Re: Help Please!!!! \WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM

From: David Candy (david_at_mvps.org)
Date: 03/28/04 

Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 21:35:40 +1000

Did XP come with the computer? Sysprep, which makes XP CDs and is used by OEMs and corporates, stuffs the password up.

      Knowledge Base

'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery Console in Windows XPPSS ID Number: 308402

Article Last Modified on 10/13/2002

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The information in this article applies to:

  a.. Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  b.. Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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This article was previously published under Q308402
SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to log on to Recovery Console in Windows XP by typing the correct password for the local Administrator account, Recovery Console may display the following error message:
The password is not valid. Please retype the password.
Type the Administrator password:

This error message may occur even though you typed the correct password. If you start Windows XP, successfully log on by using the same password, change the local administrator's password, and restart the computer to Recovery Console, you receive the same error message.
CAUSE
This issue may occur if Windows XP was originally installed from a Sysprep image, or if Sysprep 2.0 was run on the computer at one time. Sysprep.exe makes changes to the way that password keys are stored in the registry; these changes are not compatible with the Recovery Console logon routine.

NOTE: The manufacturer of your computer may have used Sysprep to preinstall Windows XP on your computer.
RESOLUTION
NOTE: If you can start Windows XP and the Recovery Console is not preinstalled on your hard disk, go to step 2 in the following steps. If you can start Windows XP and the Recovery Console is preinstalled on your hard disk, go to step 3.
  1.. Download the necessary files, create the appropriate Setup disks for floppy boot installation, start your computer with the Setup disks, and then log on to Recovery Console to correct the problem that is preventing you from starting Windows XP. For additional information about obtaining and using Setup disks, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  310994 Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks

  The Setup disks for floppy boot installation are available for download from the following Microsoft Web sites:
  Windows XP Home Edition:
  Download WinXP_en_hom_bf.exe now

  Windows XP Professional:
  Download WinXP_en_pro_bf.exe now

  Release Date: October 24, 2001

  For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

  Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

  2.. Install the Recovery Console if it is not already preinstalled. To install Recovery Console, use the winnt32 /cmdcons command from the I386 folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM.For additional information about how to install and use the Recovery Console, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  307654 HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

  3.. Contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain and install the following hotfix.A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

  To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by clicking the download link later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

  NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

  The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
   Date Time Version Size File name
   ---------------------------------------------------
   11-May-2001 13:57 5.1.2600.15 225,152 Spcmdcon.sys
   12-Nov-2001 04:48 5.1.2600.21 218,624 Srrstr.dll
                                        If you already have Recovery Console installed, installing this hotfix automatically updates the C:\Cmdcons folder with the update so that you can log on to Recovery Console.
Administrator Using Sysprep
To resolve this problem, obtain a version of Windows XP that has Service Pack 1 already integrated, or obtain and install the latest service pack for Windows XP before you run Sysprep. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

For additional information about integrating SP1 in your installation, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/spdeploy.asp#the_integrated_installation_fmay

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Using Sysprep
To resolve this problem, obtain a version of Windows XP that has Service Pack 1 already integrated.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack 1.
MORE INFORMATION
If you reinstall Recovery Console for any reason, you must reinstall this hotfix. To install Recovery Console, use the winnt32 /cmdcons command from the I386 folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM.

Additional query words: oem opk

Keywords: kbbug kbsetup kbWinXPsp1fix KB308402
Technology: kbWinXPHome kbWinXPHomeSearch kbWinXPPro kbWinXPProSearch kbWinXPSearch

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http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Brice" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:14b8c01c4141f$6759da20$a101280a@phx.gbl...
> Hi,
> 
> I have now tried everything including repairing XP!!!
> I read somewhere that booting with a WIN2000 boot cd will 
> allow me to bypass the admin password request in the 
> recovery console.
> It seems to my last chance before having to reinstall XP.
> If anybody has any suggestion to make, please feel free.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Brice
> 
> >-----Original Message-----
> >If there is no admin password set for you computer, then 
> >just pressing enter should get you into the repair 
> >console.  Which is a dos like program, powerful but 
> >confusing.  I suggest you try a repair install- which is 
> >easier.  Look at this website for some helpful info. 
> >http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
> >
> >p.s your bios admin password has nothing to do with the 
> >OS admin password
> >
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>I use WinXP and believe that Registry Mechanic got a 
> >>little too busy...
> >>
> >>This what happen when my station tries to boot...:
> >>
> >>Windows could not start because the following file is 
> >>missing or corrupt:
> >>\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM
> >>
> >>You can attept to repair this file by starting Windows 
> >>Setup using the original CD-ROM.
> >>Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
> >>
> >>
> >>I tried to launch the repair console as described in the 
> >>error message...
> >>I was then prompted for an administrator password that 
> >was 
> >>never set and the adminstrator password option being set 
> >>to disabled in the Bios set-up screen.
> >>
> >>Not being able to fix it from the repair console (see 
> >>above) I then tried to repair XP from the reinstallation 
> >>cd. 
> >>=>The sequence completed succesfully and the station 
> >>booted...but the same screen came up again (missing 
> >system 
> >>file...)!!!
> >>
> >>As usual, Dell advised that all I could do was to re-
> >>install a fresh copy of XP which would indeed erase my 
> >>drive. Well, thank you Dell but no thank you. I have 
> >60GB 
> >>of programs, tracks and movies.
> >>
> >>Please help me!!!
> >>I am sure that there is a way to run the recovery 
> >console 
> >>despite the administrator password issue.
> >>
> >>Anybody can actually confirm that there is?
> >>If yes then how, if no then what options I am left with?
> >>
> >>Last thing, anybody knows of a piece of software similar 
> >>to ERD Commander but which is free?
> >>
> >>Thanks in advance for replying,
> >>
> >>Brice
> >>.
> >>
> >.
> >

Download.gif

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