the c:\windows\repair\system file is missing?

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Chris

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I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. I tried to

copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?
 
On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:38:15 -0700, Chris

wrote:





> I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. I tried to

> copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?








What is the name of the file that is missing? Exactly how do you know

that it's missing? What problems are caused by the file being missing?







--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
a repair install is not going to resolve the rootkit infection



Chris wrote:

> I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. I tried to

> copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?
 
On Jun 22, 7:38?pm, Chris wrote:

> I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. ?I tried to

> copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?




What is the symptom of the problem you are trying to solve?



Do you mean XP indicated with some message that the file was missing

or you looked in the c:\windows\repair folder and it it not there?



Did you try to copy the file and the copy did not work?



Did you actually look in the c:\windows\repair folder?



If you actually look in the c:\windows\repair folder, what files do

you see?
 
the name of the file is called system. its in the folder

C;\windows\system32\config and the back up was supposed to be located in

c:\windows\repair but its not there. The system is unbootable and i found

out the file is missing from ubcd4win.



"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:



> On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:38:15 -0700, Chris

> wrote:

>

>

> > I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. I tried to

> > copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?


>

>

>

> What is the name of the file that is missing? Exactly how do you know

> that it's missing? What problems are caused by the file being missing?

>

>

>

> --

> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> .

>
 
See this if it could help: (see Note below)



How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from

starting

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545



When you try to start or restart your Windows XP-based computer, you may

receive one of the following error messages:

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM



Note:

When you have finished the procedure, a registry is created that you can use

to start Windows XP. This registry was created and saved during the initial

setup of Windows XP. Therefore any changes and settings that occurred after

the Setup program was finished are lost.



--

Rey





"Chris" wrote:



> the name of the file is called system. its in the folder

> C;\windows\system32\config and the back up was supposed to be located in

> c:\windows\repair but its not there. The system is unbootable and i found

> out the file is missing from ubcd4win.

>

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

>

> > On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:38:15 -0700, Chris

> > wrote:

> >

> >

> > > I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. I tried to

> > > copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?


> >

> >

> >

> > What is the name of the file that is missing? Exactly how do you know

> > that it's missing? What problems are caused by the file being missing?

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> > .

> >
 
On Jun 22, 10:26?pm, Chris wrote:

> the name of the file is called system. its in the folder

> C;\windows\system32\config and the back up was supposed to be located in

> c:\windows\repair but its not there. ?The system is unbootable and i found

> out the file is missing from ubcd4win.

>

>

>

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> > On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:38:15 -0700, Chris

> > wrote:


>

> > > I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. ?I tried to

> > > copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?


>

> > What is the name of the file that is missing? Exactly how do you know

> > that it's missing? What problems are caused by the file being missing?


>

> > --

> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> > .




What file did you determine was missing that started you on this

adventure and is it really missing or is XP just telling you it can't

find it.



If you actually look in the c:\windows\repair folder, what files to

you see?



The files in there are not "backups" they are the original copies from

when XP was installed. What files are in that folder (third time

asking). Sometimes they look a little strange, but they should be

there in some form unless they have been deleted.



Did you make the UBCD4win CD yourself? If yes, then you must have a

bootable XP installation CD from which you could boot the Recovery

Console.



Those files are not supposed to be on the UBCD4win - they are supposed

to be on your afflicted hard disk.



From the XP Recovery Console (still don't know what the original

problem is) you should run chkdsk /r to verify the integrit of the

file system first - before you start trying to copy files around.



If you are trying to fix problems like this:



Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or

corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM



You always need to start with chkdsk /r first - that may fix you right

up. If you are sure your file system mis okay, then you may give

KB307545 a whirl and it works perfectly if you follow the directions

exactly, but you just don't start there.



KB307545 is written to follow if you really do have a corrupted

registry, but you don't know that. All you know is your system won't

boot. That is just the best error message XP can come up with when

the file system is unreadable (I can't find this file) and in need of

repair - you just don't start right in with it until the file system

has been checked out.



Those kinds of messages usually mean XP just can't find the file

usually after a power interruption has corrupted the files system, and

a chkdsk /r needs to be run first. There may really be something

wrong with the registry, but usually there is not (unless you

corrupted it yourself).



You can do all these things from the XP Recovery Console using XP

commands.



I don't remember that UBCD4win has an equivalent of the Windows NTFS

chkdsk /r command (someone will tell me though).



Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or

improper shutdown?

(this includes plug pulling and power buttons)



These can cause corruption in the file system which must be fixed

before you do anything else.



If any of those events have occurred (or even if they have not

occurred), you should verify the integrity of your file system before

doing anything else (especially "trying" things).



It makes zero sense to start trying to copy files around on a hard

disk that has a corrupted file system so this must be fixed first

using the XP chkdsk program, and fixing that may resolve your issue

entirely.



Use the XP Recovery Console to verify the file system on your HDD and

correct any problems and then try to boot your system - this may be

all you need to do. Or, you are welcome to just start trying things

that might work.



Boot into the Windows Recovery Console using a bootable XP

installation CD, or create on a bootable XP Recovery Console CD.



This is not the same as any recovery disks that might have come a

store bought system. If you are not sure what kind of bootable CD you

have, make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD and be sure.



You can create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD when no XP media is

available by following the directions in this link:



http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic276527.html



After booting into the Recovery Console, you should be in this folder:



C:\WINDOWS



For each of your hard disk partitions, you should then run:



chkdsk /r



For example, from the Recovery Console prompt, enter:



chkdsk c: /r



Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take

a long time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the

HDD light is still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on

the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress. It may

even appear to go backwards sometimes.



The chkdsk /r needs to complete without any errors, so you may need to

run it multiple times until it does.



Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the

computer.
 
cf. http://www.ubcd4win.com/



UBCD4Windows Support forums

http://ubcd4win.com/forum/index.php?showforum=38





Chris wrote:

> the name of the file is called system. its in the folder

> C;\windows\system32\config and the back up was supposed to be located in

> c:\windows\repair but its not there. The system is unbootable and i found

> out the file is missing from ubcd4win.

>

>> What is the name of the file that is missing? Exactly how do you know

>> that it's missing? What problems are caused by the file being missing?

>>

>>> I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. I tried

>>> to

>>> copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?
 
On Jun 22, 10:26?pm, Chris wrote:

> the name of the file is called system. its in the folder

> C;\windows\system32\config and the back up was supposed to be located in

> c:\windows\repair but its not there. ?The system is unbootable and i found

> out the file is missing from ubcd4win.

>

>

>

> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> > On Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:38:15 -0700, Chris

> > wrote:


>

> > > I am trying to fix a computer that has a missing system file. ?I tried to

> > > copy it from repair\system but its missing from there?


>

> > What is the name of the file that is missing? Exactly how do you know

> > that it's missing? What problems are caused by the file being missing?


>

> > --

> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003

> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup

> > .




So there are no files in the c:\windows\repair folder (that folder is

empty)?



Did you run chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console yet?
 
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