HELP!!! missing/ corrupt windows\ system32\ config\ system

I turned on the comp this a.m. and got a black screen saying:

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

You can attempt to blah blah blah

The only disk I have is a Recovery and Applications/ Drivers disk that came with the comp. It won't do anything but do a spin. It won't load up, start up.

It is just over a year old, a Toshiba Satellite laptop.

When I start in safe mode, it will come back to the screen saying the above.

When I went to bed last nite, there was no problem. I wasn't looking at anything illicit. Just the same stuff I normally do.

Any suggestions.

 

you may want to do a scandisk on your comp and click automatically fix errors.

 

How do I do that?

 

click on my comp then right click on c: drive scroll down to properties youll see tools section. do scandisk first then youll have to restart your comp.

 

lol

You may have missed that it won't start up I get the missing/corrupt file saying regardless if I do a normal start up, or try a safe mode start up.

 

oops i thought you said it was working again, try restart comp then hit f8 button a screen will appear choose last knwn good configuration..if it does boot up do the above that i mentioned.

 

I tried Safe Mode, Safe Mode w/Networking, Last known good config, all go back to the black screen with the bad saying. lol

 

well then we have to figure out the cd recovery to work. are u able to get to the bios if u can set your boot order to d: drive will load your cd up.

 

I have the recovery disk that came with the comp, but I don't know how to load it up. When I insert it into the cd slot, it won't just load up. Is there any other way to do it.

On hitting f8, there is a Enable Boot Logging an a Reboot (under windows normal start up). Is that it? If so, or not, how do I it?

Thanks.

 

no dont hit f8 anymore. start your comp hit the delete button while booted or your screen on the corner will show you what button to hit to get to the bios where u can set your boot order. d: first then c: second but dont mess with anything else in your bios.

 

What he's getting at this: put your Windows XP disc in the CD drive and reboot the PC. If the BIOS is set to boot to the CD first, you will see "press any key to boot from CD..." and you'll press any key. You'll then see some blue setup screens with white letters. Let this do its thing until you get to a screen where you're told "Press Enter to install XP, press R for the recovery console" etc... Press R. Answer the questions that come up; the first one is something about using a non-standard keyboard and is on a 5 second timer. If you press nothing, it will be fine, so don't press anything. Then answer the questions that follow (usually you'll press the number 1 for the number of the Windows installation you want to enter and then enter your admin password if you have one, if not press enter). When you're sitting at the C: prompt, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter. It will take some time so be patient. It may appear to lock up at times, and the percentage may even go backwards at times, it's normal. Chkdsk can up o 6 hours or more depending on the size and condition of the hard drive, so be patient. NOTE: there is a space before and after the "c:" in the command I posted above. If that doesn't work, try this:
http://www.short-media.com/articles/repair_windows_xp
Good luck!
:major

 

OK thank you.

But hitting delete did not bring another screen up. The potions I have are on startup are F2 (system config) and F12 (boot menu). On Boot menu, Do I change 1 HDD to cd/dvd (which is 3)?

Sorry, I am not 'technical'.


EDIT: I found it on the link you provided. Standby please.

And thank you.

 

OK it is in Recovery of Factory Default Software mode. Is that good? lol


EDIT: There is no XP cd, only a revory disk disk that came wiith the computer.

 

you will need xp auto-cd to do this maybe u can borrow one from someone else

 

It did it all the way. It reloaded all the factory settings.

I guess that's one way to do it. lol