XP won't boot up!

[john]

Kid tried playing Counterstrike, curser froze in game,
pushed button and rebooted, desktop returned but not all
programs, (Weatherbug, Yahoo Messenger, etc.) loaded,
curser then froze again. He pushed button to reboot, then
it showed message: Windows XP could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt: \Windows\SYSTEM32
\CONFIG\SYSTEM - also said something like use original
restore CD hit r key to begin repair. Problem is I can't
find the original restore CD and the computer is 3 yrs.
old. out of warranty. Dell says CD is one of a kind,not
replaceable and I can mail my computer in to their repair
center to be fixed. It's a Dell Dimension 8200 Windows XP
512 meg of ram 1.8 P4, GEforce Ti 4600, 60 gig HD, Turtle
Beach sound card. I have an Epson printer and Paperport
scanner hooked up to it. Any suggestions?

 

[T.C.]

Depends on your financial situation, and how much time you want to be
without your PC. If you have an old Windows 98 CD, you can buy a Windows XP
upgrade CD for about $99. Boot from that CD, opt for a NEW install (to get
rid of whatever caused the problem) and when asked for verification of
eligibility for upgrade, swap the old Windows 98 CD and give the path to
that CD, after verified, swap back the Windows XP Upgrade CD and continue
with the install. When the install is done, you can go to the Dell web site
and download any Windows XP drivers that aren't native to the Windows XP
install, like the Turtle Beach Sound card drivers. On the other hand, you
will have to reinstall all of your software. If your scanner worked with
Windows XP (had a Windows XP compatible version of PaperPort etc. You'll
have to reinstall that too. You can't be without a Windows XP CD, in case
you ever have to run a repair install. But, I would suggest ignoring all of
the above, and getting the Dell $499 advertised special. It's probably has
a CPU that's 8 times faster than the one you have. If you order it the
right week (specials change weekly), wait until they offer free CD-RW, free
double memory, free shipping, free flat panel monitor upgrades at the same
time (or whichever of the above upgrades appeal to you). If you order that
new system, you'll be getting Windows XP SP1, and can avoid having to
download some of the many Windows XP updates. Depending on your financial
situation, and what your time is worth (it will probably take you more than
20 man hours to install Windows XP, configure it, install all of your
software and configure it, install all of your add-on components and
configure them, downloading the drivers from the Dell site and installing
them etc.., and what you'll be getting fixing the 3 year old system v.
buying the Dell setup I mentioned above for $499. It's your choice.
Personally, I think it's a no brainer. (sending it to Dell for Repair,
still leaves you without a Windows XP CD, and if it's out of warranty count
on spending big bucks to ship it, and whatever they might charge for
repairing an out of warranty system) Rather then spend nearly $100 for the
Windows XP Upgrade CD, and 20 man hours to repair a 3 year old system that
you don't have a Windows XP CD or System Restore CD for, I'd opt for the
Dell $499 special. This is what Dell is offering this week, compare it to
what you have (if you don't like the itegrated sound, you can always disable
it in the BIOS, and pirate the Turtle Bay Sound card and speakers from your
old system, and download the Windows XP drivers for it from the Dell web
site)

Featured at
$599
$499
After $100 Mail-in Rebate
Rebate Details
This configuration only

See special offers below for details.Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.20GHz

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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--
T.C.
Pay it forward...
t__cruise@[REMOVE]hotmail.com
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[Richie NY]

Try this,

reboot the PC but press the F5 key repeatedly, this will
put you into a DOS prompt window and you will be asked to
go into Safe Mode. In Safe Mode uninstall this game. Now
reboot. Safe Mode allows you to repair and remove items
which can be the culprit in your issue.

Good luck