Unable to start XP

[JMG]

I installed the latest updates to Windows (XP Home Edition) last night and
upon restarting my computer got an error message that reads file
windows/config/system is missing or corrupt, and that I should go to setup on
the XP installation cd and push "R" for repair upon setup. Problem is, I
don't have a cd to re-install and go through set up with. Please help.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"JMG" <JMG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3DA6C7F9-BA70-400E-BC8C-A89C7361EDD2@microsoft.com...
>I installed the latest updates to Windows (XP Home Edition) last night and
> upon restarting my computer got an error message that reads file
> windows/config/system is missing or corrupt, and that I should go to setup
> on
> the XP installation cd and push "R" for repair upon setup. Problem is, I
> don't have a cd to re-install and go through set up with. Please help.

You need the recovery console to follow the repair directions exactly, and
if it isn't installed on your system, you can borrow *any* bootable XP CD
for the task, Home or Pro.

Here are the official directions for repair:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

You can also perform the same tasks from other boot CDs that support NTFS,
such as Linux boot CDs. As well, if you can shift the drive to another
system, you can fix it there, too. Adjust the directions according to the
method you've used to access the drive.

HTH
-pk