When trying to start up my Pc yesterday morning, i was greeted with a black screen, with the message Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM. It then goes onto to say you can attempt to repair by starting windows using origianal Cd Rom and selecting "R" at the first screen. My problem is that Windows XP was pre-loaded when i purchased PC, i didn't receive the cd-rom. The company i purchased from will look at PC under the warranty terms, but i have since relocated meaning a lengthy drive. What i am wanting to know is , does anyone know if i have any alternative, is there a simple solution. Or if i can get hold of a XP cd-rom does anyone know if pressing R on first screen is likely to be a success. Any help would be very much appreciated as i have some very important documents that i really do not want to lose (foolishly not backed them up). Thanks In advance, Chris

PS, I am running Xp with service pack 2.

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
Another XP CD may work, but
This is basically used to recover data, as it states, and a lot of trouble.
You could put the harddrive in another computer as a Slave drive to recover data.

If you had a XP CD, you would be doing this:
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

Best thing to do when ever buying a computer is to make sure you have the resources to restore the computer to working condition.

I agree with what Chuck 2 says but i wonder how many people are aware of what they need to recover their computer? i don't mean this disrespectively (as there are many things i can't do in life) but some people can't even switch a computer on let alone do a recovery!

i think manufacturers should provide a copy of the original windows xp cd with each machine. i did with all customers and it did help out on a number of occasions.

just my 50 pence :)

MSI KT4AV-L
AMD Athlon XP 2800
1Gb Crucial 3200 DDR
160Gb Seagate Barracuda
ATI 256Mb 9600XT
16x DL DF DVD/RW
16x DVD ROM
9-in-1 Flash Media FDD

The 2 replys above have given all the correct info. I just wanted to say one other thing. All PC manufacturers, whether large like hp, or small like your home town computer shop, are required to give you a copy of your operating system with your PC. The larger manf. like HP will give you recovery disks that have the OS on them. A lot of smaller shops try to get away with buying one license of an OS to save money and then they put it on multiple PCs. I would call the place you got your computer from and tell them they owe you a copy of XP!

Back Again, Right then this is my action plan. I am going to fit the hard drive with my important documents as a slave in another computer, which should allow me to rescue the documents. After swapping back the hard drive i am going to load up the Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install for XP home edition, downloaded on another Pc from the Microsoft website which should give me access to the recovery console . Using the recovery console i am going to attempt to repair the corrupt files in the registry following the steps on http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...kb;en-us;307545. A very sharp learning curve for myself, but worth a try. What do you more technically minded guys on here think ? Regards Chris