how to repair windows

[JiggaJohn]

Help! A computer im using has had a major crash of some sort. It cant boot into windows, and gives me a message at the dos prompt that the windows/system/config file is corrupt. How do i fix this problem?

Thanks

 

[aGreenAgent]

I'm assuming Windows XP. Easy way is to boot up with the windows CD rom in there. Once you get to the main screen, hit enter to install windows. You should see your windows installation listed right there (C:\WINDOWS ?), you select it and hit r to repair the installation.

 

[JiggaJohn]

yea sorry its windows xp. I tried that but i only have the option of going to recovery console and install windows. When i go to install windows it lists the partitions so i select the one that windows is listed on. then it asks if im sure i want to install windows on the same drive because same boot partition blah blah blah, i dont have that option after hitting install then to push r

 

[aGreenAgent]

right when it lists the partitions, before you select it, you should be able to hit r.

 

[JiggaJohn]

oddly enough, it works on the computer im using right now. but on the other one it goes straight to the partitions

 

[pkypkypky]

you're probably going to have to just format and reinstall. Use another drive or use dos to backup your files. Good luck

 

[pkypkypky]

try this ...not sure if it will work ms kb

and another one

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: pkypkypky
try this ...not sure if it will work ms kb

and another one

Yep - the first one is a good link. That should allow you to boot the box, and from there you can do all kinds of things.

 

[JiggaJohn]

awesome thanks!