Windows Help

[Kayte]

I turned on my laptop and a black screen comes on with this message:

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 orginal setup CD-ROM.
Select "r" at the first screen to start repair.

*****

We called CompUSA they said we could just get a copy of Windows XP from a friend and fix, so we did. We put the cd in there it ran for like 15 sec, then shuts off.

What do we need to do?

Thanks,
Kayte

[nitrofreak]

Most of the time when I see this, the repair will not work. If you do not have any data you need to save, do a reinstall and you should be ok. I am sorry to say that this is sometimes a warning sign of a drive failure or virus infection.

[VetEtr]

Found this. Hope it's helpful.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20767830.html