XP Repair Problems

I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
Received the following error message:

Windows XP could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.

Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence and
pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password, don't have
one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
Followed these instructions:

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system.bak 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

When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that there
were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I chose - Last
Known Configuration.

The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared and the
Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe Mode.
While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it won't.
How do I find out the password?

Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of Recovery
Console. It indicated that it found a previous installation of Windows.
Previous to this, it only presented the three (3) partitions. I was now
presented with the option to install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose
Repair. After it copied the new files and rebooted, I received an error that
indicated that While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
correct.

I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator password
has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired" version of Windows to
start. Please help me resolve this as I have been attempting all sorts of
solutions since Friday.

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\ drive, what
will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be affected? My Documents,
will it be affected? Other programs? etc.

Thanks in advance.

sheppardwk wrote:
> I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
> Received the following error message:
>
> Windows XP could not start because the
> following file is missing or corrupt:
> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.
>
> Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545
>
> Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence
> and pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password,
> don't have one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
> Followed these instructions:
>
> md tmp
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
>
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
>
> copy c:\windows\repair\system.bak 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
>
> When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that
> there were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I
> chose - Last Known Configuration.
>
> The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared
> and the Checking File on C:
> File System is NTFS
> Volume is dirty
>
> CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying USN journal
>
> Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
> After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on
> Safe Mode. While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared
> that stated
> While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current
> value is not correct.
> Loop back to CHKDSK.
>
> Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the
> administrator password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it
> accepted it. Now it won't. How do I find out the password?
>
> Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of
> Recovery Console. It indicated that it found a previous
> installation of Windows. Previous to this, it only presented the
> three (3) partitions. I was now presented with the option to
> install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose Repair. After it copied
> the new files and rebooted, I received an error that indicated that
> While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
> correct.
>
> I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator
> password has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired"
> version of Windows to start. Please help me resolve this as I have
> been attempting all sorts of solutions since Friday.
>
> If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\
> drive, what will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be
> affected? My Documents, will it be affected? Other programs? etc.
>
> Thanks in advance.

In the future - please cross-post as opposed to multi-posting. It results
in your message being spread across as many groups - but makes it easier for
you to check and others to read and not run-across unread in another group
later. Think of it like sending the same email to many different people -
usually (or you should) you just put all their addresses in the TO: (or CC:
or BCC:) field at once. Not compose a whole new message for each person,
but with exactly the same content.

First - you could reset the administrator's password using this on of these
CDs:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Or hints from here:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_admini...r_password.htm

And/or - you could perform a REPAIR install (that's not hitting the first R,
but the second R) which should keep everything intact.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

You may need this afterwards as well (as sometimes - after a repair
installation - Windows Updates just stop working.):

First thing to try:
As many will tell you - ignore the title and symptoms listed in the article
referred to. Do method 1 and 2 and see if it fixes your issue whether or
not you repaired anything.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
Try method 1 and try to update*.
If fails - try method 2 and try to update*.

*try to update:
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
- If it asks you to install anything before you see a selection of "Custom"
or "Express" - do so.
- Once you see the "Custom" or "Express" selection, choose "Custom".
- Scan for updates.
- When it lists what it finds - install the critical ones.
- You are generally safe doing the Optional Software Updates. I suggest
avoiding the Optional Hardware Updates completely.


Second thing to try:
http://www.codeplex.com/aureset


Third thing to try:
Get Dial-a-Fix:
http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix

Use its options to fix:
- Windows Installer
- Windows Update
- All the Registration Center options.

Turn off the "Empty System32\Catroot 2"
Do NOT do "Flush SoftwareDistribution".

Then click "GO" and wait until it is done... Reboot will be needed.

- Download/Install Windows Update v3.
http://download.windowsupdate.com/wi...gent30-x86.exe
(You *may* need to install it using the command line switch "/wuforce"
right after the reboot - immediately after logging in.)

- Reboot.
- Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and scan for/install updates.


Usually - method one from the first suggestion fixes the issue.
Sometimes they have to proceed to method two from the first suggestion.

Less seldom - but it does happen - only the tool from the second suggestion
will work - although the first suggestion is contained within the second in
many ways (as well as some of the third.)

And the third suggestion is there because before there was a suggestion (1)
and a suggestion (2) - the third was the best bet and worked in most cases.

Good luck - come back and let us know!

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

sheppardwk - Shenan provided excellent info - I'll piggyback a little.

There are two repair options using the XP CD the first offered via recovery
console and the second repair of the current installation.

Do not select the recovery console option - proceed with setup - setup will
find and list the current XP installation - when it does - you will be asked
if you want to repair the installation.

Select "Yes" and setup will continue - the repair option is actually an
upgrade installtion.

Note: If setup not locating and listing the current XP installation
indicates serious problem.





<sheppardwk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D7413948-C76C-455C-BC7E-ECD6CA122C18@microsoft.com...
>I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
> Received the following error message:
>
> Windows XP could not start because the
> following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
> error.
>
> Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545
>
> Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence and
> pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password, don't have
> one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
> Followed these instructions:
>
> md tmp
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
>
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
>
> copy c:\windows\repair\system.bak 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
>
> When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that there
> were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I chose - Last
> Known Configuration.
>
> The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared and the
> Checking File on C:
> File System is NTFS
> Volume is dirty
>
> CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying USN journal
>
> Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
> After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe
> Mode.
> While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
> While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
> not correct.
> Loop back to CHKDSK.
>
> Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
> password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it
> won't.
> How do I find out the password?
>
> Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of Recovery
> Console. It indicated that it found a previous installation of Windows.
> Previous to this, it only presented the three (3) partitions. I was now
> presented with the option to install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose
> Repair. After it copied the new files and rebooted, I received an error
> that
> indicated that While attempting to use the password, the current value is
> not
> correct.
>
> I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator
> password
> has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired" version of Windows
> to
> start. Please help me resolve this as I have been attempting all sorts of
> solutions since Friday.
>
> If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\ drive, what
> will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be affected? My Documents,
> will it be affected? Other programs? etc.
>
> Thanks in advance.

yes, if you "re" install
windows you will loose
all your personal files.

so the repair option is
better method to utilize.

hopefully you will regain
access to your system
as suggested by others.


in the future i think it is a
good idea to keep your system
tuned up, since chkdsk reported
a dirty issue "and" perhaps
this is what attributed to
your initial headache.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

"sheppardwk" <sheppardwk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:D7413948-C76C-455C-BC7E-ECD6CA122C18@microsoft.com...
>I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
> Received the following error message:
>
> Windows XP could not start because the
> following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.
>
> Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545
>
> Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence and
> pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password, don't have
> one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
> Followed these instructions:
>
> md tmp
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
> copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
>
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
> delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
>
> copy c:\windows\repair\system.bak 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
>
> When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that there
> were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I chose - Last
> Known Configuration.
>
> The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared and the
> Checking File on C:
> File System is NTFS
> Volume is dirty
>
> CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
> CHKDSK is verifying USN journal
>
> Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
> After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe Mode.
> While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
> While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
> not correct.
> Loop back to CHKDSK.
>
> Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
> password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it won't.
> How do I find out the password?
>
> Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of Recovery
> Console. It indicated that it found a previous installation of Windows.
> Previous to this, it only presented the three (3) partitions. I was now
> presented with the option to install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose
> Repair. After it copied the new files and rebooted, I received an error that
> indicated that While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
> correct.
>
> I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator password
> has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired" version of Windows to
> start. Please help me resolve this as I have been attempting all sorts of
> solutions since Friday.
>
> If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\ drive, what
> will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be affected? My Documents,
> will it be affected? Other programs? etc.
>
> Thanks in advance.