How to fix Windows XP registry error: “c:windows\system32\config\” is missing or corrupted – wintips.org

In this article, I will show you an easy way to fix the following registry corruption errors:
“Windows XP failed to start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM“
or
“Windows XP failed to start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE“

Registry corruption errors are common errors in Windows XP. The reasons for these errors are not clear. The problem may be related to a bad hard drive, bad memory (RAM), power failure, etc.

Follow the below process to resolve the above errors:

Step 1. Download Hiren’s BootCD

1. From another computer download “Hiren’s BootCD“ .

( Hiren’s BootCD download page: http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

Scroll down the page and click onHirens.BootCD.15.2.zip)

2. Right click on “Hirens.BootCD.15.2.zip” file and extract it.

Step 2: Burn Hirens BootCD on an optical disc.

3. From the inside”Hirens.BootCD.15.2” folder, find the Disc Image file “Hiren’s.BootCD.15.2.ISO” and burn it to CD.

Step 3: Boot the problem computer with Hirens.BootCD.

1. Remove the disc from the recorder and insert it into the problem computer’s CDROM drive.*

Note*: First, make sure that the CDROM drive is selected as the first boot device from within the BIOS.

2. Restart your computer.

3. When “Hiren’s BootCD” menu appears on the screen, use the keyboard arrow keys to move to “”.Mini Windows XP” select the option and then “INTRODUCTION“

Step 4: Restore the corrupted registry file from the Windows Restore folder.

1. When Mini Windows XP is loaded, Open Windows Explorer and find “C:\System Volume Information” folder.

2. Open “System Volume Information” and inside it you should find another folder named:

for example “_restore{1GSJJKxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxx…)”. *

* The second part of this folder name is random

3. Open this random folder, e.g “_restore{1GSJJKxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxx…)” to view its contents.

Now you should see some folders named RPxx (eg RP2, RP3, etc.)

4. find “RPxx” folder with the most recent modification date and open it.

5. inside”RPxx” folder and open it.photo” folder.

6. Now “inphoto” folder, you should see these files:

a. _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE

b. _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM

7. Now, depending on which registry file is corrupted, do one of the following two actions:

a. If “SOFTWARE” registry file is corrupted, you should receive this error when Windows starts:

“Windows XP failed to start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE“

How to fix “\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE“error:

i. “_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE“file”C:\WINDOWS|SYSTEM32\CONFIG” folder and

ii. Change the name “_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE“file”SOFTWARE” *

Note*: If “SOFTWAREavailable in “file”.You need to delete the C:\WINDOWS|SYSTEM32\CONFIG” folder or move elsewhere.

OR

a. If “SYSTEM” registry file is corrupted, you should receive this error when Windows starts:

“Windows XP failed to start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM”

How to fix “\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM“error:

i. Copy “_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM“file”C:\WINDOWS|SYSTEM32\CONFIG” folder and

ii. Rnaming “_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM“file”SYSTEM” *

Note*: If “SYSTEMavailable in “file”.You need to delete the C:\WINDOWS|SYSTEM32\CONFIG” folder or move elsewhere.

Step 5. Boot into Windows

After copying and renaming, remove the CD-ROM from the CD DRIVE and restart your computer.

Your computer should now boot into Windows normally.

Attention: If you can’t find the files in the “System Volume Information” folder, it means that System Restore is disabled on the problem computer. If this happens, then you need to act copying “SOFTWARE” or “SYSTEM“registry file from inside”C:\WINDOWS\REPAIR\” to folder “C:\WINDOWS|SYSTEM32\CONFIG” folder.

This procedure does not guarantee that the system will be completely restored to its previous state, but you should be able to restore your data.