How to recover from an unbootable Windows XP install

[djmaxx007]

Sometimes you may get a message that says "Sys config file corrupt or missing", or something of that nature. Even if you don't get any message at all, many times the reason an XP machine won't boot is because the config file is corrupt. Here are some steps you can do to fix it. It requires that you have System Restore enabled, or at least had it enabled at some point in time in the past.

First, you need either the Windows XP CD or a bootable PXE disc like MiniPE. You can find MiniPE in most torrent sites. Using either of those, get to the command line and follow these steps...

Here are some notes before we continue. What you are about to do is basically a minor System Restore via the Recovery Console. I say minor because you're only going to copy part of the registry, not the whole thing. Since you are copying over a registry backup to be used you may loose some program(s) or their settings, it all depends on when the last Restore Point for System Restore was created. If some programs don't work it's really as simple as reinstalling them.

The text in red will be what you type and the black text will what the system outputs or what is put there by the system. READY, SET, GO.

C:\Windows>CD C:\system~1\_resto~1
C:\system~1\_resto~1\>dir

After you enter the DIR command and hit enter you will get a list of folders like such rp1, rp2, rp3, rp4, etc. etc. The "rp" part of the folder name denoting it's a Restore Point

What you'll want to do is find the 2nd highest numbered folder in that list. So, for instance, if it listed rp1 thru rp24 you'll want the rp23 folder. I'll use rp23 for the rest of this little fix just to keep things simple but substitute rp23 for whatever folder is the 2nd highest in the list on your pc.

Now, we have more commands..

C:\system~1\_resto~1>cd rp23

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23>cd snapshot

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system <<!!!MAKE SURE TO NOTE THE SPACES!!!

Overwrite system [y,n]: y

1 file copied

C:\system~1\_resto~1\rp23\snapshot>exit (before typing exit, please remove your Windows XP CD from the CD Drive)
After typing “exit” and pressing “enter” on the keyboard your computer will restart, hopefully into a working machine. If by some chance this did not fix your issue you can either go through this option again and try a different restore point or continue with the other options.

Hope this saves anyone from performing a complete wipe and install on a Windows XP box.

[SamMalotte]

In most cases,Windows failing to start is caused by you installing a new program/hardware which caused a conflict with another programs or a system file got corrupted.
You can boot up your operating system with Tenorshare Data Recovery WinPE.It allows users to burn ISO file to CD/DVD/USB flash drive directly.
Step 1: Download Tenorshare Data Recovery WinPE in any available computer (not from PC that can’t boot up). Then launch it.
Step 2: Insert CD/DVD/USB flash drive to the computer, choose ISO image file. Here we take USB flash drive for example. Then burn ISO file into flash drive.
Step 3: Insert the burned flash drive to the unbootable PC. Run computer and press “F2”, ”F10” or “Delete” to enter BIOS setup.
Step 4: Use the arrow keys to select Boot tab, select Boot Device Priority and press Enter. Please choose 1st Boot Device to USB, and then press F10 to save setting. Now,you can boot up your PC.
If you have a backup for your Windows then perform a system restore to fix it.If not,reinstall it.If you have no backups for all your data,you can use Tenorshare to .

Here is a tutorial to guide you boot up your Windows.

[Kiyomi]

This Vibosoft External HDD Recovery program make it possible to recover all types of data from crashed, damaged or broken external hard drive.

[chanleen]

Recommend you can try this from Tenorshare to recover your lost data.

Read more:

[XiangMayou]

can help you recover lost data after upgrading to Windows 10 .
http://www.any-data-recovery.com

[shiningfish31]

If you download and isntall Windows XP and create a login password for it, but oneday the computer says Windows XP password is incorrect, then you can use Windows Password Recovery to crack or hack Windows XP login password. It also supports Windows 10. It is a nice tool to fix .

[korence]

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[korence]

To , my option is to use the tool-. This powerful tool can help us reset all versions Windows password in several minutes.

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