Every day:c:\windows\system32\config\system system file not found or damage

Hi!
I know this is a common error on windowsXP but It starts to make me nervous... every day i have to do the same routine job:
- Turn my pc on
- c:\windows\system32\config\system system file not found or damage
- put winXP install cd
- reboot
- press r
- at repair console type "c:\windows\cd repair" " c:\windows\repair\ copy system c:\windows\system32\config"
-overwrite system y/n?
-y
-reboot
-In windows,change resolution to 1600*1200, reinstall the netcard, reinstall the firewall,
-reboot (and pray!!)
-all is good for few days than the same error and the same procedure...

If anyone have a good idea to avoid this sort of error to come every day
please help me....i still serching on the net...

Thank Ivan

The only thing I can think of is to reformat your computer...?

Sorry I'm not much help.

Thats what i would do, get in your system using the method you described. Back up as much of your important stuff as possible and then wipe that sucker clean.
Full re install put back all your backed up stuff and you should be good to go.
There probably is a less drastic solution, unfortunatly i dont know one.

And dont forget to scan your backed up stuff for Virus's and Trojans before you put it back ....... just incase.

[edit on 26-1-2006 by Janus]

Hi Gothic...I had a similar problem some time ago, and turned out to be a corrupted HDD from a virus/worm. The solution was to install a small 2nd HDD which holds all operating system files and info, and then get the corrupted drive TOTALLY erased...otherwise you may re-infect your system all over again trying to retrieve anything from your original drive....good luck!

Originally posted by GothicDj
If anyone have a good idea to avoid this sort of error to come every day
please help me....i still serching on the net...

You're probably going to have to format and reinstall.

Your best option though probably is to dump Windows altogether and switch to Linux.

Prior to formatting your drive, please try the following:

From a desktop, Click Start --> Run ---> type the following: chkdsk /r /f
Press Enter

You will get a DOS box requesting to perform the scan at next boot, Type "Y" , hit Enter

Restart computer

The scan may take 45mins to an hour depending on the size of your hard drive.

Sure beats a format and reinstall.

Let us know how you make out!

Thanks you all for the replies!
just for notice its happents again....
I think, formatting is really the last ressort...a good low level format from the bios, but before i gonna scan for virus/malware with differents softwares, than make a backup and try the scandisc option (thanks 12m8keall2c).
It's a "old" 40gb disc, made in aug 2002...I let you know what happens.

Thanks

P.s.: Sorry for my english, its not good. I look at ATS since september every day and this is my second post .

Good luck with it all, Gothic.

By the way, your English is very good.

Originally posted by GothicDj
Thanks you all for the replies!

The full 5 stage checkdisk (scandisk) has proven rather successful on many an occasion. Step 1-2-3 go fairly fast, the 4th looks for/fixes errors on the drive, and the 5th will seek to detect, repair and/or recover bad sectors/clusters.

It will often "fix" many issues from corrupt boot sectors, boot loops, seemingly fragged system files, and more...

It can't hurt to try, and as I said it beats the hell out of having to format /reinstall.

Let us know!?

The best solution would be to follow these simple steps:

1) Throw PC out nearest window
2) Get a Mac
3) Be happy

Originally posted by djohnsto77
The best solution would be to follow these simple steps:

1) Throw PC out nearest window
2) Get a Mac
3) Be happy

yea, get a mac or switch to linux....although windows is the most used OS its also the most unstable and insecure. if you ever notice there are tons of utiliy programs for windows that fix errors in the registry, active-x/com, etc when it comes to security, windows is basically a wide open window. with mac or linux you wont have to deal with any of those everyday issues you get in windows

Bonjour!
Nothing new...the problem still remain.
chkdsk stop at 75% the first time i run it
second time i think was the good but no.
no much virus or ad/malwares but is interesting
that some anti virus/ad/malware don't comes
at the same conclusion...

I still searching good tools for check the surface...
because im 80% sure that the hd is the problem.

Thank all
GothicDj

I'm gunna have to go with tthe crowd and say completely purge windows. I had a really really really bad trojan get on my computer(if you ever get a virus called Backdoor.Prorat you might as well just reinstall) we had to purge windows. Plus you get rid of a lot of stuff. Plus yuo could try defragmenting and then doing the scan, I know that always helps me out. Tell us how it goes and good luck.

- Turn my pc on
- c:\windows\system32\config\system system file not found or damage
- put winXP install cd
- reboot
- press r
- at repair console type "c:\windows\cd repair"

Follow the steps you outlined above, except instead of typing cd repair in the recovery console, rename the system file to system.old, then rename the system.sav file to system.

Reboot.



If this does not work, boot to the recovery console again, rename the system file to system.bad, copy the c:\windows\repair\system file to the c:\windows\system32\config

Reboot. Have your network card drivers on hand in case you need to reload them.

I have fixed many client pc's like this instead of formatting and starting from scratch.

Best of Luck

I recently learned that a virus or trojan can live in the system restore and can't be touched by anti-virus programs.
So delete your save points, run your anti-virus, or whatever you must do to fix the problem.
Once everything is normal, create a new save point.

Read it here:
www.short-media.com...
The instructions are near the bottom.

I use the above programme to really deep clean my pc once a month. It's not that I've anything to hide or am ashamed of, but it is one of the few programmes I know, that will really get in deep and clean everything up.

It even deep cleans those files you've deleted by sending them to the waste bin which you empty whenever you want. You think you are, but windows automatically backs them up in the recovery system.

Evidence Eliminator destroys all deleted files and overwrites any remaining space and then frees up loads of space.

Try to install that and run it just once. You'll be amazed at what it can do. I was!

Bonjour à tous!!

Last news...I formatted my hard disk...and installed a new fresh xp.
And i goes on the microsoft.com for updates using iexplorer, guess what?
30seconds on the web, without any protection,any antivirus et hop popsup and
malware on my pc
reboot same error "system file not found..."

Disconnetted the ethernet cable, and installed AntiVirusKit ... 55 malware after the first
scan... clean up the bad guys,installed Kerio Firewall and a-squared antivirus for
double check, codeStuff Starter for check the startups and processes...
Now all is good, and my pc work fine but i must update xp to service pack2...
I feel a little fear for winxp updates... I think i can wait

Thanks all for the aid and tips
Darkiss

I sympathise with you my friend.

Windows Updates, especially Service Pack 2, has a serious problem with Norton or any other Anti-Virus or Firewall protection devices.

Basically, they are not compatable and you MUST turn off all protection to install updates.

Then of course, you install Service Pack 2 and guess what?

You turn on your anti-virus and firewall and Hey Presto! Your emails don't work.

I had to restore 3 times before the update was scrubbed from my hard drive and then left all firewall and anti-virus stuff ON when I downloaded Service Pack 2 and I had no more problems.

Hope it gets better for you.

Hi, I used to have the same problem and its so anoying :bash:

Ive not had this problem for a long time now though I think what I ended up doing is dividing my 200GB hardrive into 2 so.. 50GB for windows xp and the other 150GB for storage. Before this id tried everything and reinstalled windows xp about 10 times but still got the error. Im pretty sure its due to errors on the hardrive. What pc do you have btw? is it an advent?

hi all!

I think that the problem is not related to hardware...as microsoft
say, is more related with the registry of winblow$XP. I think, but
i can't prove it,that some malware and virus could be a source
of problems.

The error still here but its comes out very rarely because i take more
care of winblow$; antivirus,firewall,registry check/clean, and this is the best
i take my pc on all the time but with the internet cable physicaly disconnetted

my config:
- duron 800mhz
- 1300 mb ram
- asus k7 mainboard
- 20 GB Hard disk
- realtek ethernet card

bonne nuit et a plus
Ivan