Please HELP with XP fatal crash.

[elkinm]

A friend of mine recently developed an error with his system in that the file C:\windows\system32\config\system became corrupted. Dew to this windows does not start and there is no option to repair the install when trying to reinstall.

I've found a guide to recovering from here, but it seems to be dependant on having old system restore points, but he disabled system restore like myself and most others I know to improve performance. So where it mentions the restore file in system volume information folder, he has nothing. I've helped him with the rest so the system is running with the first install settings, but it is very important that he can restore his old programs as they are work related and are hard to reinstall and resetup.

I was wondering if it may be possible to debug the System file or to just copy the other good file with the restored System file to get a partial system back.

Please help in any way you can.

A big thanks from me and my friend.
Thank you
Michael Elkin

 

[przero]

What OS? XP? Boot from cd, skip recovery option and go to "repair existing installation". Should reload system files.

 

[bsobel]

The system file is the registry, so if it's lost there is no 'clean install' file you can copy back over on top. You can try the repair mentioned above, if that doesn't work, your stuck reinstalling.

I remember debating some of those speedup hints in other threads. Unless you know exactly what your doing (and what the ramifcaitons are) turning off things like system restore is just a bad idea. I suspect your friend (unfortunately) just learned that lesson the hardway.

Bill