I just downloaded and installed Avast 4.* now PC wont 't boot. “C:\windows\system32\system missing or corrupt” error message. I cant even boot in f8 safe mode.
Looks like WIN XP recovery consule is now my only option but have never used it. Can someone please talk me through repair?
Really bummed!!!
Any help greatly appreciated.
Tom O
I can’t imagine this related to avast… :
Why would avast corrupt the Windows\System32 folder?
By the way, are you sure about that path? It shouldn’t have a system directory under Windows\System32 …?!
Do you have any other antivirus installed in this computer?
Running the Recovery Console, you should, at least, run CHKDSK /R to scan all your disk, partition to partition, to correct errors in the system file.
Yes it was Avast–the install process required a reboot andwhen it came back up that’s when I got the missing or corrupt file message. I mistyped in my previous post–it should have been as follows:
C:\windows\system32\Config\ system missing or corrupt
Norton AV was installed at the time but I disabled it prior to the Avast install.
Can you hold my hand through a recover operation?
Thanks
Tom O
This is C:\WINDOWS\system32\config windows registry folder…
Do you have ever used ERUNT to backup your registry? (http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/) If so, we can recover it…
If not, well… You should boot into the ‘LAST WORKING CONFIGURATION’.
Press F8 while booting and choose the last known good configuration option…
Can you try?
Disable is not enough… NEVER WAS…
NAV uninstall or other antivirus uninstall for compatibility reasons: http://www.claymania.com/av-uninstall.html.
See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=12169.0
A removal tool for such a number of NAV is SymNRT.
Hi Tech…
I’ve noticed that folks leaving other AV’s in place or not uninstalling them cleanly tends to be a common (yet unrecognized among most users) problem. Perhaps it might be prudent if Alwil inserted a warning box during the install/setup process that one had to click “OK, I understand” to get past.
What do you think?
Best Regards…
<<Press F8 while booting and choose the last known good configuration option…
Can you try? >>
nope --it still produces the Winx XP missing or corupted file error message
Hi Tomo…
Did you try running “chkdsk /r”? Did you try using the SymNRT tool? What are/were the results?
Best Regards…
Yep–found and fixed one error but still not booting–still getting missing or corrupt config\system file
It will also not boot with f8 switch to get to last known good configuration
T
Your registry files are corrupt… for sure avast does not do this… seems a physical error on the disk.
Do you have the Windows CD? So, boot with it and get the Recovery Console from it and run
chkdsk /r
to see what you get…
<>
Wrong AVST DID THIS! It corrupted the files when Avast required a re-boot. I have not been able to boot since-- just re ran CHKDSK /r and no errors on disc
Any other thoughts?
Thanks
Tom O
Hi Tomo…
I’ve never actually used the recovery console myself but here is a site that will possibly be of help to you…
Let us know how it goes and if you have any further questions.
Best Regards…
<<This is C:\WINDOWS\system32\config windows registry folder…
Do you have ever used ERUNT to backup your registry? >>
NO never used that program–never needed it!
None of the recovery consule functions are fixing the problem Avast caused -fixmbr, fixboot. It will not even boot into safe mode or last working configuration mode.
AVAST really trashed something bad–
What else do you recomend I do. Have been working on solving problem for nearly 24 hrs now
Tomo
(http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/) If so, we can recover it…
If not, well… You should boot into the ‘LAST WORKING CONFIGURATION’.
Press F8 while booting and choose the last known good configuration option…
Can you try?
None of the recovery consule functions are fixing the problem Avast caused -fixmbr, fixboot. It will not even boot into safe mode or last working configuration mode. AVAST really trashed something bad--
Lets not forget that you installed avast without uninstalling NAV which is heavily integrated into the system/registry, etc. this forum is littered with issues of debris left after NAV is uninstalled, let alone left in place.
So there are three contributors to this problem as much of a pain and as bad as it is.
Well, for now on, you know how a registry backup/recovery tool is important.
These functions just help the ‘boot’ or the ‘MBR - Master Boot Record’ troubles.
Your problem is a FILE problem on the Windows Registry.
Maybe Googling ‘Registry Recovery’ you can find some tool for that. I don’t know any. Just if you have a previous backup.
This is the worst part… 
Overinstallation has a minimal possibility of recovery and solve the problem. You won’t lose your programs, settings, data, files, etc.
But, the problem in a registry file is crucial and I’m not sure. Can you overinstall Windows? Just choose ‘Repair’ installation of Windows and install ‘over’ the old installation.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314058
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
Will try an overinstall and let you know results
Thanks
Take a look here too:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=4818.msg34805#msg34805
i remember i messed up my computer before too and couldn’t get back into windows at all but i found this link that tells u how to run win xp system restore using a command prompt and it worked…
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449&sd=tech
“Windows XP includes the System Restore tool, but you cannot start the System Restore tool from a Recovery Console prompt. Therefore, you may want to start the System Restore tool when you cannot start your Windows XP-based computer normally or in Safe mode.”
Well, after over 38 hours of trying EVERY restore trick known to man, still no go! All data on the drive was backed up, so decided to do and over-install. I lost all DESKTOP and PROGRAMS info!
It’ll take me several more days to completely rebuild the system–but the good news is, it is rebuildable!
This really should not have ever happend anyway (Yes, I guess its my fault for missing the NAV un-install issue) And yes I’m bummed that I ever stumbled across the link to Avast! I lost a TON of productivity over a day and a half!!!
It was suggested earlier in the thread that the warning be more prominent–I’ll even take it a step further and suggest more code that “prevents” installation if NAV is present on the target machine!
Having said all that, and admitting that ultimately it was my mistake–I’m still looking for an alternative anti virus app to NAV and I’m scared to death to attempt to install AVAST again.
Am I crazy? Can Lightning strike twice? Once Bitten Twice Shy? Will someone please take the time to tell my why I should try it again or move on to something like Mcaffee or AVG or other pay for application
Thanks
Tom O
Because if you start from a clean install of your OS, there will be no NAV present so no conflict. There are many ex NAV users who are now happy avast users, you only have to check the forums to see that for yourself.
What you should also consider is some form of backup and recovery strategy. I use a program called Drive Image (there are others) now bought out by Symantec and combined with Ghost. This is disk imaging software and essentially it makes an exact image of your hard drive/partitions, etc. I run it once a week and I save a copy to my second hard disk or you can also save it to a DVD, should you ever need to recover from a disaster like this, I can restore my last image in minutes. This has saved my bacon on a number of occasions and was well worth the cost.
Hi Tomo…
To be honest, I think 4.7 is in the process of getting all the bugs ironed out as I feel it was released WAY too soon from BETA testing. I can say that I don’t think you will come across the same problems installing Avast onto a fresh copy of XP but I can’t guarantee that you won’t either. It will depend entirely on your willingness and comfort level to try Avast again in light of your experience. The decision should be entirely yours and I don’t wish to lead you in a particular direction.
I’m sorry this has happened to you and again I reiterate my call (as I made earlier in this thread) to include a warning during the install phase of Avast about potential conflicts with other AV’s. I don’t think that would be too hard to program in.
Best Regards…