Re: Need Help with XP Problem

Reactor wrote:
On Feb 22, 12:40 pm, "relic" <rel...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Reactor wrote:
Hi All,

My Windows XP Machine will not boot. It tells me that the file
windows \system32\config\system file is missing or corrupt.

I realize that this is likely a registry problem, and I have tried
everything I can find on the net to resolve this. The strange thing

Did you try Microsoft.com?

is that no matter what I do, Windows does not see my hard drive. So
I can't install, re-install, or repair windows. Even in the system
recovery console, every partition that I choose is "not valid, or
there is no disk in the drive".

I am running a SATA hard drive and everything is connected properly.
I have backed up all my data using a HD enclosure, but I'd prefer
not to have to reinstall a ton of applications, etc. as I need this
machine up and running as it was as soon as possible.

Any ideas?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Thanks for your response. I tried everything I could find on MS,
including the link you provided. The thing is, Windows tells me that
every single drive letter is invalid or does not have a disk (floppy
or CD) installed. So Windows can't figure out what to repair or where
to install.

If the drives are showing in BIOS, try booting from your XP CD, follow the
Install links. When you tell it which drive to install onto the next screen
_should_ offer to Repair the installation. Try that.

If you don't see drives in BIOS, do the Restore Defaults. If no go, you may
have lost your motherboard... ??


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Can you please help me?
    ... External hard drives and flash drives should work fine, as Windows XP has ... original install media. ... Use of the proper recovery ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: PLEASE HELP: 2 ERROR MESSAGES
    ... The advice to do a repair install, turned out to be a grievous and expensive ... The repair install caused a corruption and windows became ... It seems as though it would not boot from the CD ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Problem on start-up
    ... while a repair install should leave your data ... >>Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM ... >>with the option to setup Windows or Repair ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)
  • Re: Microsoft internet explorer has encountered a problem ...
    ... with the repair, you may want to uninstall it and wait until a later date to ... However, should you choose to repair, you MUST reinstall ALL the updates ... IE SP1 - How to Install ... Method 2 in this article works on earlier versions of Windows. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • Re: 2 SATA drives and 1 IDE drive Not Recognized
    ... I tried to install the motherboard driver utility from the original CD- ... ROM within Windows. ... LifeGuard to find out if it sees the drives. ... Then just update the drivers if newer versions are available on the web site ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)