pc wont boot get the following message. windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system itried reinstalling windows xp with the setup cd but it wont read from the cd drive. Thanks
If the drive is having a hard time reading the CD, it's due to either scratches or dust build up on the lens inside the drive.
sorry for the double posting. the reason that it will not read the cd is because in bios in the boot sequence it says that the cd drive is not installed. Thanks
Okay I believe that what you are saying your problem is is that the file (named system) in your C:/windows/system32/config/system(*system being the missing file). I believe their is a easy way to fix this. It will require your hard drive another running pc and preferably a your windows install cd but i believe that a restore cd/dvd will work also. Heres how it works: 1.Remove the hard drive that you have windows installed on, if you only have one hard drive it will be that one otherwise its up to you to figure it out. 2.In the running pc do a complete shutdown 3.Ground yourself and remove the power-cord. 4.Open the case up 5.Locate the hard drive cage and insert your drive into it and set it as slave. Make sure you have the jumpers on it set up correctly!! 6.Turn the pc on and if you have to log on do so. 7.Create a folder on the desktop called "system" or "backup" or a name you can associate with the system file your missing. 8.Insert either your Windows install CD or Restore CD/DVD. 9.Locate the "system" file. ex. on the cd select windows, then sysem32, then config and then locate the "system" file (the one your missing on your hard drive). 10.Copy this file into the folder you created on the desktop. 11.You can remove the CD/DVD from the drive and put it back into its case. 12. Now select "Start" from the system tray and select my computer. 13. Locate your hard drive and double click it to open it up. 14. Select the "windows" folder, then the "system32" folder, then the "config" folder. 15. Once in this window minimize. 16. Locate the folder you created on your desktop and COPY the system folder you had inside it. 17. Maximize the window for you Hard Drive/"Config" folder. 18. Paste the "system" file into it. * Important. If a window pops up saying something to the extent of "would you like to replace this system file with this one?" select "yes" or "okay" to copy your system file over the old one. 19. Do a complete shut-down. 20. Ground yourself, unplug the power-cord, and remove the hard drive. 21. Install the Hard-Drive back into your pc, making sure to set it back to the correct settings.(since its the Hard-Drive with windows on it it will be "Master") 22. Turn on your pc and if all went well it should boot up. 23. When windows is running I would suggest using a Utility such as Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image to make a backup of your PC's hard drive. (if you choose to do what I have typed above I would recommend copy and pasting these into a word document and printing them so you can read them during the repair process as listed above) Hope this helped - PeaInAPod
@Morph416 If bios is not recognizing the cd in bios in the boot sequence menu it is not because it is dirty. Its because the CD/DVD Drive is not even in the boot sequence. A scratched/dirty lens would not prevent it from being in the boot sequence it would just interfere with the reading/writing of cd's. @Bourbon If the process I hvae typed above works for you. I would highly recommend making you boot sequence include your CD/DVD Drive. Best of Luck - PeaInAPod
@Pea... it wasn't mentioned that the BIOS wasn't reading the drive from the first post! If the BIOS is not reading the drive, it could be as simple as replacing the cable, making sure the cable is plugged in properly, no kinks in the cable, or even as far as a faulty drive or IDE channel in the chipset. Check the cables first, but if still a no go, try placing the drive on another channel, or using a different drive altogether.
@Morph416 In burbon 'spost he states : "the reason that it will not read the cd is because in bios in THE BOOT SEQUENCE it says that the cd drive is not installed." Burbon is saying in the BOOT SEQUENCE the CD/DVD drive is not listed, that means that the CD/DVD drive is not included in the boot sequence of the Computer. This is the reason the pc will not read the cd when on start-up.
there is actually 2 cd drives 1 is a burner. I have tried both of them together, one at a time, also changed them from main to slave nothing has worked bios continues to say that cd drive is not installed. checked all the cables everything seems to be ok. will try your suggestion "PeaInAPod" i'll let you what happens. thanks
ok, before i started messing with swapping the hard drive i thought i would take a closer look at the cables as Morph416 suggested and this is what i found. i used a new cable and that did not work still got the same message in bios but then i swapped the the channel with the hard drive and bios read the cd drive but said there was no hard drive installed. is there any way to fix this or does it require a new motherboard.
@Burbon If the cd/dvd drive worked when windows worked then you dont need a new Mobo. Just do what I listed above and it will work. I've done this on a handful of pc repair jobs. Now which is better 30-45 mins of work or wasting $100+ on a new Mobo?
@PeaInAPod installed the hard drive in another pc all is working well located the system file on drive that wont boot a 5 meg file. i can't find this file in my windows xp installation cd. would it be called something else. thanks
Okay since I dont have a windows cd handy to go through the steps on my pc. I'll give this my best shot. 1. Go through the directory windows\system32\config\ and copy the system file and paste it over the "broken" system file on your hard drive. 2. If that doesnt work select the cd in windows explorer, right click and search. Im sorry thats the best I can do now.
got it working..... here's what i did, put the HD into another pc went into windows\ system volume copied the restore files named system, sam, default,software and security and pasted them into the windows\system32\config folder. put the hard drive back into the original pc and whammm the pc booted right up.
Great Job!! You got it going! Yeah I know in my previous posts I had had the same problem, honestly it was the same type of problem just different file. so i was giving you the steps for the problem I went throught to fix a customers pc. Congrats and good luck. P.S. I would still recomend using software such as Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost to backup your pc.
i still have one problem, the cd drives are not working. it must be the bad ide channel on the mobo. can i hook up the cd drive to the second cable of the hard drive ide channel. will it work?
