Corrupted registry

[GWillow]

Twice in as many weeks I have received the dreaded

"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

message. Each time I have been unable to use the 'recover' option available from booting the windows xp disk because, once in the recovery mode command prompt the machine has simply failed to recognise that any disk is present.

The first time I managed to boot into linux (dual boot machine) and copy a few registry files around and this at least let me boot into windows but all the installed software was either flaky or just wouldn't run.

I am, this very minute, using the 'repair' option provided as part of the windows install process and ......

windows is at least booting this time, but wants another 39 mins to finish the install (I hope it's just installing over the top of the original install)

(25 mins later)

it boots but first thing that happens is AVG tells me it has failed to recognise my license number. Touch wood, everything else I have tried so far seems to be working


any ideas what may be causing the corruption in the first place could a piece of hardware be on it's way out maybe?

 

[peter212693]

I would get hold of a ultimateboot cd http://www.ultimatebootcd.com and test your hard drive and memory. Back up you data as well if it keeps happening

P.S I would also set you computer to do a scandisk/chkdsk when your computer restarts. You can do this by opening a command windows and type "chkdsk /r" and it will ask you to set it for next reboot.

Another thing you could try it in the run windows type "sfc /scannow" this will also check all you windows files are in order. It will prpbably ask you for you windows cd when you run that one

 

[bledd]

do what peter has said, but also google that error message and type 'recovery console' in google too, you can use that to fix the problem