Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on start-up the
following:
Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the main
reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware problem?

Hi

Please see if the following article helps:

"How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307545

The article does not apply to OEM versions of XP.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

"Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
> Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on start-up
> the
> following:
> Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or corrupt:
> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>
> Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the main
> reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
> problem?

This doesn't really answer my question. I'm asking on how to prevent my
computer from having this problem again. Please help.

"Will Denny" wrote:

> Hi
>
> Please see if the following article helps:
>
> "How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
> starting"
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307545
>
> The article does not apply to OEM versions of XP.
>
> --
>
>
> Will Denny
> MS MVP Windows Shell/User
> Please reply to the News Groups
>
> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on start-up
> > the
> > following:
> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or corrupt:
> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
> >
> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the main
> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
> > problem?
>
>
>

Hi

There are numerous possibilities for a Registry being corrupted - drivers,
3rd party software. It would be more or less impossible to ascertain
exactly was is causing the problem.

Do you add any software between the times this happens? You've tried a
'Repair' install of XP when this occurs?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

"Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:31AAA4E9-6EA9-42DB-9E81-AB9364641F61@microsoft.com...
> This doesn't really answer my question. I'm asking on how to prevent my
> computer from having this problem again. Please help.
>
> "Will Denny" wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> Please see if the following article helps:
>>
>> "How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from
>> starting"
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=307545
>>
>> The article does not apply to OEM versions of XP.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Will Denny
>> MS MVP Windows Shell/User
>> Please reply to the News Groups
>>
>> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
>> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on
>> > start-up
>> > the
>> > following:
>> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or
>> > corrupt:
>> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>> >
>> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the
>> > main
>> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
>> > problem?
>>
>>
>>

There are various possible causes, but a hard drive problem is one of the
more common. I recommend you run chkdsk /r (bad sector check) and also
look for the drive manufacturers test utility.
--

"Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
> Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on start-up
> the
> following:
> Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or corrupt:
> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>
> Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the main
> reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
> problem?

Everytime I get a registry corrupt I can never do the repair. When I insert
the Windows CD in the CD Drive, it immediately leads me to the Setup Windows
XP or Recovery Console choices.

True that sometimes a recent software installation usually causes this.
However, the most recent one would be when I downloaded (automatically)
windows update and restarted. That's when it got corrupted again.

"GTS" wrote:

> There are various possible causes, but a hard drive problem is one of the
> more common. I recommend you run chkdsk /r (bad sector check) and also
> look for the drive manufacturers test utility.
> --
>
> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on start-up
> > the
> > following:
> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or corrupt:
> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
> >
> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the main
> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
> > problem?
>
>
>

Hi

What kind of XP CD have you got?

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

"Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5871DBB6-D817-4A05-BF1C-51ADB77BF257@microsoft.com...
> Everytime I get a registry corrupt I can never do the repair. When I
> insert
> the Windows CD in the CD Drive, it immediately leads me to the Setup
> Windows
> XP or Recovery Console choices.
>
> True that sometimes a recent software installation usually causes this.
> However, the most recent one would be when I downloaded (automatically)
> windows update and restarted. That's when it got corrupted again.
>
> "GTS" wrote:
>
>> There are various possible causes, but a hard drive problem is one of the
>> more common. I recommend you run chkdsk /r (bad sector check) and also
>> look for the drive manufacturers test utility.
>> --
>>
>> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
>> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on
>> > start-up
>> > the
>> > following:
>> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or
>> > corrupt:
>> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>> >
>> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the
>> > main
>> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
>> > problem?
>>
>>
>>

Home Edition. Then I installed Service Pack 2

Could you please just generally the reasons for registry corruption? Say
spyware?

"Will Denny" wrote:

> Hi
>
> What kind of XP CD have you got?
>
> --
>
>
> Will Denny
> MS MVP Windows Shell/User
> Please reply to the News Groups
>
> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5871DBB6-D817-4A05-BF1C-51ADB77BF257@microsoft.com...
> > Everytime I get a registry corrupt I can never do the repair. When I
> > insert
> > the Windows CD in the CD Drive, it immediately leads me to the Setup
> > Windows
> > XP or Recovery Console choices.
> >
> > True that sometimes a recent software installation usually causes this.
> > However, the most recent one would be when I downloaded (automatically)
> > windows update and restarted. That's when it got corrupted again.
> >
> > "GTS" wrote:
> >
> >> There are various possible causes, but a hard drive problem is one of the
> >> more common. I recommend you run chkdsk /r (bad sector check) and also
> >> look for the drive manufacturers test utility.
> >> --
> >>
> >> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
> >> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on
> >> > start-up
> >> > the
> >> > following:
> >> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or
> >> > corrupt:
> >> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
> >> >
> >> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the
> >> > main
> >> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
> >> > problem?
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Hi

Is the CD an OEM or Retail version. It's very difficult to say exactly what
may have caused the Registry corruption - drivers, 3rd party software. I
would doubt very much that spyware would corrupt the Registry.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

"Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7D01FA9D-91C0-4F4B-B9E6-3DD2E50C79FD@microsoft.com...
> Home Edition. Then I installed Service Pack 2
>
> Could you please just generally the reasons for registry corruption? Say
> spyware?
>
> "Will Denny" wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> What kind of XP CD have you got?
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Will Denny
>> MS MVP Windows Shell/User
>> Please reply to the News Groups
>>
>> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5871DBB6-D817-4A05-BF1C-51ADB77BF257@microsoft.com...
>> > Everytime I get a registry corrupt I can never do the repair. When I
>> > insert
>> > the Windows CD in the CD Drive, it immediately leads me to the Setup
>> > Windows
>> > XP or Recovery Console choices.
>> >
>> > True that sometimes a recent software installation usually causes this.
>> > However, the most recent one would be when I downloaded (automatically)
>> > windows update and restarted. That's when it got corrupted again.
>> >
>> > "GTS" wrote:
>> >
>> >> There are various possible causes, but a hard drive problem is one of
>> >> the
>> >> more common. I recommend you run chkdsk /r (bad sector check) and
>> >> also
>> >> look for the drive manufacturers test utility.
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on
>> >> > start-up
>> >> > the
>> >> > following:
>> >> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or
>> >> > corrupt:
>> >> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>> >> >
>> >> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the
>> >> > main
>> >> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
>> >> > problem?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Select Recovery Console and type chkdsk /r at the command prompt to run the
disk scan.
--

"Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5871DBB6-D817-4A05-BF1C-51ADB77BF257@microsoft.com...
> Everytime I get a registry corrupt I can never do the repair. When I
> insert
> the Windows CD in the CD Drive, it immediately leads me to the Setup
> Windows
> XP or Recovery Console choices.
>
> True that sometimes a recent software installation usually causes this.
> However, the most recent one would be when I downloaded (automatically)
> windows update and restarted. That's when it got corrupted again.
>
> "GTS" wrote:
>
>> There are various possible causes, but a hard drive problem is one of the
>> more common. I recommend you run chkdsk /r (bad sector check) and also
>> look for the drive manufacturers test utility.
>> --
>>
>> "Ceowin" <Ceowin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:BD43FCD3-3570-41BC-929D-84CA6843B48C@microsoft.com...
>> > Like marty, I frequently have the same problem where PC shows on
>> > start-up
>> > the
>> > following:
>> > Windows could not start because the folowing file is missing or
>> > corrupt:
>> > \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>> >
>> > Usually I just reformat or reinstall. Could someone please state the
>> > main
>> > reasons why this happens? Is there a possibility that it's hardware
>> > problem?
>>
>>
>>