Computer wont boot.. Missing or corrupt file error

[Ranjan]

Friends, i don't know what went wrong today any my pc isn't booting up even.
Today, after hibernating my pc, when i started it, then at the screen when it displays- Resuming windows, press F8 for advanced options, I pressed f8 and i decided not to hibernate but to restart system. So i chose the second option- delete restoration point and go to boot menu, after it windows booting screen appears and my pc boots up successfully, but just after 1 or 2 seconds of booting, i got a blue screen (probably BSoD) and when i restarted my pc, i got the error message- Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting windows setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
The problem is that i don't have the setup cd. I'm using WindowsXP SP3.
So is there any solution for it?
Can i use SP2 setup cd to repair it...?

[assassin]

Yes you can .You have to manually repair the system from recovery console just copy the file "system" from C:\WINDOWS\repair to the location C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG and paste it.
I hope you know how to do it. if you don't know then let us know we will help you out.

[Ranjan]

Yes you can .You have to manually repair the system from recovery console just copy the file "system" from C:\WINDOWS\repair to the location C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG and paste it.
I hope you know how to do it. if you don't know then let us know we will help you out.

thanks but i don't know much about these type of problems.
So It'd be nice if u can post a detailed procedure for it..

[assassin]

1)Put your win XP CD and boot it up.

2)When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

3)Don't press anything for 5 seconds

4)You will be asked "Which Windows Installation you would like to log on " type 1 and press enter.

5)Type the Adminstrator password, if you have or if you don't then simply press enter

6)Then type cd repair(you will go to C:\windows\repair folder) and then type dir there you will see the file which we want to copy ie "system"

7)Then type copy system c:\windows\system32\config and press enter. it will say 1 file copied. then type exit and try to start your PC in normal way.It should work.

[Ranjan]

1)Put your win XP CD and boot it up.
2)When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3)Don't press anything for 5 seconds
4)You will be asked "Which Windows Installation you would like to log on " type 1 and press enter.
5)Type the Adminstrator password, if you have or if you don't then simply press enter
6)Then type cd repair(you will go to C:\windows\repair folder) and then type dir there you will see the file which we want to copy ie "system"
7)Then type copy system c:\windows\system32\config and press enter. it will say 1 file copied. then type exit and try to start your PC in normal way.It should work.

thanks but Pls have a look at my main post again. I had already told that i dont have SP3 setup disc..
But I've SP2.. So will it be possible to repair my pc with SP2 cd?

[assassin]

Yes it is possible with win XP sp2.

[Ranjan]

Will repairing with sp2 convert my sp3 into sp2..? I mean displaying of SP2 in my computer's properties instead of SP3..?

[assassin]

Dude you only have one file missing ie "system" just do it as I told you and your system will be working in normal state.

There's a another way also just boot up your PC into recovery console and type “BOOTCFG /Rebuild".It will check problematic system files that are preventing OS to load correctly.

Will repairing with sp2 convert my sp3 into sp2..? I mean displaying of SP2 in my computer's properties instead of SP3..?

I don't think so...

[Ranjan]

What about my installed apps...? I mean will my all installed apps will be removed...? Oh but wait.. i don't care about other installed apps.. I just want that the update files of my av should remain intact.. I don't wanna lose them.. Its very troublesome to dload such big updates over my network..

[assassin]

Everything will remain intact even your History. Don't Worry just be happy and everything will be fine for you. I will say just use “BOOTCFG /Rebuild" command It will check other system files also.It will be better than copy command.easy and simple...

Good Luck & Good Hunting.