help repairing win xp

605 Views 22 Replies 7 Participants Last post by DJZeratul, Mar 17, 2009

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · Mar 17, 2009

I'm trying to repiar windows xp using the below method but when i get to this step

"copy c:\\windows\
epair\\system c:\\windows\\system32\\config\\system"

I get an error that says "The system cannot find the file specified"

have no clue what to do now.

Quote:

md tmp
copy c:windowssystem32configsystem c:windowstmpsystem.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configsoftware c:windowstmpsoftware.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configsam c:windowstmpsam.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configsecurity c:windowstmpsecurity.bak
copy c:windowssystem32configdefault c:windowstmpdefault.bak

delete c:windowssystem32configsystem
delete c:windowssystem32configsoftware
delete c:windowssystem32configsam
delete c:windowssystem32configsecurity
delete c:windowssystem32configdefault

copy c:windowsrepairsystem c:windowssystem32configsystem
copy c:windowsrepairsoftware c:windowssystem32configsoftware
copy c:windowsrepairsam c:windowssystem32configsam
copy c:windowsrepairsecurity c:windowssystem32configsecurity
copy c:windowsrepairdefault c:windowssystem32configdefault

Edit: The reason i'm doing this i get this error

"Windows could not start because the file is missing or corrupt.. \\windows\\system32\\config\\system"

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1 - 20 of 23 Posts

invisiblek

· #2 · Mar 17, 2009

put your xp disc in the drive and boot off it, skip the first part where it says to press r for recovery console, after the agreement press r to repair the os (assuming the installation sees it) and it will repair windows, youll have to do a bunch of windows updates afterwards, but it should work

t_russell

· #3 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by invisiblek

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put your xp disc in the drive and boot off it, skip the first part where it says to press r for recovery console, after the agreement press r to repair the os (assuming the installation sees it) and it will repair windows, youll have to do a bunch of windows updates afterwards, but it should work

The file isn't there or the path is incorrect. ^^^ best idea^^^

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waverider599

· #4 · Mar 17, 2009

Reinstall it

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northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by waverider599

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Reinstall it

not an option its a laptop and I need data/pics etc..

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invisiblek

· #6 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by northbayvallejo

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not an option its a laptop and I need data/pics etc..

do a windows repair, its your best bet, otherwise pull the hard drive and hook it to another machine, pull ur data off and then reload xp

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Reactions: 1

JadeMiner

· #7 · Mar 17, 2009

Ok. There's 2 types of repair with XP. The recovery console where you have to type everything and all commands. Then there's the auto-repair that copies all the system files and the dll's and everything and "should" leave the system intact.

Restart the computer and put in the XP CD. This time when it gives you the options to set up, repair, etc. Press "enter" not the "R". This will eventually take you to the auto-repair feature. That's when you press the "R". Remember...skip the recovery console and go to the auto-repair.

Here's an article that explains this. http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-t...s-XP-t138.html

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 17, 2009

Ok i'm there I only see 3 options

- To set up windows xp on the selected item, press enter

- To create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C

- to delete the selection, press D

invisiblek

· #9 · Mar 17, 2009

are you using the disc that came with that computer? most importantly an xp home disc with an xp home install or pro with pro? im asking because you went too far and if you are using the wrong disc it will skip that part

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 17, 2009

It's XP home and the disc is XP home, but its not the original disc

t_russell

· #11 · Mar 17, 2009

It doesn't see the other windows install. You may need to move the drive to get your data back.

invisiblek

· #12 · Mar 17, 2009

it should work then, but if you got those 3 options, you've gone too far, should have been one screen back

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by invisiblek

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it should work then, but if you got those 3 options, you've gone too far, should have been one screen back

the screen before that gives you 2 options, press enter to enter windows setup, or press R which is the command promt repair, If i press enter I get only those 3 options i previously stated

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invisiblek

· #14 · Mar 17, 2009

then i would say that your windows install is hosed up good, probably going to need a reinstall, like t_russel said, pull the drive and hook it to a different machine and pull your data off

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by invisiblek

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then i would say that your windows install is hosed up good, probably going to need a reinstall, like t_russel said, pull the drive and hook it to a different machine and pull your data off

The only problem with that is, its a laptop

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invisiblek

· #16 · Mar 17, 2009

how old? does it have a sata hard drive? if so that will easily hook up to a desktop with sata, if its ide youll need an adapter, or burn an ubuntu disc and copy to a thumb drive, or over the network for that matter

DJZeratul

· #17 · Mar 17, 2009

nah, let it load and when you get the 3 options, you press enter to continue. it will check for windows installs and ask you if you want to reinstall windows or repair the install at the specified location. then you do the repair (R) and it wont wipe the drive, just repairs the windows folder.

good luck.

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 17, 2009

del

northbayvallejo

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJZeratul

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nah, let it load and when you get the 3 options, you press enter to continue. it will check for windows installs and ask you if you want to reinstall windows or repair the install at the specified location. then you do the repair (R) and it wont wipe the drive, just repairs the windows folder.

good luck.

wont that option delete the partition

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DJZeratul

· #20 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by northbayvallejo

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wont that option delete the partition

repair install will not delete the partition. pressing enter will not delete the partition. if you go so far as to get to the partition table editor, then something is wrong. if it finds a windows install on the drive, it wont let you get that far without asking if you want to repair it.

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1 - 20 of 23 Posts

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