dell inspiron boot issue missing or corrupt file

working on my motherinlaw's dell inspiron. won't boot. comes up with "windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\c_437.nls
you can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD_ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair."

i've tried going into safe mode and all of the f8 options, with no success. have also tried an external drive and the internal drive reinstalling windows, also no joy. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I am sorry, but I do not understand what you mean by the above.

If you were to google "c_437.nls", you would come up with a number of entries, all pretty much reporting the same fix using an XP installation CD, namely:

copy (your cd drive)\I386\C_437.NLS c:\windows\system32

I include a link to one such site:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic86668.html


The following link suggests a couple of other options for you to try if you wish:

http://www.msfn.org/board/lofiversion/index.php/t93949.html

I do not know whether the file is a different version depending on the Service Pack level of the system and the CD that you use, so perhaps once you get the system up and running again, you may wish to check this out/replace the file with one from the ServicePackFiles. I think that it would not matter that the CD you use is not the one used to initially set up the Dell Inspiron.