XP pro doesn't want to boot

[Cheekychinesegal]

The screen said there's a problem with windows\system32\config\system
thus windows doesn't want to boot. And that I should use the Windows CD
to fix the installation.

I tried that. The problem is, even the Windows CD doesn't run. I tried
the CD on my laptop, no problem at all. Went to the bios to see if the
mobo detects the DVD drive correctly, no problem there either.
Anyway, I copied the WIndows CD content to a WD external hard-drive
then plug it in. The bios detect the external hard-drive without any
problem, but it still doesn't want to run the Windows set-up program.
(The external hard drive is FAT 32). Keep saying that it can't detect
an OS and ask me to put in a valid CD (booting sequence: External HD,
CD-Rom, USB-FDD).

The computer has been running without any problem for the last 1 year.
No changes have been made recently, though Windows has been popping up
warning saying that I have illegal version of windows. Absolutely not
true since I bought this a couple of years ago and have activated and
registered it under my name from the very begining. (Granted, I've
reinstalled it a couple of times). I followed the steps to verify it
through Microsoft website, every time I did that, it's verified to be
legal. And yet the #$%$# pop-up didn't want to disappear.
I don't know if this has anything to do with the Windows being dead on
me.
In retrospect, I should have taken that as a sign to back up my data.

The set up is as followed:
Asus M/B
ATI video card
ATI HDTV receiver PCI card
Intel P4 - 3.0 Ghz
2 Seagate 80 Gb SATA with Raid 0 - partion into 2.
Pioneer DVD-RW (IDE 1 master)
3 pieces of memory, 512 mb each.
Microsoft Wireless keyboard & mouse

Any way I can still retrieve my data? To get into dos maybe so I can
copy them out?

Tks'
CCG

 

[Guest]

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

It looks tough but its not too bad. Just take your time.

 

[Cheekychinesegal]

That's the problem though. I've seen this one but I can't do it because
the computer doesn't want to read the Windows CD. The m/b detects the
DVD-rom without any problem, the CD is read by my laptop. My guess is
either problem with the DVD-rom (eventhough it is detected correctly by
bios), or m/b.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You may have to replace your CD/DVD drive.

That's the problem though. I've seen this one but I can't do it because
the computer doesn't want to read the Windows CD. The m/b detects the
DVD-rom without any problem, the CD is read by my laptop. My guess is
either problem with the DVD-rom (eventhough it is detected correctly by
bios), or m/b.

 

[Cheekychinesegal]

I did that. Now the computer froze at "Press Any Key to boot from
CD-rom...."
It doesn't respond no matter how many times I hit any key..

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I've seen this behaviour a few times with corrupted
hard disks. Disconnect the hard disk and try again.
If this does not work then your friendly computer
dealer may be able to help you.