Error: Registry is damaged (due to unreadable SYSTEM.DAT file).
Error:
Registry is damaged.
Cause:
SYSTEM.DAT, which contains hardware and other computer configuration settings, is damaged. Windows 95 cannot read the file during startup.
Solution:
Reboot to 'Safe mode command prompt only'. Remove all attributes from System.1st, and copy Syste.1st over the existing System.dat file.
CAUTION: Restoring the Registry with System.1st restores the system back to its original state when it was first successfully booted. Some settings may be lost when restoring the Registry, which may require you to reinstall device drivers.
To restore a backup copy of the Registry:
1) Reboot the computer.
2) Press F8 IMMEDIATELY after the 'Starting Windows 95' message appears. (The text-mode 'Windows 95 Startup Menu' appears.)
3) Select 'Safe mode command prompt only'.
4) Type the following command at the prompt in the root directory of the Windows 95 drive (e.g., C:\), and press ENTER:
ATTRIB -S -H -R SYSTEM.1ST
5) To change to the Windows directory, type the following, and press ENTER:
CD WINDOWS
6) To remove the attributes from the Registry, type the following, and press ENTER:
ATTRIB -S -H -R SYSTEM.DAT
7) To make a backup of System.dat, type the following, and press ENTER:
COPY SYSTEM.DAT SYSTEM.XXX
8) To copy the backup Registry over the system Registry, type the following, and press ENTER:
COPY C:\SYSTEM.1ST SYSTEM.DAT
9) To restore the attributes of System.dat, type the following, and press ENTER:
ATTRIB +S +H +R SYSTEM.DAT
10) Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot the computer.
