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Corrupt config file, do I have the correct disk?
My laptop Inspiration 6400 is giving me the 'missing or corrupt sys32\config\sys error message'. (This happened after I rebooted after grissoft downloaded updates and told me to reboot) From reading other posts for this problem, Im not sure I have the correct disk? The disks I have came with the laptop, from Dell, one is purple and its called Operating system -reinstallation cd Microsoft win XP home edition SP2 and another is Drivers and Installers. Now my computer screen says to put in the original set up CD-ROM. I tried each of the cds I have, and I can hear them run but I never got to a screen where I can select r.
I can push F8 and get to the troubleshooting screen, Ive selected safe mode, last known good config, reboot, all lead me back to the corrupt\sys32 message (and I dont know what some of these other things are so I dont want to select them and get stuck). So Im thinking I must not have the right CD to fix my laptop and get to the repair screen?
When I do that it brings me back to the same screen, "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32|CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repait this file by sarting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair. "
TheRealFireblad
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Posted March 16th, 2009 09:00
It sounds like the boot order is wrong?
You need to go into the BIOS (F2 during startup), and change it to boot/check for CD/DVD, then the hard drive, then anything else (i.e. floppy drive) :emotion-55:
You can find complete instructions here, including instructions how to recover from this registry corruption if CHKDSK /R does not work.
Fix 1.C:\Windows
Hope this helps
darn. It looks like Im going to have to reinstall XP as my computer is not repaired. I ran the CHKDSK /r on both my drives and now it brings me back to the blue windows freeze screen. sigh. Fortunatly I was able to back up my photos last week, I dont think I had any important docs on the laptop.
TheRealFireblad
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Posted March 17th, 2009 10:00
I'd make sure to keep making regular backups from now on as well, because a 'repair' install should've worked?
Do a 'clean' install by all means. If you subsequently continue to have the same problem, it might suggest one of your hard drives is on the way out?
Do you have them set up in a RAID array, or are they two separate disks (primary/slave)?It's obviously the disk on which you've installed the OS which is causing the problems, so keep an eye on it.
Hard drives which are failing usually show different symptoms (grinding noises etc), but still.
Jesse L (retired)
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Posted March 16th, 2009 07:00
amyallen.
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Put the WinXP disk in the drive and boot your computer. Once it boots up you should be able to choose the Repair option.
Jesse L (retired)