XP: System file corrupt fixed but cant log in now

[Mayfriday0529]

Got the following message on my Windows XP pro system.
Windows XP could not start because the following file is
missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

i have got this before and i went to the microsoft
knowledge base Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 307545
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545&Product=winxp

to fix it and it did. so today tried again and now i get
a log on windows in Safe Mode with the Administrator
account coming up. Can't log in.
When i installed windows and asked for a administrator
password i left blank so if i leave it blank i cant log
in, i tried several other passwords and nothing, i try
the other administrator account that was created first
time also and cant log in.
anyone got a tip

 

[dahunan]

Are you typing administrator with a capital A ?

If you get really impatient and need access to your account you can do a "repair installation" .. Very simple to do.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install- Read Carefully

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Yes we did both Administrator and administrator left password blank, also tried our other password for the other account created.

Repair will be last option or reinstall since the items on the pc such as email are on a server back up.

 

[KF]

>anyone got a tip

Yes, mine is to not go through that whole elaborate procedure unless F8, "Last known good configuration" doesn't work. As this bit from the article says:

"This article assumes that normal recovery methods have failed ..."

>Repair will be last option or reinstall since the items on the pc such as email are on a server back up.

Why does that make a difference? A repair install should keep everything that was available before still available.

I guess you are stuck at what the article calls Part Two, and you can't log on. Is that right? I can't see any reason your password (none) won't work if it did before. Maybe you missed copying one of the repair files.

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

But you can stiil try: F8 as XP boots. From the menu choose "Last known good configuration"