Getting this message.

Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Problem now is I can't get my PC to boot from CD!

Give me dos, fdisk and start over...grrrr hate computers!

 

Have you gone into the BIOS and change the boot order? If not, give it a shot. When you turn on the machine it'll say about pressing some key to get into the BIOS settings. There should be an option in there regarding the boot order of devices. It's probably set to boot from the HD then the CD/DVD and maybe options after that.

What you want to do is change it so the CD/DVD drive is the first one it'll check. Once you have done this, save the changes and exit. Whack in your XP cd and see if you can boot from it.

If it still does not boot from the CD then it might not be bootable. From having built a few XP CD's, it's a right pain to get one to be bootable, so if it's a home made CD that could be the cause.

If you do manage to get it booted then you could try a repair. Check the options available though and make sure it's not going to trash all your apps and data.

 

OK, I've changed the BIOS to only boot from CD.

Now I get DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER!

Gggrrrrr!

 

I assume CD drive was working ok prior to the blue screen at startup? What CD are you putting in the drive, is it a retail XP/Vista disk or a home burnt one? Got any Linux LiveCD's lying around? If so, whack one in and see if it boots, would prove the drive is ok and it's the CD you're trying to boot from that is being a pain in the ****.

 

The CD drive is working fine, we created a DOS boot disk and that worked, so it's not that. No Linux CD available, and yes, it is a home burnt CD

Any ideas? Thanks for your help

 

Could this help?
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting


hope it does

 

Thanks MM, unfortunately it won't boot from our disk cos it's not an original XP one.