Dell Dimension 2400 desktop

maverick · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Paradise!

I have this system running winXp but it won't boot up! Instead I get an error screen saying : "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \Windows\System32\Config\System". Is there any way for me to resolve this issue without reinstalling windows? I have alot of files on this system that I can't afford to lose. Thanks.

ar63 · Guest

I assume you have atleast two drives, C and D. I also assume that Win XP is loaded in C drive. You can do two things: -

(a) You could reload Win XP in the C drive. But ensure that you do not format the drive, since that would wipe out all data in the C drive.

(b) In case that does not work and you have to format the C drive, one way to save your data is to use a boot disk (floppy). Thereafter using the DOS command 'Copy', shift the important files from C to D drive. Once that is done, you can format C drive and reload Win XP.

Guest · Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:

How far through the bootstrapping process does it get? Can you access 'Safe Mode'? 'Recovery Console'? 'Safe Mode - Command Prompt'? 'Last Known Good'?

Computers are supposed to make life easier......

maverick · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Paradise!

[quote="Anonymous"]How far through the bootstrapping process does it get? Can you access 'Safe Mode'? 'Recovery Console'? 'Safe Mode - Command Prompt'? 'Last Known Good'?
I wasn't able to access any of these options. I had to boot from the original cd and i followed some guidelines from the dell website on how to repair the installation using check disk. I was able to get the pc working again. Thanks to all who gave input!