Missing XP file

Drinda

I am trying to help my son get his PC up and running, every time we switch on it starts to load Windows but stops half way and reboots the PC.
We have run the recovery disc but no help, so ran a diagnostic CD and it say's " Windows XP system 32 Syst Config Missing" I am going to try my PC discs in the morning, my PC was built for me and I have XP and XP pack 2, and a cover Disc from a 2003 PC PRO magazine that is XP pack 1, do you think one of them will work on his PC and get it up and running.
Thank you Drinda.

Seagull

Hi Drinda, you should try a sytem restore to a date prior to when the problem occured.

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

albertross_2

boot from xp cd, go into recovery console, run

chkdsk c: /R

Drinda

Thank you for the reply's

albertross, I can't thank you enough, I have been to my son's today and ran my XP on his pc, I thought it would just replace the missing file, but it uninstalled his XP and then loaded mine and it is working better than ever.

I did not do the last bit "run chkdsk c:/R" do I still need to do that now that it is running OK and what doe's that do, as that is not in the system tools,
I assume it checkes the Hard disc?.

I would like to add that I am a 70 year old mum with a 47 year old invalid son, I make a 60 mile round trip to help him as he can't go out on his own so is unable to take his PC to the shop to be sorted, and really can't afford it anyway, so I am very very grateful for your help.

Drinda.

Browntoa

No need to do chkdsk now, XP does this prior to re-installing

glad to see you got it sorted

greyteam1959

Does this not mean that your son is running an illegal copy of XP now ????

albertross_2

Well done, you sorted it yourself. The problem often happens when the machine isn't shut down properly, ie just turned off at the mains, or powercut, rather than start, shutdown.

Browntoa

no, it's legit as he has a valid COA sticker on the PC from the original Install of XP

it's only invalid if you were trying to use the COA on another PC (Certificate of Authenticity)

Drinda

Hi, albertross, can you help me a little more please, Son's PC is working just fine this morning, but no sound, went into sound and audio devices, but it is all greyed out so can't use the buttons, any thoughts on what to do now.
thanking you Drinda

baxgttdi

Sounds like you haven't got the audio drivers installed.If you still have the cd's that came with the PC you should find a copy of the audio driver on there. It should simply be a case of put the disk in and follow the onscreen menus. You often gert this when you do a fresh install of XP as it doesn't pick up alot of drivers

Drinda

Thank you baxgettdi, Did not find the disc but downloaded a driver and it works fine, Thanks again Drinda.