Windows cannot boot

Hi,

I have a 6 month old fairly HP pavilion laptop with (no floppy drive) and with Windows XP media center edition. I ahve the original windows xp operating system cd that came with the computer.

The problem I am having is I got a virus somehow on my laptop and due to that when i booted my computer it is giviing the error message afetr i select "Windows XP MEdia Center Edition"

could not start becauuse the folowing file is missing or corrupt:

windows\system32\config\system

attemtp to repair.......by starting windows startup from original cd rom press r at first screen to stat repair.

Now when I do that by entering a cd rom the windows set up starts but it gets stuck somewhere when it loads system files at a point where it says (loading kernel debugeer dll) and it never moves forward to the screen where i could enter r. The cd is brand new and it always worked during my previous restorres. Option f8 doe snot work coz no matter whatever option i select there it take sme to the option where I can select opration system i.e meda center and once i hit enter it takes me to the error screen again.

I believe the virus is blockin anything to be loaded from the system restore cd. I might be worng though.

Could you please help?

I tried bart pr but it gets stcuk when it loads bart pe as well.

 

I usually find that it is easier to connect the hard drive to another pc and do this repair from there. You should be able to get at a recent system restore copy of the 'system' file. The Microsoft method sends you back to the original installation so you migfht as well wipe and reinstall.

You should be quite safe from the virus on the other pc as it is not isntalled on there.

 

I ahve another laptop but how do i connect the hard drive. I am not good in opening laptops, i figured out where the hard drive is but i guess i need o use a cable. Can i the failed computer to working computer using usb drive? what will i need to connect the hard drive to a wrokgin computer

 

The easiest way is to temporarily remove the faulty hard drive and place it in one of those little caddys you can obtain very cheaply on Ebay and elsewhere. They connect via USB.
Make sure you get a small one forlaptop drives (2.5 inch) and the correct type (SATA or IDE)

Drives are usually very easy to remove, there will be instructions in the laptop handbook.