Knowledge Base

Error: "C_1252.nls File Missing or Corrupt" During Startup

Article ID: 830088

Article Last Modified on 6/8/2004

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following error message:

The file C:\windows\system32\c_1252.nls is missing or corrupt

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use the following methods in the order that they appear.

Method 1: Check the Hard Disk for Errors

Insert the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer. If you are prompted, select any options that you must select to start Windows XP from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the instructions that appear on the screen. To select the repair or the recover option, press R.
If you have a dual-start or multiple-start computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password.
At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press the ENTER key:

chkdsk /r
To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit, and then press the ENTER key.

If the behavior is not resolved, go to the next method.

Method 2: Replace Missing Files

Insert the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer. If you are prompted, select any options that you must select to start Windows XP from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the instructions that appear on the screen. To select the repair or the recover option, press R.
If you have a dual-start or multiple-start computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password.
At the command prompt, type the following commands ( press ENTER after each command):

cd system32
ren c_1252.nls c_1252.old
expand drive:\i386\c_1252.nl_ c:\windows\system32

Where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit, and then press the ENTER key.

Note There may be additional files missing. Repeat this method to replace any other missing files.

Method 3: Replace Missing Files Without Console

If you cannot start the recovery console, start the computer with a Windows 98 emergency disk.

Note This method only works on a partition that is formatted with FAT32 and not the NTFS file system.

To start the computer with a Windows 98 emergency disk, follow these steps:

Insert the Windows 98 emergency disk, and then restart the computer.
When prompted, select to start with CD support.
Insert the Windows XP CD.
At the command prompt, type the following commands (press ENTER after each command):

c:
cd windows\system32
ren c_1252.nls c_1252.old
extract drive:\i386\c_1252.nl_

Where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Note The Windows 98 emergency disk creates a RAM drive immediately after the hard disk drive. As a result, the current CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is one letter later in the alphabet.
Remove the Windows 98 emergency disk and the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer.

Note There may be additional files missing. Repeat this method to replace any other missing files.

Method 4: In-Place Upgrade

If none of the previous methods resolve the behavior, do an in-place upgrade to reinstall Windows XP.

For additional information about in-place upgrades of Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315341 How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the Windows XP recovery console, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307654 HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

Additional query words: c_437.nls

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB830088

Microsoft KB Archive/830088

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