The Hindu Business Line : System boot problem

Whenever I start my system, the following error message appears: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\system32\c_1252.nls. You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original setup CD-ROM. Select ’r’ at the first screen to start repair."

My system is loaded with Windows XP Professional as the operating system.

I have the original Windows XP setup CD but I have lost the other CDs, especially my motherboard CD.

How do I find my motherboard model for download drivers if fresh installation is required?

Senthil Kumar

The error message that you point out shows that one of the system-related files, c_1252.nls in the path \Windows\system32, is either missing or has been corrupted on your system.

You can solve this problem just by restoring the file c_1252.nls from the Windows XP setup (Installation) CD without losing the data.

To do this, please follow these steps:

Insert the Windows XP Professional Setup CD into your CD/DVD drive and restart your system.

Make sure that the system boots from Windows Setup CD.

If not, please rearrange the boot sequence order in the BIOS in such a way that the CD/DVD is the first booting device or tap F8 key during the BIOS self-test that will prompt you to choose a boot device from a list of supported devices.

Now select the CD/DVD drive. Just press any key while it prompts, “Press any key to boot from the CD”.

Now the Windows setup will start and bring you the “Welcome to setup” screen.

Press “R” key to get into repair option. This will open the Recovery Console.

The list of windows installation will be displayed. Please log into your windows installation by pressing the “1” key (Choose the relevant number if you have multiple OS installed).

You will then be prompted for your administrator password.

Enter that password and you will get the recovery console command prompt.

In the commands shown below, we are first renaming the file c_1252.nls to c_1252.old (ignore if it doesn’t exist) and then extract the c_1252.nls file from the CD-ROM drive letter “F”.

Please replace with the respective CD-ROM drive letter.

Now issue the following commands:

cd system32

ren c_1252.nls c_1252.old

expand f:\i386\ c_1252.nl_ c:\windows\system32

Use Exit command to restart the system.

This ought to solve your problem.

For more information, please refer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830088

If you would like to back-up your existing Windows XP drivers, you may download the freeware utility DriveMax (Size 1.96 MB), which supports Windows XP, 2003, Vista OS. The available options are Export Drivers, Install Drivers, Display report, Driver updates, etc.

You can get the free registration key by registering this software and download DriveMax from http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/index.htm.

To get the mother board information, please open the system cabinet for the information or download some third-party system information tools available on the Internet.

One such freeware tool is “System Info” (Size 1.31 MB). You don’t need to install the application, just double-click siw.exe available at http://www.majorgeeks.com/SIW_System_Info_d4387.html

Solution by M. Sampath

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