Restore? Windows won't start! HELP!!!!!

[Guest]

I was gone for a couple of days and left my computer on. A horrible storm
hit and some neighbors lost TV's and such in the storm (lightning strike
caused a surge). When I came back my computer was off. When I attempted to
turn it back on I typed in my password just fine, then i got an "invalid
boot.ini file booting from c:windows" screen to pop up. Then the screen
would stay black fro about 2-3 minutes then the following message comes up.
"windows could not start because the following is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\system" then it states "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." I cannot get into the windows
setup and I am using the CD and I cannot get the computer to boot from the CD
which makes doing the repair very difficult. I cannot start in safe mode or
from last known good configuration. I have no idea how to boot from the CD
so that I might possibly be able to get into Windows Setup and repair this
file. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have been looking online and
in this messageboard without a lot of success. PLEASE HELP. my e-mail
address is mr.kennedy(removethis)@hotmail.com - thank you!!! I am just
hoping my computer did not explode in the storm.

 

[Brian A.]

Some may not be valid if you have an OEM machine (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

How to start the Setup program from MS-DOS in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307848

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314058

How to enable an administrator to log on automatically in Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312149

How to install the Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;216417

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654

How to remove Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555032

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts:
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Guest]

a. go into your bios/cmos and setting the boot disk to cd. You may have
options for automatically configure your pc to best or optimal settings.
select either one but before your exit and save ensure the cd is the boot up
device. (to get into cmos press and hold f1 key or del key as you power on
the maching. A cmos menu screen will either pop up or your pc will make a lot
of beeping noise to let you know that the cmos will be popping up. )

b. insert your windows cd before powering up your pc and select setup, new
install, and repair current installation. (if this fails, reboot for the
recovey console)

c. power up with windows cd , select setup, select recovery console, select
your windows installation from a list it will provide you at the dos prompt.
then follow these instructions


You can use the Recovery Console to restore a missing or damaged copy
of ntldr or the NTDETECT.COM startup file and to replace the Master Boot
Record and the boot sector.

To enter a command into the Recovery Console, type the command
at the C:\WINDOWS> prompt. Press the ENTER key at the end of each
command to send it to the computer.

To replace ntldr, enter
copy drive :i386 \ntldr
In place of drive , use the drive letter for the CD drive.

To replace NTDETECT.COM, enter
copy drive :i386 \ntdetect.com
In place of drive , use the drive letter for the CD drive.

To replace the Master Boot Record, enter
fixmbr

To replace the boot sector, enter
fixboot

The Recovery Console will ask, Overwrite system?(Yes/No/All). Enter Y for yes
each time the question appears.