What to do if I dont have the Windows Setup disc

I got a Toshiba Satellite laptop about a month-month and a half ago and yesterday I shut it down, my mom turned it on later and saw this message

"Windows could not start becuase the following file is missing or corrupt: \Windows\System32\Config\System

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"

...Except I can't find the Windows disc anywhere. I have no idea what to do. Thank you in advance

 

First of all, run chkdsk /f on your drive. If you're lucky it's a filesystem error.

Your system hive, which is part of the windows registry, is probably damaged.
Follow the instructions on http://swatrant.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_swatrant_archive.html to restore it.

Because you do not have the win xp cd, you can download an iso for the Recovery Console here.
Burn to cd and boot from it.

 

Its a corrupt registry error.

Also, if that ISO is from the XP setup floppies, chkdsk is not included.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

You use the XP boot floppies in this article.

Also, OEM systems do not have a system file in the repair folder. It is called system.bak. You must rename it accordingly.

You will most likley have to reinstall all of your system drivers if you end up doing this.