Member Avatar for celinehoran

... is missing or currupt: \windows\system32\config\system

Having loads of problems with my Compaq Mini 700 Notebook.
My OS is Windows XP Professional Home Edition.

Tried numerous times to reset it from the F10 Bios area but
this is the message that keeps coming up.

What to do?

  • 4 Contributors
  • 16 Replies
  • 247 Views
  • 5 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by celinehoran

Dani AI

Generated

Short summary and what that message really means. The error indicates Windows cannot load the SYSTEM registry hive (one of the core registry files). On XP this is most often caused either by NTFS/file‑system corruption or by a corrupted hive file. was right to call it a registry‑hive problem — the common troubleshooting path is to try non‑destructive checks first. (learn.microsoft.com)

What to try first (safe, low‑risk): boot the Advanced Boot Options (tap F8) and try Last Known Good Configuration; if that does nothing, boot a recovery environment and run chkdsk /r on the Windows volume. Because the OS can fail to locate hives when the file system is damaged, repairing the disk is often the single quickest fix. If either step works you can avoid overwriting registry files. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the disk check does not help: the standard manual recovery is to back up the current hives and restore earlier copies from the System Restore store or the C:\Windows\Repair folder via the Recovery Console. That method can bring a machine back without a full reinstall, but it must be done carefully (always back up the existing files first). Note: OEM installs sometimes use special system hives and overwriting them can create logon problems — for OEM/netbook systems a vendor recovery or factory image is often the safer route, which echoes ’s advice. (winhelponline.com)

If the goal is to rescue files (or you lack recovery media): boot a Linux live USB (or SystemRescue) to copy personal data off the disk, or create a sector image first with ddrescue and work from the image. Imaging preserves the original disk so you can try repairs without risking further data loss. After recovery, create recovery media and regular full‑image backups so a single corrupted hive won’t become a catastrophic event. (help.ubuntu.com)

Notes tied to the thread: pointed to official MS guidance (useful reference) and ’s OEM recovery partition solution is a perfect example of the vendor‑restore path that avoids manual hive surgery.

Recommended Answers

All 16 Replies

Member Avatar for celinehoran

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

remove all your external cables for printers, USB, Modems etc. and Go to bios and set no boot for usb drives and try it again

In BIOS I am in "systems configuration" and have two options; Internal Network Adaptor [disabled] or [HDD:PM-Toshiba MK8] which is also disabled. I cannot find a USB drivers set-up.

Please advise.

Member Avatar for Member #334542

Okay, Just test without giving no boot. Do you have windows xp cd?

Edited by Member #334542 because: n/a
Member Avatar for celinehoran

Nope

Member Avatar for celinehoran

Our laptop came with all the software already installed.

Member Avatar for Frank Wallis

Celine,

Contact the Vendor from where you purchased this notebook and ask them to provide
you the WinXP bootable CD or if your notebook is still in warantee,then take it
back to that Vendor and tell them that their is a problem with the system file
of your WinXP.

Member Avatar for celinehoran

Hi Frank, I was just thinking that myself.

Member Avatar for Frank Wallis

Please do let us know if your problem gets resolved after you show your notebook to the vendor.

Member Avatar for celinehoran

Hi Frank, sure! No problem. Thanks for caring.

Member Avatar for celinehoran

Hi Frank, I've fixed my computer - yeah! Here's how. I found the manual and discovered if I clicked the F6 key at the first prompt screen, I would be forwarded to the 3rd party restore page. I followed the instructions and was able to restore my computer plus make a disaster recovery disk; should my computer crash in the future. So all is well again. Phew!

Member Avatar for Member #334542

Wow! Great and Cool!

Member Avatar for gerbil

You actually read the manual??!! Must be a woman..... must be.

Member Avatar for celinehoran

You actually read the manual??!! Must be a woman..... must be.

LOL! Yes, I admit it... I am a woman. But to my credit, I did search the internet, for answers, all day before I reluctantly turned to the manual. I didn't think the manual would have the answers but it did. Maybe you guys should try turning to your manual from time to time :-))!

Member Avatar for gerbil

Never!!
Anyway, your original error message, celine, was about a corruption of one of your registry hives. You can actually recover from that problem, usually with little loss. Next time, eh?
May I suggest a very good registry backup tool? Far better and more comprehensive than Sys Restore, free, and automatic. Get ERDNT. Set it to save the last seven days reg hives in your C: root [C:\]. The readme explains all.
To enlighten, this is the content of the shortcut that I have placed in C:\Docs n Sets\Me\Start Menu\Programs\Startup :
"E:\Program Files\ERUNT\AUTOBACK.EXE" C:\ERDNT\#Date# /noconfirmdelete /days:7
E:\ is the drive where my pgms are..., C:\ERDNT is where the backups are written.
To create such a shortcut you rclick on autoback.exe, choose Create shortcut. Next open the shortcut's properties and modify the target line, perhaps to what I have shown above. Then drag the shortcut file to the Startup folder I have indicated above.
And that's it.

Edited by gerbil because: n/a
Member Avatar for celinehoran

Sounds cool. I'll have a go at that. Thanks.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.