Help needed! Urgent.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Kotowari

Will be back eventually
    • 4,449
    Posts
    19
    Years
    Hey,

    Earlier when my mom tried to boot her computer (Dell), and got this wonderful black screen which said:
    (translation)

    Windows can't be booted because this file is missing or corrupted:
    WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

    You can try to fix this file by starting the Windows Setup from the original cd-rom with installing files.
    Choose 'R' in the first screen to start the reparation procedure.
    Click to expand...

    Now there is my first problem:
    We don't have a cd. There is this paper amongst the manuals that says "Your new computer does not require an operating system CD or drivers CD's"

    I've googled the problem, but all ways I encountered to fix it state that I need the CD. :3 Big help.

    I would like to know if there is a way to fix this problem without having the installation CD. I asked my dad if he had a CD laying around, so I still have a backup plan. But still...

    My mom really needs her PC, since it contains all of her files she needs for school (she's a teacher). And right now, the exam period is starting, so she needs it more than ever. So, preferably not a way that requires total reboot.

    Thanks in advance.
     
    Contact your manufacturer and demand a restore CD. They should send you one, and depending how demanding you are, you might get it for free. If you can't get one, I'm sure you'll have a friend with one. Any disc made to install the OS you're currently using should work. If you can't get a CD, you're probably out of luck.

    If she needs the files right now, you can either boot into a live environment and transfer them to a flash drive, or connect the hard drive to a working computer and download them that way.
     
    So there isn't a way around it? Silly thing of the manufacturer to NOT include the disc in case things like this happen. >_< "you don't need it, no trouble ahead."

    Do you mind explaining the last part? :o

    Thanks for your help, though.
     
    there is prolly a a restore partition on the drive.. you'll need to check your manuals to see how to access it and run the repair from there.. dell's support site may be of help as well.
     
    Assuming that you are in fact running a Dell, press Ctrl+F11 right after the bios logo (Where it says Dell). That should allow you to access the Recovery partition that was installed in place of giving a disc, and, in particular, System Recovery, which is what you need.
     
    So, when I do what Glitchfinder said, and run the system recovery, I won't loose everything that's on it?
    'Cause that's my greatest concern. I don't want to start messing with all sorts of things unless I know for a 100% that I won't loose the important files.

    Also, I went to the Dell site, and they had a solution for the problem, but I still needed the CD. Also, I can't dig too deep into the internet, since I have other priorities at the moment (studying for exams). =/
     
    What type of Dell computer is it? Laptop or desktop?

    Either way, did you have the power supply connected? You may have got a power surge to the hard disk, judging by what you are describing, that's what may have happened. If you have this, then you will need to take your computer to a computer shop for a new hard disk. They will be able to clone the files over to a new hard disk. I've had to have that done to my computer. :(
     
    It's a desktop.

    But somehow the problem is fixed. I got my dad to take look at it, he brought his CD.
    But despite using the CD, he did not know what he did. XD
    But anyways, thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. :3
     
    He probably used the repair windows option. Or, more likely, the computer automatically copied the required files and folders over. And, if you had done what I mentioned, it would not have overwritten your files. It's called a recovery partition because it is used to recover and repair damaged or lost system files without using a disc.
     
    I'm going to go ahead and close this, since the problem has been fixed. And I don't want to see more posts saying "you're screwed" etc
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.
    Back
    Top