How do I operate in Recovery console?

[drummerboy]

Hello

My Windows XP is crashed and I can't get to Windows. I get the message

c:/windows/system32/config/system

So I booted from the Windows cd and entered the Recovery console. I typed help to get a little help on all the commands that are usd in the Recovery console but I am still a complete newbie.

Can anyone give me some tips and hints what coomands to use and in what order so I can get back to my last known Windows configuration. I don't want to formatt the disc I just want to get back to Windows.

Thanks for the info.

[vass0922]

Recovery Console

Not trying to be a jerk, but it really is the best resource

[skuz]

You operate much as if you were in a DOS window.

I once had the problem you describe. You have a big risk here. I hope you had the system restore service enabled, else you're in big trouble. the SYSTEM file is part of the registry, which is backed up by the system restore service.

You'll have to find the restore files' location and put a slightly older version of SYSTEM back in the SYSTEM32 directory.

[mike_whitman]

First try the use last configuration settings that worked ... do this by tapping 'F8' at startup and choose it when the menu allows you to .... if that doesn't work, here is another possibility ...

What usually helped me in this case **WARNING: may not have software entries, so you may have to reinstall some stuff ..

Start the Windows XP Recovery console and login to your windows

at the promt (should be "C:\WINDOWS")
type "cd system32\config"

type "rename default default.bak"
type "rename sam sam.bak"
type "rename security security.bak"
type "rename software software.bak"
type "rename system system.bak"

then type ..

copy "C:\WINDOWS\Repair\default"
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Repair\sam"
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Repair\security"
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Repair\software"
copy "C:\WINDOWS\Repair\system"


If this STILL doesn't work, reinstall windows, but make sure to choose RECOVER this windows installation

and hopefully you'll have a working OS