32\config\software software.bak
ren c:\windows\system32\config\system system.bak
ren c:\windows\system32\config\sam sam.bak
ren c:\windows\system32\config\default default.bak
ren c:\windows\system32\config\security security.bak

copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security

That may return the system to a bootable state but can revert registry settings to the original factory state. If the disk shows physical symptoms (clicking) or any step is unclear, a local data‑recovery service is the safest route.

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Member Avatar for 4th&3wood

Have you tried doing a Sytem Restore? Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Restore. In the calendar click on a date that precedes you problem and apply it.

Member Avatar for deminip

I cannot log into windows at all and Toshiba recovery disk states upon starting that you should save files before starting recovery process

Member Avatar for 4th&3wood

Have you tried getting into safe mode?

If you can't and you wish to save files from it you could connect it as a slave drive in another computer and transfer the files either to the other hdd and then burn them to CDs or transfer them to a flash drive.

Member Avatar for mjdodd

I realise witha dead computer you cant use it! However I keep a linux (kubuntu) bootable cd. this boots into a linyux version ( entirely from the CD) like windows that can access the hard disk and enable you to copyfiles. It may be that you can get a friend to down load the free linux ISO image and make you a bootble CD. At least that way you can get files off the machine.
Best of luck
M

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