Retrieve files from computer

[cthegraves]

Hi! I am having some trouble with a missing or corrupt file.  The message I am getting is: windows\system32\config\system is missing or corrupt.

I have tried to use the repair option on XP, but it will not work. I have tried to copy the missing file, but it says file not found.

I plan to just reformat the drive, but I have some pictures on the hard drive I would like to save if possible.

Anyone know how I might save those files since I can't start Windows?

Thanks for any help.

Scott

[Allan]

Boot to your XP CD and select the first repair option for the Recovery Console.

Type the following:

REN C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM SYSTEM.OLD
COPY C:\WINDOWS\REPAIR\SYSTEM C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG

[patio]

Slave Drive Tutorial

The drive does not have to be able to boot Windows to do this...

Best of Luck.

Sorry Allan i was typing as you posted.

[Allan]

No problem Patio. He has a corrupt registry hive and it's easy enough to repair from the Recovery Console.

[cthegraves]

I have tried to the REN option, but I get the message the file is not found. I made sure I typed it correctly several times, but still it does not work.

If I do not have to boot to Windows to retrieve these files, then how do I do it?

Thanks for your help.

Scott

[Allan]

Which file is not found? If it doesn't find the one you are trying to rename don't worry about it - just copy the backup file (from the "repair folder" to the system32 folder. The backup file DOES exist - it's created during the original installation.

[cthegraves]

It does not tell me which file is missing.  Just says, "file is missing".

Thanks!

Scott

[Allan]

Of course it tells you. Are you getting that message after you enter the first line or the second line? And you are pressing "ENTER" after each line, right?

[cthegraves]

After the second line it tells me that.

Scott

[Allan]

The file has to be there. Are you leaving a space between "system" and "c:"?

If you still get that message, do a repair install (boot to the XP CD and this time choose the SECOND repair option). XP will install on top of itself and replace all system files.

[cthegraves]

Yes, I am leaving a space.  I will try it again.

I will let you know what I find.

Thanks!

Scott

[Allan]

If you want to check for the existence of the system hive in the repair folder you can enter the following bolded commands from the recovery console command prompt:

1) cd \windows\repair (press ENTER) - at this point the command prompt should change to show you are in the \repair folder

2) dir (press ENTER)

do you see the word "system" listed?

[cthegraves]

When I look in the repair folder, I see system.bak.

I have tried the REN option again and I get "cannot find the file or directory specified" after I type the first line now.

Any ideas?

Scott

[Allan]

Yes. Start at that path (c:\windows\repair) and run the "copy" command from there.

[cthegraves]

You mean copy the file from the repair folder?