System32 is not installed - Dell OptiPlex GX280 PC Desktop

Solution 1
Requires some tech skills:

To complete part one, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
   Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line: md tmp
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
   
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
   
   copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
   copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
   copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
   copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
   copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
   
6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.

Solution 2 Reinstall Windows Xp

Assuming it is windows XP here are the steps to fix that error:
To complete part one, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
   Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:md tmp
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
   
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
   
   copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
   copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
   copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
   copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
   copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
   
6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.

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This software is to old and not Windows 7 compatible.

Please use the XPMode (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx) to run this old software.

This error indicates a corrupt registry. Luckily, when Windows is installed, a pristine copy of the registry hives is also installed and it remains untouched...replacing your corrupt registry hives with these ones will allow you to boot your operating system again. You may have to reinstall a few programs and drivers but all of your data will remain intact and you really won't lose anything. I will describe the process to you. I will also include instructions on how to back up the current registry in case you want to go back to it for any reason.

First you will need to locate the Windows install disc. If you don't have one you can borrow one as you will not need a key to perform the steps.

Put in the disc and perform the steps necessary to get your computer to boot to it.

Once you are the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press R to go into the Recovery Console.

Enter the administrator password when prompted

Tell the program what installation of Windows you would like to recover.

Now for the commands

md tmp (this creates a directory labeled tmp)

These 5 commands will make a copy of your current registry hives and back them up to the tmp directory. Type these in first. ENSURE you back them all up.

copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

These 5 commands will delete the current, corrupt registry hives.

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

These 5 commands will copy the pristine, uncorrupted hives into your system.

copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

Once you have entered your last command type exit to leave the recovery console and your computer should restart.

If you want to put the old registry back for any reason, simply follow the same steps but instead delete the current registry and replace it with the files that you placed in the tmp directory. Ensure that you remove the .bak extension from the file when you copy them over.

Really, other than this, the only other known working option is to reformat your computer.

Hope this helps.

1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
   Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line: md tmp
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
   copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
   
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
   delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
   
   copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
   copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
   copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
   copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
   copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
   
6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.

Note This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed to the C:\Windows folder. Make sure to change C:\Windows to the appropriate windows_folder if it is a different location.

If you need more help come back.Post / thumbs / testimonial are welcome!

it is nothing but windows registry error. do one thing in another pc download the Hiren's boot cd from internet, write that file in a cd, try to boot from that cd & repair the registry. otherwise just format the operating system & reload the OS.

Hi there.
This is the path >>>>>> c:/windows/system32....

So, click on "my computer", you will see "local disk c", click on that, if it says "these folders are hidden" click on "show files". Then click on the "windows" folder, in that folder you will find "system32" folder.

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to repair it you need to install autorun eater.
download here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/Autorun-Eater.shtml
install and it will scan.
also suggested to install avira, bitdefender or mcafee(trial also work).
after install.
restart: press f8 you will enter safe mood. in the safe mood you will see a icon on your taskbar name by mcdonald(the autorun eater software. right click and selct repair task manager, right click again selecr repair regedit and do the same thing select repair folder option.

after that wait untill about 30 minutes(autorun eater to finish scan)

to repair other like no desktop icon download the repair utilities here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Your PC is stuck in safe mode startup

I would suggest using the Windows Disk, if you have one, go through normal windows installation. At the point of installation just after pressing F8 it will detect windows exists and offer you a repair option press R to repair