[andrew508]

when I turn my computer on I get the following message



Windows could not start because the following file is missing
or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM


I tried to use the start up disk to repair it but I am not sure exactly how to do it.

Can anyone help me out with this? I am running Windows XP on my Dell inspiron 1100

Thanks

Andrew

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Hi andrew508...

Most Dell installation cd's do contain the option to repair.

You can follow this guide...REPAIR.

You will also have to install all the Windows Updates again. Follow the guide closely...print it out if you can (there is a printable version). This will look like a fresh install when it's repairing...if you are asked to delete or format a partition, cancel out of the repair and let me know.

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hi andrew508...

Most Dell installation cd's do contain the option to repair.

You can follow this guide...REPAIR.

You will also have to install all the Windows Updates again. Follow the guide closely...print it out if you can (there is a printable version). This will look like a fresh install when it's repairing...if you are asked to delete or format a partition, cancel out of the repair and let me know.

wannabe1

[andrew508]

Hey


I tried what you told me to do and it gave me a list of existing partitions and unpartitioned space on the computer. It did not give me an optiong to repair on the screen only a way to set up Windows XP on one of the partitions.

Any ideas?

So you know my Dell cd does give me the repair option but once I get into it I am lost.

Thanks
Andrew

[scott452]

are you definetly sure this is the right cd
i.e. you have xp home on your computer but you are using a xp pro cd

[Retired Tech]

Also check you did it in this order

Enter

F8

R

[andrew508]

it is the cd that came with the computer.

[scott452]

normally dell don't give you the xp cd
what does the cd say (on the front)

[andrew508]

when I get to the 3rd screen when it is supposed to give me the repair option, it doesn't.

[andrew508]

the cd says

reinstallation CD
microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Including Service Pack 1a

[scott452]

this is normally because you have the wrong version of xp
what does the cd say (on the front)??

[andrew508]

This is everything the cd says on it.



OPERATING SYSTEM

ALREADY INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER

Reinstalation CD
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Including Service Pack 1a


The software is already
installed on your computer.
Only use this CD to reinstall
the software.


Only use this CD to reinstall the
operating system on a Dell
computer. This CD is not for
reinstallation of programs or
drivers.

For distribution only with a
new Dell computer.




That is all it says.

[scott452]

hmm
do you have sp2 on your computer
i think it might not allow you to repair it if you have a previous version on there

[andrew508]

honestly I'm not sure. What ever came on this thing is what it has. How would I find out?

when I boot from the cd and get to the first blue screen it tells me to hit enter to setup or R to repair. But then I have no idea what to do.

[scott452]

after pressing enter, an agreement thing will come up, press f8
then there will be a list of current installations
if it says nothing about pressing r to repair the current installation you won't be able to repair it
it the computer is prety new it will have sp2, it is fairly old (around 2 years) it is likely to have sp1 seeing as you haven't changed anything
can you do a repair now?

[andrew508]

no still nothing, however it gives me the R option on the screen that you are having me hit enter. I f that means anything to you