What is wrong with my computer?

Question

My computer has always worked great. It is a Notebook-Model # Presario 2200(PMO45UA#ABA Procesor type-Intel (R) Celeron (R) MCpu Speed 1.40 GHz Bios Versoin F.10. I know it is not the newest of computers, but like I said Has always worked great. One day when I went to turn it on I got the screen that said

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting WIndows setup using the original setup Cd-Rom.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

I don't have the CD? WHat action can/should I take? Is there any way I can retrieve important file I have saved?

Thank you

Answer 1

Windows has been corrupted by ad software on the system. Don't put bad software on your 'puter. Compaq should give you a free CD, most other mfgrs' do. Ask them to walk you through a "repair install" or to get to recovery console to do a "scandisk sfc" or a "checkdisk r". If not, come back online and we'll walk you through it. Your compac has a "hidden partition" which has a clean copy of your OS. Ask compaq for the sequence of keys that will get you there. That will return your computer to the way it came form the factory. you'll lose all your data, but you'll have a working system if they wont give you the CD. Again, dont put bad software on your system.

Answer 2

Try this

To start the computer in safe mode
1. You should print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available after you shut your computer down in step 2.
2. Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the drop-down list, click Shut down.
3. In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.
4. When you see the message Please select the operating system to start, press F8.
5. Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.
6. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.
Notes
• In safe mode, you have access to only basic files and drivers (mouse, monitor, keyboard, mass storage, base video, default system services, and no network connections). You can choose the Safe Mode with Networking option, which loads all of the above files and drivers and the essential services and drivers to start networking, or you can choose the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option, which is exactly the same as safe mode except that a command prompt is started instead of the graphical user interface. You can also choose Last Known Good Configuration, which starts your computer using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown.
• Safe mode helps you diagnose problems. If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers as possible causes. If a newly added device or a changed driver is causing problems, you can use safe mode to remove the device or reverse the change.
• There are circumstances where safe mode will not be able to help you, such as when Windows system files that are required to start the system are corrupted or damaged. In this case, the Recovery Console may help you.
• NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will function

To run System Restore in safe mode
1. Access System Restore through Help and Support.
2. Follow the instructions on your screen.
Notes
• To access the System Restore Wizard, click Start, and then click Help and Support. Click Performance and Maintenance, click Using System Restore to undo changes, and then click Run the System Restore Wizard.
• While the computer is in safe mode, System Restore does not create any restore points. Therefore, you cannot undo a restoration that you performed when the computer was in safe mode.
• You can use System Restore to restore your computer to any restore point while in safe mode. If you cannot start the computer in standard mode, you can use System Restore to restore to a time when you could start the computer without errors.
• To restore to a time when your computer started without errors, select a restore point as close to the time you remember it last started without errors.
• If System Restore is suspended because of insufficient disk space, you cannot enable it by making more disk space available while in safe mode. You must restart the computer in standard mode and make more disk space available.

Answer 3

You can get the cd from HP for about $20. To retrieve the data I recommend knoppix (www.knoppix.com), it is a free download, but if you are unable to download it, the disk cost under $10 if you buy it. Use knoppix to get to your data and put it on a flash drive.

Answer 4

Get the CD. That looks like a virus stole that file or something.

Answer 5

borrow the same windows version cd from someone else and pop it in the drive then go through the repair option....your documents and personal files wont be erased, but all your configuration will be.

Answer 6

You can try visiting the microsoft site for that file.

Answer 7

Well dude man guy dude man guy Its very simple your computer sucks eggs because it sounds like it was made in the Dust age.

Answer 8

u totally messed up your computer . that means that you were messing with your hard drive properties. you problably changed some names if you know what im saying

Answer 9

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=windows+xp+system+restore&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Answer 10

what operating system is it? I might help