"Windows Could Not Start Because the Following File Is Missing or Corrupt" Error Message When You Start Your Computer (826721)

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the Windows 2000 Recovery Console to restore the SYSTEM registry hive.

Note After you restore the SYSTEM registry hive, you may have to reinstall some programs and drivers before you can use certain programs and devices that are installed on your computer.

To use the Recovery Console to restore the SYSTEM registry hive, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows 2000 Professional CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
2. Restart your computer.
3. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to repair the Windows 2000 installation.
4. Press C to repair the Windows 2000 installation by using the Recovery Console.
5. Type the number that corresponds to the Windows installation that you want to repair, and then press ENTER. For example, type 1, and then press ENTER.
6. Type the Administrator password, and then press ENTER.
7. Rename the System file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config folder as "System.old." To do so, type the following lines at a command prompt, and press ENTER after each line:

   cd system32
   cd config
   ren system system.old

8. Copy the %SystemRoot%\Repair\System file to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config folder. To do so, type the following lines at a command prompt (again, press ENTER after each line), where %SystemRoot% is the drive and the folder where Windows is installed:

   
   cd..
   cd..
   cd repair
   copy system %systemroot%\system32\config

9. Restart the computer. You may receive one or more messages that tell you that certain devices are not detected. Additionally, the Found New Hardware Wizard may start and prompt you to install hardware devices. This is the expected behavior.