my lap top wont come on.(obviously not this one lol) its says

"cant start up because windows\system32\config\system is missing or needs repairing"

can anyone lend some advice. im not the best with comps, it was working fine the other day. cheers.

Got an XP disk

If so you can use the recovery console too repair this.

I've had about a 80% succsess rate in the past, but I guess its down too how brave your feeling.

I'd bee looking at the chkdsk /r command first as something may be corrupted.

Could also be a major hardware fault.

HTH

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for advanced users

i havnt got a original xp disc? just the operating systems. put this in but nothin happens.

Geek Squad - 24 Hour Technology Support

i havnt got a original xp disc? just the operating systems. put this in but nothin happens.

have you set the pc too boot from the cd drive ???

sorry if i sound a bit thick but not the best with computers. this is what i have done so far with no joy.

1.tried to restore to a past date in the safe mode

2.same as aboth but in safe mode with prompts.

all done in bios i think it is? down loaded a recovery disc but scared to use it because it says only use in last resort and it could do more harm and should only be done with an experianced person.any more ideas?

Hhhmmmm

maybe best left too someone who knows if you have stuff on the disk that needs saving

The OS discs could contain XP or they could be a image of the factory shipped install.

What make is it ???

its a dell inspiron 1501. been lookin at regisrty cleaners. says they repair system 32 errors. will one of these work? cheers for the help fatty.

If it's a dell then your OS disc should indeed contain XP/Vista

I assumed it XP, is it ????

Either way insert the disk which Operating Sytem (already installed on PC or something like that )

Switch on then immediatly start tapping F12 (for boot menu a message should pop up telling you when you first boot).

Then it weill say any keys to boot from CD/DVD...So hit any key then it will boot from the OS disc.

Once you get that far check back and in the mean time I'll see if I can find a guide for you.

Edit .....Don't with the reg cleaner, I guess you would need Windows running to run it

HTH

Recovering Windows XP using the Recovery Console

Heres a guide for win 2000 which is almost the same as XP

If you run Vista then you can use the repair function which does it all for you

yeah its xp. what does os disc mean? yeah i was thinkin that about the reg cleaner. cheers again for the help. i really need to learn more about computers lol.

OS disc = Operating system disc= windows disc=XP disc .....All the same thing lol

It should be a blueish coloured disc, I'm colour blind so it may be purple.

If you have all the discs supplied with the laptop then it should be one of those.

reets cheers mate. off to work now. ill get onto it tomorrow. cheers pal. speak to you tomorrow.

Problem is, the Dell disk will be a recovery disk which will wipe everything.

To do an inplace repair, you need a full XP disk.

The one's I have seen come with an XP disc, I've got one sat in front of me.

Not so sure about the newer os's though

Dad's Dell laptop disk is branded, and only a recovery disk.

Yeah the one I have is branded dell, but it's just an xp disc that doesn't ask for a key as long as its going on a dell machine.

Just like this one

Is see the newer ones have a recovery disc though

Dad's specifically has a warning about loosing data if used.

In this situation I myself would use a live Linux CD like Ubuntu. Boot from that, select run Live CD option, and it will boot into an OS where you can copy all the files you need to keep onto cd or USB storage device. I would then use the recovery disc which will no doubt wipe everything and make the laptop as it was when you bought it. You will then need to reinstall all your applications, like Office etc. Now might be an ideal time to consider installing Windows 7 instead of XP as it's released on the 22nd.

Yeah the one I have is branded dell, but it's just an xp disc that doesn't ask for a key as long as its going on a dell machine.

Just like this one

Is see the newer ones have a recovery disc though

yes this is the disc i have. i have used this and i have my laptop back on! it realoaded xp which wouldnt install a few files and it wouldnt work. this appened 3 times then for some reason it worked! its back on and workin but certin things wont work? my display and tool bars look lke windows 98 and i cant get then back to lookn like xp. it also wont download windows updates? any ideas fatty?

Did you do a format or some sort of repair install

I would format but you may have files you need to keep and this will wipe them

it was a repair. i have now restored it to a date before it messed up and it now looks somethin like. when i get home tonight im gona try and get it to connect to the internet and see what happens. if i dont reply tonight its not worked. lol

fingers crossed it is workin again!!! cheers fatty

nope spoke to soon. it will let me use briskoda because its my home page but wont let me go on anythin else?

I would just start again

It will be a lot less hassle thatn trying too sort that out via us here.

How can I install Windows XP Pro on my computer?

Heres a guide to installing xp

You need too be sure too delete the windows partion so you get a clean install. If your stuck post back here (assuming you have anothe pc to post from that is )