Member Avatar for runswit2guns

hey, if anyone can help me, i would greatly greatly appreciate it. let me explain my plorblem to you all.
when i start up my laptop running xp, before it does anything else, it gives me the error...
"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
you can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows setup using the original setup cdrom. select 'r' at the first screen to start repair"

now, i have tried it with the cdrom and the 6 floppy disk setup. both do the same thing: once it gets to the options to install a fresh copy of xp or repair the currently installed version, it is like the keyboard becomes dead. nothing registers on the keyboard. however, the funny thing is that anytime up till that screen, all the buttons are fine, the keys pressed are registered. thus, i am stuck. no matter how i try to start windows, i get the same problem. any thoughts or advice would be very very very appreciated.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Short summary and practical next steps (because you said the files don’t matter): make the laptop boot the XP CD and do a clean install from the CD. Confirm the BIOS boot order (CD/DVD first), insert the XP disc, reboot and press any key when you see “Press any key to boot from CD,” then follow Setup to delete/create the primary partition and format it (NTFS) before installing. If the CD still won’t boot, verify the disc is a full Windows XP setup disc (not an upgrade or damaged burn). ’s BIOS-boot suggestion is the right first check. ()

If you want to try repair first (less destructive): boot the Recovery Console from your XP disc, run chkdsk to fix filesystem problems, then restore the registry hives from the Repair folder if needed. Start with:

  • boot XP CD → press R for Recovery Console → choose the Windows install → (enter Administrator password or press Enter if blank)
  • run: chkdsk c: /r
    If chkdsk doesn’t fix it, the documented Recovery-Console sequence copies backed-up registry hives from C:\Windows\Repair to C:\Windows\System32\Config; that sequence and the exact commands are in Microsoft’s guidance. The KB method includes an OEM warning (it can cause login problems on factory-installed systems), so use it only if comfortable and after backing up the existing hives. (learn.microsoft.com)

Why the keyboard can stop responding at Setup and what to try: if the laptop’s keyboard works in BIOS but not during text-mode Setup, try enabling “Legacy USB Support” or PS/2 emulation in the BIOS (this makes USB keyboards work before the OS loads), or try a known-wired keyboard if available. Also check for Fn/F‑lock behavior on laptop function keys (F8/F8 combos). If none of this works, booting the XP CD and doing a clean install (first paragraph) avoids the registry-replacement complication. (scribd.com)

Recovery commands (Recovery Console) — run these only if you understand the risk and after chkdsk:

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
del c:\windows\system32\config\system
del c:\windows\system32\config\software
del c:\windows\system32\config\sam
del c:\windows\system32\config\security
del c:\windows\system32\config\default
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
exit

If a clean install is acceptable and the CD boots correctly, that is the fastest, most reliable fix. If repair is attempted, run chkdsk repeatedly until it reports no errors and heed the OEM warning in the Microsoft guidance. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for runswit2guns

a couple more quick things to add...its an ibm and the files stored on the laptop i do not care about...so i think my solution would be to completely delete windows xp off. however, i am not sure how to do that without startup disks or windows actually running? thanks!

Member Avatar for just_a_nobody

I guess the big question is, do you have a regular winxp install CD, winxp upgrade CD, winxp OEM CD, or an IBM restore CD with XP?

Try this site to see if you can fix your problem: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

If you want to do a fresh install then you can go to: http://www.bootdisk.com and download an ME startup disk to fdisk your hard drive.

Member Avatar for runswit2guns

i have a regular winxp install

Member Avatar for runswit2guns

i just downloaded windows ME OEM from bootdisk.com and tried booting from that and it gives me the message, remove disks or other media press any key to restart?

Member Avatar for just_a_nobody

You may need to go into the bios and reset the boot order to floppy, then CD rom, and finally hard drive.

Member Avatar for runswit2guns

hey, i used delpart to erase the harddrive, then i used fdisk to create a partition. however, i dont know where to go from here. using the xp cdrom disk gives me the error "No OS installed" and i do not know how to get it to install windows now? are there certain files i need to put on the laptop first from a floppy? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks all!

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