winXP startup floppy - cannot access C drive

[greggustin]

corputed file = no winXP disk

this would be easy if Gateway gave me a WinXP CD . . .
instead they gave me a recovery CD with WinXP embedded which will reformat the whole HD if used - IDIOTS
anyway
I have a corrupted file (I get this message on startup)

"c:\windows\system32\config\system" is corrupted
us WinXP and 'r' to start recovery

so far, I went to my second desktop
(same Gateway model) and tried to copy the system file to a floppy - but I cannot because copying the file is prevented because file is "in use"

I even tried from the cmd (dos) prompt
any ideas???

eg how can I copy that file onto the floppy
then how can I get it into the broken desktop?

I do have a brand new XP Pro CD - still in its sleave
can I use that to start my XP home problem desktop?

 

[greggustin]

same thing happens on both computers
(Same Gateway models)
I made a startup floppy
but when used to start the computer
it cannot find the C drive ! huh?
what good is it?
did I do something wrong when I made the floppy?

 

[tdinc]

threads merged lets keep this on one thread please. thanks

 

[Johnny]

When you say it won't see the c: drive; how exactly are you getting to this conclusion?

 

[greggustin]

When you say it won't see the c: drive; how exactly are you getting to this conclusion?

c: --> not a valid drive

in any event - I have done lots of research this past
hour - seems that STUPID MICROSOFT tells us to make a startup floppy - but it IS WORTHLESS , because it WILL NOT RECOGNIZE NFTS drives

found dozens of links confirming this

 

[Admiral Michael]

Isn't c:\windows\system32\config\system one of the files that the registry is stored in?

Also you can boot from the WinXP cd and choose R for the recovery console. You should be able to copy the file there.

 

[American Zombie]

Isn't c:\windows\system32\config\system one of the files that the registry is stored in?

Yes it is one of the registry hives.

You need to replace the hive(s) from the repair folder.
Then once you can get into windows you can use system restore.

Recover from corrupted hive

If the drive is not seen then you need to load drivers (F6).

 

[greggustin]

attention - problem solved - not really sure how - but sharing with the forum

I took the chance, after reading many URL about use of WinXP Pro and that it ASKS if you want to install or recover
so I did recover
and is asks to select the verison of windows (OS) as I had only one - it was was - then it went into what appeared to be loading many many drivers and then it dumped into a DOS mode
that DID access all hard drives
and I found the bad file, now with a current date -
so I shut down and restarted
ooooooooooops - spoke too soon - as I am writing this on my laptop - the failed desktop now keeps rebooting (get almost done- and after the 4th time - got the original error message - corrupt file -
aaaarghhhhhhhhhh - will keep you posted (will try safe mode soon)
UPDATE:
well , ran the recover console again
and then exited, and got it to start (without reboot) in safe mode
at least SOME progress

 

[Johnny]

It may set up to only except the recovery cd. At which point it would be a major pain in the butt. I know with past issues with gateways that I had was they required you to have the boot disk to recover - EVEN IF THE PC DIDN'T COME WITH A FLOPPY DRIVE OR THE FLOPPY DISK. Junk, that is all they are ..