hi my computer has crashed, ir keeps coming up with the message invalid boot.ini file, it then boots up and says that windows can not start, it then says \windows\system32\config file is missing or corrupt. can you give me some advice how i can sort this out without formating my hard disk.

recovery console q307545 part one and ren boot.ini bootold bootcfg /rebuild follow prompts identifier is whatever os you have=xp home or pro and next put /fastdetect and type exit and reboot

after q307545 part one type cd \ so it reads c: and then you may have to change attributes of boot.ini attrib boot.ini -s -r -h s is system,r is for read only and h is for hidden,i cant recall if you can see it in recovery console without changing the attributes or not. but if the file is on system and it may not be with the error you are getting it will be on the root of c,i.e. that is why you cd \ to get to the root of c to be in the correct directory to see the file.

ERRORS: missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM, or missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE, or Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from Starting http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307545 -------------------- HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307654

If it will permit you, you can boot from your CD, and start the install, it will come up to a point where it will ask you to install or repair, of course you pick repair, I do this from time to time when my sys gets a little buggy and it does wonders....