Hi People,

I have a NT 4.0 machine that won't boot, and gives the following error:
The following file is missing or corrupt:
\\winnt\system32\config\SystemHardware Profile/ Last known good menu.

Does anyone know a way to fix this other than to format and reinstall the
operating system?

Thanks......Bill

This typically can only be fixed by using a current backup of the System
hive of the registry. This is one of the worst errors to get as basically it
is saying it cannot load that part of the registry which a MAJOR part of the
OS. You could try and install a parallel copy of NT, install NT again into a
different partition(making this system dual boot for recovery purposes), and
then rename the System.alt file to System and try to boot back into the
original install but this error indicates that it cannot load the System or
the System.alt file so this probably won't work. Any other ideas guys? Have
a look here. Remember that a old ERD is no good!!

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;167233

--
Scott Harding
MCSE, MCSA, A+, Network+
Microsoft MVP - Windows NT Server

"bill" <bill@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F3BBDE37-80DA-4D09-8FD3-312D1868C5BD@microsoft.com...

Thanks, I didn't think it would be easy.

Bill

"Scott Harding" wrote:

This article may help.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;102721

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"bill" wrote:
| Hi People,
|
| I have a NT 4.0 machine that won't boot, and gives the following error:
| The following file is missing or corrupt:
| \\winnt\system32\config\SystemHardware Profile/ Last known good menu.
|
| Does anyone know a way to fix this other than to format and reinstall the
| operating system?
|
| Thanks......Bill