Webuser Forums: Operating system XP

I'm afraid you have a corrupted registry.

When WinXP is installed the initial registry files are stored in the folder \Windows\repair. The five major files are named default, sam, security, software and system. It is these files that are used when a repair install is carried out using the WinXP CD, hence the need to apply any subsequent Service Packs and/or hotfixes.

The current registry files are located in \Windows\system32\config. It is this version of the registry that is loaded when the computer is booted. If one of the files becomes corrupted the computer cannot be booted, even in safe mode. The solution is to return to a previous point in time via System Restore using a a third-party program (as it's not possible in XP but is in Vista) or running a repair install back to the time of the original installation using the WinXP CD (the \repair folder above).

Because you cannot boot at all try this, it‘s old and may not work on SP2 or even SP1. It will set the system to the initial installation set-up therefore some hardware/software entries may be incorrect but you should be able to retrieve your data later. Boot from the XP CD and select the first R for the Recovery Console. Type the Administrator password or press enter if you haven’t set one. When the command prompt (>) appears, type

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

Note the spaces in each line and the capitals are for clarity only. Press Enter after each line then remove the CD and let it boot the hard drive.

If you cannot do the above I'm afraid you will have to format the HDD and reinstall Windows. Use the borrowed CD but use your 25 character product code on the sticker on the side of the computer.

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The Chippendale Society
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