Urgent Help needed

[platinumcs]

Windows XP pro sp2

Abit NF7-s

Radeon 9550

AMD 3200+

80gb SATA HD

1gb ram...

Ok, after having to turn off the computer improperly, I got the error message about the Windows\System32\Config\System file missing or corrupt.

Apparently this happens quite commonly and isn't that hard to fix.

So I put in the xp disk, attempting to use the repair feature.

No repair feature was there, I must have an OEM version or something, but I could use the recovery console.

I follow the Microsoft tech guide to fixing the problem, after doing a chkdsk which unsurprisingly found an error.

The MS guide basically had me delete the corrupt files, and then restart the computer, and after that was done I was supposed to copy the new files from another folder into the system to replace the corrupt ones.

This is where the problem lies...

once the corrupt files were deleted, the recovery console no longer lets me acces it without an administrators password.

Ok, no big deal, I try leaving the pass blank, and then every password which I would have ever used when I installed windows, to no avail.

I have heard that because the system files are corrupt, that the file storing the password could also be corrupt, so the password is never valid.

I go back to the MS help thing and look for a way to get past the password...it says that by using the bootable floppy deal with the 6 floopy disks I can get into recovery console.

(still get the invalid password error)

I try one of those offline progs which reset the password. Surprise surprise, I run into more problems because I am using an 80gb SATA hard drive.

The progs assume that the necessary drivers are already installed, so they never detect my hard drive.

I have a major software design project due next week, so I really, really, need to get it running again without formatting.

(The only other thing I can think of is running the drive as a slave on another system, but I dont have access to another system to do something like that)

Thanks in advance..

EDIT: I forgot to add, my default user account has no password, and has administrator rights.

Leaving the password blank at recov console still says invalid pass..)

Edited May 18, 2007 by platinumcs

[Vospers]

Below is an extract from http://www.theeldergeek.com/recovery_console.htm

"Recovery Console Password

On many XP installations you can't start the Recovery Console because it won't recognize your password. This registry edit causes the Recovery Console not to ask for a password. This works for both XP Home and XP Professional.

Start | Run | Regedit

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole

Set the DWORD SecurityLevel value to 1

Exit Registry and Reboot"

Good luck

[gamehead200]

Below is an extract from http://www.theeldergeek.com/recovery_console.htm

"Recovery Console Password

On many XP installations you can't start the Recovery Console because it won't recognize your password. This registry edit causes the Recovery Console not to ask for a password. This works for both XP Home and XP Professional.

Start | Run | Regedit

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole

Set the DWORD SecurityLevel value to 1

Exit Registry and Reboot"

Good luck

This would only work if he could boot into Windows without receiving an error.

[CptMurphy]

If you don't know the password, get your hands on a windows 2000 cd. Go to the recovery console from there.

[[deXter]]

Just do a reinstall. Whether you do a repair or a reinstall won't affect your existing files.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Or get yourself a copy of ultimate boot cd for windows (Yes it is legal you are thinking of the other one) it will allow manipulation of the windows files you need to move around.

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Also please use better topic titles in the future.