Windows can't start/file missing or corrupt

[Guest]

Hi I have an HP Pavilion desktop that originally had Windows ME on it. I
have used XP with reasonable success for over 2 years on it. It seems to
have been bogging down of late, despite installing and using antivirus and
spyware control.

Today, I get an error message that says, "Windows couldn't start becasuse
this file is missing or corrupt.

Windows\Sys32\Config\System

You can repair suing the original setup CD-ROM."

When I tried using the XP CD, I get an error message that says something
like:

We have no way to tell what you were using before. Please insert the
previous operating system disc.

The only thing I have in that regard are the system recovery, aka,
nuke-and-burn discs.

When I tried to use them, I got an error message that says THEY won't work.

Does anyone have any insight about this situation? Thanks!

 

[Rock]

Hi I have an HP Pavilion desktop that originally had Windows ME on it. I
have used XP with reasonable success for over 2 years on it. It seems to
have been bogging down of late, despite installing and using antivirus and
spyware control.

Today, I get an error message that says, "Windows couldn't start becasuse
this file is missing or corrupt.

Windows\Sys32\Config\System

You can repair suing the original setup CD-ROM."

When I tried using the XP CD, I get an error message that says something
like:

We have no way to tell what you were using before. Please insert the
previous operating system disc.

The only thing I have in that regard are the system recovery, aka,
nuke-and-burn discs.

When I tried to use them, I got an error message that says THEY won't work.

Does anyone have any insight about this situation? Thanks!

Your previous post of this question has several replies. Search for it
using google group search.

 

[R. McCarty]

If your Boot sequence is set to->
1st CD-ROM
2nd Hard Drive (BIOS Setup allows you to change priority)
Then with the XP CD-ROM inserted, you should at a cold boot
get a message that says "Press any Key to boot from CD". Press
Enter and the XP installation should begin. You need to proceed
normally, but when offered the chance to Repair an existing XP
install Press R.
**Do not take the Recovery Option, that isn't what is required as
part of your Registry is damaged or has errors preventing XP
from starting.
**Hopefully, you have your personal data backed up. If the
process is done incorrectly, it can result in an overwrite install
which removes all programs and personal data.
Once the Repair is completed, immediately visit Windows Update
and apply all the necessary patches & Service Packs which are
lost as part of the Repair operation.

 

[Guest]

System is a registry Hive file, central to the boot process and operations of
the OS.
I predict a reinstall in your future . . . although you could probably do a
repair of the registry using the recovery console in order to retrieve your
data. (http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545).

What I would try myself is putting the disk in another system and accessing
your data. Scan for viruses on the data, of course, and have a recent backup.

Just a thought . . .