serious problem with msconfig

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

First, did you make sure your antivirus was up to date before running those
scans. If you did, if you were using the free version of AVG or AVAST or
F-Prot, check again for updates as they were behind on releasing their most
recent updates for some of the current crop of exploits.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

Once the above is done, you need to get System Restore functioning again.
It's possible the SR file store is corrupted. This can be corrected as
follows, go to Control Panel, open System, go to the System Restore tab,
select, "Turn off System Restore on all drives and click apply and ok.
NOTE: this will wipe out all restore points but if none of the current
restore points are working, they are useless to you anyway.

Reboot the system as directed, return to the System Restore tab as outlined
above, remove the check from "Turn off System Restore on all drives," click
apply and ok and reboot. Then try System Restore again.

If that fails to resolve it, try the following link:
Troubleshooting System Restore in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] us;q302796

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Frank" <checco314@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:a15501c43487$9f4a1c00$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> Whenever I try to run msconfig I get a "windows cannot
> find msconfig" error. This all started earlier this week
> when I was trying to get a game to run. In my efforts to
> get the game working I did a bunch of virus scans, and
> also downloaded a lot of fixes from windows update.
> Now, the msconfig file is gone, and whenever i try to
> reinstall it (by transferring copies from my other
> computer) the file doesn't even show up. Folders
> containing it don't show it. Disks carrying it seem
> empty. And now, I've even tried using system restore,
> but it won't roll back my system. This looks like a
> virus to me, but i've scanned again and again and all
> i've found is backdoor.hackdefender which i've deleted.
> Although it keeps showing up, none of this activity is
> listed in the virus databases.
> PLEASE, does anyone know what's going on?