Can't get windows XP cd to boot ?

Question

Im getting this error:
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

It happened once before and I had to put in the windows cd and basically change my settings back to a previous time when my system was working. It was fixed but it happened again.


This time around, I am at the error screen and I'm trying to put the CD in so i can get to the recovery console to repair my registry but for some reason i can't get the dang CD to boot. It just keeps sending me back to the error.

I looked it up and some people said to change my bios settings but I can't find the option to boot from cd. Theres a boot sequency but i dont think thats it. Theres s.m.a.r.t. for hard disks. disable. And boot to OS/2. Yes. I dont see anything that says boot from cd.

How can i get the XP cd to boot so i can fix this comp??

Answer 1

Well if you simply rolled your system back to a previous restore point then you didn't use the windows xp cd, this can be accomplished from the desktop. Booting from the windows xp cd you can do 1 of 2 things, perform a repair install:

http://www.hollandcomputerrepair.com/computerforum/showthread.php?t=730

Or perform a fresh install :

http://www.hollandcomputerrepair.com/computerforum/showthread.php?t=735



In your bios make sure your boot sequence is set to atapi device (cdrom drive). If that doesn't work then I would highly advise downloading Ubuntu Studio, this is an awesome Linux operating system that looks very similar to Vista! The best part is it's 100% free, and comes complete with open office which is cross compatible with MS Office!



I've been running Ubuntu for 4 years now and I can do everything with Linux that I can do with Vista, for a lot less!



http://www.ubuntustudio.org to download ubuntu studio.



Here's the best installation tutorial on the internet:

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-studio-8.04

Answer 2

You need to be more specific with your problem. But when you boot your computer it will say somewhere when the black screen is loading to push f2 or something like that to go to bios setup. Go there and set it up where your computer boots from the cd. Then put in the xp cd and it should work. if it does not work then you may need to use a different cd player that has compatible drivers. Some cd players on computers wont boot windows cds but they will work when windows is running.

Answer 3

When you first turn on your computer, there should be a message saying - Fxx - Settings/Boot options/BIOS Settings"



Press the F button shown in the message. Scroll to the boot options menu and chose to boot from CD as the top option.



Once you restart it should start to read of the CD before trying the hard drive.



hope that helps

Answer 4

You have to change your boot sequence. What that basically means is that your computer will go down that list looking for things to boot from. If it has your hard drive listed as first, then it will boot from your hard drive. You need to set it so it boots from cd first.

Answer 5

IT DEPENDS ON THE MOTHERBOARD BY PRESSING F12 AT BOOT WILL START FROM CD OR PRESS F8 KEY IT WILL GIVE THE OPTION TO BOOT FROM FLOPPY CD OR HARD DRIVE WITH ARROW KEYS SELECT AND ENTER AND BOOM FAST TRY F1 AT BOOT NOT AFTER WHEN SCREEN FLASH THEN ONLY OTHERWISE TURN OFF AND BACK AGAIN TRY F8 OR F12 OR LAST RESUORCE AT BOOT POST PRESS DELETE WILL GO ON BIOS

SELECT ADVANCE

FIRST BOOT DEVICE

SELECT CD DVD ESC

SELECT F10 TO SAVE AND READY ALL THE TIME WILL START FROM CD GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

You either have to have a bootable or go setup and change settings to make the CD Rom drive 1st. boot