Wierd pc problem.

Sycho · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:52

Turned my pc on today and where the windows XP logo screen is loading i get a message instead that "WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM" is missing or corrupt so it tells me to insert my windows XP cd to repair it.

I boot up pc via cd-rom so it finds it, problem is it doesn't and i am just at the same message again.Is there anyway around this? i've usually had no issues with installing/reinstalling my windows.

Forgot to add, my dvd drive is working fine and my CD seems clean.

Thanks.

Clum · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:56

you are doing a boot from the cd?

Sycho · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:59

Yes see edit.

uktinman · 19 Feb 2009 at 13:56

Check all your bios settings to see if you have boot from CD first in the list. Even try resetting your bios and see if that helps. Make sure all cables are connected tight on your DVD Rom.

Try to eliminate stuff, try disconnecting your hard drives and just leave the DVD drive plugged in and see what you system does i.e. if it boots the windows CD. Other than that I can't think of anything else at the moment.

Redgie · 19 Feb 2009 at 13:57

Have you done a repair install?

Sycho · 19 Feb 2009 at 14:31

I haven't tried reseting bios yet but my dvd drive is working fine i.e the lights are showing like it's reading it but like i said it doesn't load the cd up so i can't even repair it.

I went to the menu which includes boot into safe mode, last known config etc but i see a system restore type option there, would that work? i tried last known settings that work but got same message.

Redgie · 19 Feb 2009 at 14:31

Handy hint, most inbuilt restore programs are pretty useless ^^

Admiral Huddy · 19 Feb 2009 at 14:34

Grab a copy of PEBuilder onto CD and boot from that.

Select ChkDsk from the Storage options and select repair and scan.. or any other method of running ChkDsk - This will have you back up and running in no time

Sycho · 19 Feb 2009 at 14:38

Redgie said:
Handy hint, most inbuilt restore programs are pretty useless ^^

This is a pc i built from here but fairly old though it had that option on the safe mode menu screen.

I'll try what Admiral said though it's wierd that it doesn't read the cd.

Admiral Huddy · 19 Feb 2009 at 15:06

You may need to change the boot order so it boots from CD/DVD first.

Sycho · 19 Feb 2009 at 15:46

Well it seems to be working fine now, used another dvd-rom drive i had so went to repair screen, selected the installation there but it asked me to enter my windows password which i did though it said it was wrong 3 times.After this it rebooted and worked which is odd heh.

Thanks for help all anyway.

Ch3m1c4L · 19 Feb 2009 at 16:44

run a chkdsk from in windows (itll do it on next boot) with either /b (vista) or /r (XP) as it will happeen again soon enough if you dont.