MS services problem - a real humdinger

Hi.
This morning my PC would not start with error :
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM

Fixed that by winxp install disk 'R' and renaming the old system file
and copying the backup system file from windows/recover to the config
directory.

All seemed well on next boot until I noticed Activesync was not working
any more. So tried to uninstall and got this error:
"The Windows Installer service could not be accessed"
So went through MS fixes described in article
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346
Even after everything there, the only way I can get msiexec.exe to start
is by going to Services and manually starting Windows Installer (its in
manual).
So when I got the installer started, I uninstalled, deleted Activesync
directory, rebooted and reinstalled Activesync as per the relevant error
article also on Microsoft.

If I click on Programs/Activesync the program does start to load, but
never does the old Activesync icon appear in the tray any more.

Bottom line is it seems to me the services are not starting for some
reason or another. When the system starts there are a couple of audio
(error) beeps, sans error message as various files are loading which
were not there before.

Logfile is turned on, but I thought it would be in the route of boot
drive but its not there. That may hold the info needed to resolve whats
happening during boot.
BTW Antivirus does not have anything to do with it, and firewall is
disabled.

Any suggestions apart from reinstalling windows which is an admission of
surrender, and would be a great pity as everything else seems to work OK.
Thanks kindly.
Alistair George.

Alistair George wrote:
> Hi.
> This morning my PC would not start with error :
> Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
> WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM
>
> Fixed that by winxp install disk 'R' and renaming the old system file
> and copying the backup system file from windows/recover to the config
> directory.
>
> All seemed well on next boot until I noticed Activesync was not working
> any more. So tried to uninstall and got this error:
> "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed"
> So went through MS fixes described in article
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346
> Even after everything there, the only way I can get msiexec.exe to start
> is by going to Services and manually starting Windows Installer (its in
> manual).
> So when I got the installer started, I uninstalled, deleted Activesync
> directory, rebooted and reinstalled Activesync as per the relevant error
> article also on Microsoft.
>
> If I click on Programs/Activesync the program does start to load, but
> never does the old Activesync icon appear in the tray any more.
>
> Bottom line is it seems to me the services are not starting for some
> reason or another. When the system starts there are a couple of audio
> (error) beeps, sans error message as various files are loading which
> were not there before.
>
> Logfile is turned on, but I thought it would be in the route of boot
> drive but its not there. That may hold the info needed to resolve whats
> happening during boot.
> BTW Antivirus does not have anything to do with it, and firewall is
> disabled.
>
> Any suggestions apart from reinstalling windows which is an admission of
> surrender, and would be a great pity as everything else seems to work OK.
> Thanks kindly.
> Alistair George.
Search keys: Activesync no tray icon,msiex windows installer problems

Here is a solution which has reverted everything prior to the errors
reported above to its original state:
If unable to boot due to faulty SYSTEM hive, fix it by methods as shown
in Microsoft and others (Mentioned above), but FIRST try to go back to
your previous know good install by F8 and select that option.

After you have rebooted and found like me Activesync and windows
installer not working:
Uninstall Activesync, then manually delete the activesync folder.
Even if you had previously installed WinXP with SP2 download SP2 again,
and install.
Reboot, and reinstall Activesync (windows installer now operates properly)
The reinstall of SP2 seems to fix the above problems.
Cheers,
Alistair.