I've run into a bit of a problem while trying to download music ... i'm going to assume that one of the files was infected and altered my system file in the \system32\config\ FOLDER.

Basically, when my computer starts I'm told that my 'system' file in the preceeding location is corrupt or deleted.

I checked through dos, and its still there, so its probably been altered somehow.

The message I get also tells me to use a WinXP cd to repair this file. I've used the cd I have and once I'm in the 'repair console' -thingy (forgot the exact name) it takes me to dos.

I'm not very good with dos, and there aren't any commands listed in the help function that seem to be about repairing files.

So I thought I'd install another copy of windows (the one I'm using now) to see if i could copy the \system32\config\system files into the previous copy, but that didn't WORK.

Now I'm most likely going to format my laptop, but there are important files on the previous version, (which I had password-protected so I can't access them through the 'documents and settings' folder).

Is there any way I can access those files through the new windows installation or any way I can repair the old installation? i doubt it would have been able to delete it anyway. what format were the files you downloaded? this doesn't sound like a problem you can get from that. it's usually pretty hard to get any problems from the typical music format...Heh don't remember actually. I'm assuming it was a music file, because I was downloading more of them at the time. It could've been a video file as well or a pdf.

Would knowing the type of file help with the problem ?Just an after-thought, I know the sytem files are still in the windows sub-directory, I've tried going through them and comparing them with tthe new ones I installed (cleverly called windows2).

I could post them, if that would help ...well assuming the file is what caused the problem, it might help to know the format. it may just be something else that was lingering somewhere on your hard drive without you knowing. .. i was gonna ask if formatting is a problem... but you said there are important files...  are there no step by step instructions when you try to repair the file? i get them...I'm using the 'Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition: Serice Pack 2' cd that came with my laptop ... not sure if that's the RIGHT one to use .. but its all I have.

And once I'm in the blue screen with the option to install windows or repair, pressing repair (or 'r') takes me to the 'recover console', once there, it asks me which windows installation to use, et voila, i'm in dos.

Is there any way to directly edit the system file throught notepad or something and save it back into the \system32\... folder ? i wouldn't recommend it... try this link

i used this once and it helped meThe recovery console is not actually "DOS". Far from it.
yes that's one point that i found rather confusing... Quote from: reaper_tbs on JUNE 10, 2007, 03:13:44 PM

yes that's one point that i found rather confusing...