Help with Acer Laptop

claire_bear1410

Hi all

My Acer Aspire (think it's a 3630 but could be wrong) has gone on the blink. I get error message windows\system32\config file is 'missing or corrupt'. It's asking for the start up disc to be inserted, and 'repair' selected.
Which would be great- if I had start up disc! I seem to remeber when i got it, getting a msg to say no start up disc included, and I should burn a certain file onto CD and keep in case restore was required. And, of course I didn't do that either!
SO, would anyone know where I could get a start up disc for my machine which is now 2 years old so no longer under warranty. My other option is trying to use Start up discs for a Dell which I have access to, but I've been told this might not work as Dell ID all their software and I'd need codes or something to use them (???)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

evilgoose

The discs that are supplied these days tend to restore the machine to 'clean build' state.
More likely than a dell disc working is if you know someone with a 'real' windows media for the same version of windows which you had installed. And try running that.
It possible that the dell disc could try and build your machine as if it were a Dell (with dell drivers etc), it could say that your laptop isnt a dell and go no furhter or it could work. Sorry I cant be more help.

claire_bear1410

Hi evilgoose

Well, not entirely sure what I've done, but it's working again (writing this from laptop rather than mums PC where I was earlier!)

I took the Dell disc and after trial and error on a number of options when I inserted the Dell disc, it just started up as normal - i tried a straight re-install of Windows which didn't work as i got a big warning about installing more than one copy of Windows onto machine...then tried the 'r for repair' option which went so far and then the machine died as I didn't have it plugged in and battery died....then, when it started it just went through normal start up and taaa daaaa, here I am!

So, I have now done the required backup burn of the system stuff, and made sure to take a copy of all the things I was mega worried about losing! I have not a clue as to what the problem is so will be getting the machine checked over, but I'm not worried now I've backed up all my stuff!

Cheers