windows/system32/config/system corrupted, HELP!

[DoubleTriple]

Damnit I don't know what to do. The repair option isn't there when I boot up the XP disk but the repair console recognizes the installation!

 

[mechBgon]

You evidently have a second computer. Can you

1) install a current-version antivirus software, update and configure it (if you don't have some already)

2) install the problem computer's hard drive in the good computer as a slave drive

3) scan it for viruses

4) copy out any files you need, taking Ownership of them first if needed (scream if you need help with this)

5) nuke the old hard drive, reformat and reinstall Windows carefully

 

[DoubleTriple]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
You evidently have a second computer. Can you

1) install a current-version antivirus software, update and configure it (if you don't have some already)

2) install the problem computer's hard drive in the good computer as a slave drive

3) scan it for viruses

4) copy out any files you need, taking Ownership of them first if needed (scream if you need help with this)

5) nuke the old hard drive, reformat and reinstall Windows carefully

1)I don't see your points with this

2)My second computer is a laptop

3)How would this fix thd corrupt file

4) What do you mean by ownership?

5)It looks like I'll have to do this, but I really don't want to.

 

[mechBgon]

1) you will see the point if the virus that nuked your first computer TKO's your second one

2) bummer. Well, your second computer's safe for now If you could put the hard drive into a USB enclosure... yeah.

2.5) welcome to the Forums, by the way

3) see #1, the idea is to make sure you aren't bringing any virus-infected files onto the healthy computer

4) Ownership is a property of files on NTFS-format file systems. You'd be denied access to the files on the old hard drive's C:\Documents and Settings\username directory until you took Ownership: example picture I made. Might have to reboot into Safe Mode to get at the Security/Permissions/Ownership stuff, depends on the OS in the healthy computer.

5) I just hope you can rescue any important stuff off there. Another option would be to get a new hard drive, set up Windows on that, then slave the old one into the system after it's fully armed and patched, and rescue your files at that point.


Good luck!

 

[DoubleTriple]

I did the /repair thing in the console and it seems to work but for one thing. All my network connections are gone and even though I reinstalled my driver for my Uniden wireless adapter no network connection is showing up, not regular nor wireless.