Gulp, my XP Home \Windows\Windows32\Config\System file is no more!

The Subject line tells the short story which came about as part of rebooting
blindly when I couldn't see anything on the monitor (I'd changed the monitor)
and it has now broken or mislaid the system file.

It is a TIME computer as so I have the TIME BACKUP disk and a DRIVERS disk.
The BACKUP disk replaced a few files (not user selected) but to no avail and
I am stuck with my only known route, to format the disk - because that is
what this disk does! My machine has always had Restore points made but I
don't know how to extract the correct file. I have tried issuing commands at
the C prompt but it doesn't recognise CHKDSK for example and so I don't know
where else to go (DIR is OK). Please advise if any ideas.

N.B. The computer is on a network and I have also considered simply putting
the ATA disk into another VISTA computer (with Serial ATA) to see if it can
search for the replacement file (if I can find out how to stop Autorun on the
BACKUP disk) and repair or replace as nec.

Thanks Tricky

Tricky wrote:
> The Subject line tells the short story which came about as part of rebooting
> blindly when I couldn't see anything on the monitor (I'd changed the monitor)
> and it has now broken or mislaid the system file.
>
> It is a TIME computer as so I have the TIME BACKUP disk and a DRIVERS disk.
> The BACKUP disk replaced a few files (not user selected) but to no avail and
> I am stuck with my only known route, to format the disk - because that is
> what this disk does! My machine has always had Restore points made but I
> don't know how to extract the correct file. I have tried issuing commands at
> the C prompt but it doesn't recognise CHKDSK for example and so I don't know
> where else to go (DIR is OK). Please advise if any ideas.
>
> N.B. The computer is on a network and I have also considered simply putting
> the ATA disk into another VISTA computer (with Serial ATA) to see if it can
> search for the replacement file (if I can find out how to stop Autorun on the
> BACKUP disk) and repair or replace as nec.
>
> Thanks Tricky


How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822705


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Thanks Bruce but my problem runs deeper I fear. Firstly, you are required to
be able to access at least the start button which I find strange for a system
that Microsoft seem to realise can't get passed a warning screen. Secondly,
the Guided help requires that you run it on an XP machine (the problem
machine or another) and I only have a Vista alternative which I have proved
wont run the help. Unfortunately I have visited this page before with the
same conclusion.

Either I can't see the wood for the trees or I'm right - I hope I can't see
the wood for the trees!

Cheers Tricky


"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> Tricky wrote:
> > The Subject line tells the short story which came about as part of rebooting
> > blindly when I couldn't see anything on the monitor (I'd changed the monitor)
> > and it has now broken or mislaid the system file.
> >
> > It is a TIME computer as so I have the TIME BACKUP disk and a DRIVERS disk.
> > The BACKUP disk replaced a few files (not user selected) but to no avail and
> > I am stuck with my only known route, to format the disk - because that is
> > what this disk does! My machine has always had Restore points made but I
> > don't know how to extract the correct file. I have tried issuing commands at
> > the C prompt but it doesn't recognise CHKDSK for example and so I don't know
> > where else to go (DIR is OK). Please advise if any ideas.
> >
> > N.B. The computer is on a network and I have also considered simply putting
> > the ATA disk into another VISTA computer (with Serial ATA) to see if it can
> > search for the replacement file (if I can find out how to stop Autorun on the
> > BACKUP disk) and repair or replace as nec.
> >
> > Thanks Tricky
>
>
> How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
> Starting
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545
>
> Once you've recovered, you might want to look here, as well:
>
> How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;822705
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot
>