Microsoft KB Archive/826721

= &quot;Windows Could Not Start Because the Following File Is Missing or Corrupt&quot; Error Message When You Start Your Computer =

Article ID: 826721

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

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SYMPTOMS
When you start your Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional-based computer, Windows does not start as expected. You see a black screen with white bars that are displayed across the bottom of the screen. One of the following error messages appears under the white bars:

Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\windows\system32\config\systemd

Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\winnt\system32\config\systemd



CAUSE
This issue may occur if the  hive of your computer's registry is damaged.



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

Note After you restore the  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  registry hive, follow these steps:  Insert the Windows 2000 Professional CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Restart your computer. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to repair the Windows 2000 installation. Press C to repair the Windows 2000 installation by using the Recovery Console. 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. Type the Administrator password, and then press ENTER.</li> Rename the System file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Config folder as &quot;System.old.&quot; 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

</li> 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

</li> 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.</li></ol>

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MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about the Windows 2000 Recovery Console, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

229716 Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB826721

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