computer won't boot into XP

[loopy]

i'm not sure what's happened but i turned my PC on, it booted as normal but then after 10 mins of starting up it restarted itself and all i get now when i start it up is a message saying "Windows can't start because the follwing file is missing or corrupt C:/WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM"

i thought about reinstalling XP but i've just moved and i've lost the CD....please help

 

[loopy]

almost forgot to mention, i can't get into command prompt by hitting the F8 key....doesn't do anything!

 

[Ian]

I think your only bet is to find the Windows XP and perform a reinstall or repair the file

 

[loopy]

 

[loopy]

does anyone know where i can get an XP setup cd seeing as i don't have mine anymore???

 

[itsme]

does anyone know where i can get an XP setup cd seeing as i don't have mine anymore???

www.ebuyer.com
£60.00 Aprox:

 

[loopy]

found my copy!!!

although i did need to do a lot in command prompt, copying, deleting etc. but it worked a treat! i'll copy in what i used as soon as i get time so it'll help ppl in the future

 

[Adywebb]

found my copy!!!

although i did need to do a lot in command prompt, copying, deleting etc. but it worked a treat! i'll copy in what i used as soon as i get time so it'll help ppl in the future

Well done loopy! - as you say it would be good to know how you resolved it so others can benefit in the future

 

[loopy]

ok, so i'm getting another problem now.

occasionally my computer boots itself out into a black screen saying "Reboot or insert setup cd"

if i reboot it works fine but then after while goes back to this black screen. anyone got any ideas what it could be? a friend said this maybe because my hard drive is really old (6 years) and its just dying on me???

 

[Me__2001]

it does sound like your hard drive is dying, i'd backup all of your data ASAP

 

[muckshifter]

Is this the Laptop or another problem ...

 

[loopy]

lol, no it's another problem!!!

what are u gonna do with me....

 

[muckshifter]

lol, no it's another problem!!!

what are u gonna do with me....

No problem ... I'll try and remeber where I am.

Try CHKDSK /F and see if it shows any 'bad sectors' or any other errors.

 

[loopy]

ok, nothing in bad sectors...

 

[muckshifter]

ok, nothing in bad sectors...

Good, any other anomalies.

So what else is in this system then?

 

[loopy]

i just got s popup window saying Unknown Error and it needs to reboot.

i've run chkdsk again and everything's fine.

what else?

 

[muckshifter]

Give us the system spec ... what is it?

 

[loopy]

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name BELL (Lou)
User Name Owner

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Celeron, 1800 MHz (18 x 100)
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 512 MB
BIOS Type AMI (06/24/05)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter RADEON 9250 - Secondary (256 MB)
Video Adapter RADEON 9250 (256 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon 9250 (RV280)
Monitor Dell E193FP [19" LCD] (H665056NL3XD)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller

Storage:
IDE Controller VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller VIA SATA RAID Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive ST340810A (40 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Optical Drive CD-ROM Drive
Optical Drive CD-ROM Drive
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38162 MB (25715 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Mouse Logitech USB First/Pilot Mouse+

Network:
Network Adapter Belkin High-Speed Mode Wireless G USB Network Adapter
Network Adapter VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter (82.9.78.159)

Peripherals:
Printer \\Dh1kps1j\EPSON Stylus DX3800 Series
Printer Lexmark X1100 Series
Printer Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB2 Controller VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device Belkin High-Speed Mode Wireless G USB Network Adapter
USB Device Generic USB Hub
USB Device Logitech USB First/Pilot Mouse+
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device

 

[muckshifter]

Well, I actually wanted make & model, if shop bought.

Go on, tell me it's another Dell.

Anywho, your printout looks fine ... when was the last time you updated any of the software drivers? especially the VIA chipset drivers.

Did you do a re-install or not on this one?

 

[loopy]

not another dell

it was a packard bell something or other but the mobo died so i bought another one, got my local PCshop to put everything back together.

all the drivers are up to date

no, didn't do a re-install on this one just went into the repair bit.

i don't suppose that having Apache on it caused a problem? i check my comp admin and the error logs in there seem to relate a lot to Apache