This page might help.
Corrupt Hive
Well my PC died again sunday... ive been trying to get this corrupt hive one working butkeep getting stuck....
Here is what I put in.... and here is what I get back...
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In Recovery Console, change to the c:\\Windows folder.
Type cd system32\\config , and then press ENTER.
Type dir system , and then press ENTER.
If you cannot run the preceding command successfully (because the file is missing), skip to step 3. If you can run the preceding command successfully, type ren system system.bak , and then press ENTER.
NOTE : If the message that you received referred to the software file, replace "system" with "software" in the preceding command. For example, you would type ren software software.bak (instead of ren system system.bak ), and then press ENTER.
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C:\\WINXP\\system32\\config>ren system system.bak
The system cannot find the file or directory specified
I get the same message if I change "system" for "software"
any idea what I am doing wrong?