Eeek my Laptop won't work!!

While I was playing a game (Cubis Deluxe) my Dell Inspiron 5150 Laptop shut
itself down.

Upon startup I got the following message;

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

I attempted to use the steps in Article ID: 307545 on the Microsoft site,
but I was able to only get to Part 1 step 5 of the instructions..I got error
messages stating that the tmp file already exists.

I also tried F8 using the safe mode and got the following;

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\ntoskrnl.exe
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\hal.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\KDCOM.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\BOOTVID.dll
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\config\system
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\config\system.alt

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

I am lost and confused as to how to fix this problem...I don't want to have
to reimage my laptop and loose all my saved docs, though I did take a look at
reinstalling Windows XP...but there are 3 choices for the partitions which do
I choose? I am asked to "select an item on the list';

-: Partition [FAT] 63MB 55MB free
C: Partition2 [Unknown] 57161MB 57160 MB free
Unpartitioned space 8 MB

There is also the choice of whether I want to delete the unpartioned space,
or to create a partition in unpartioned space or to set up WINDOWS XP on the
selected item.

I am totally confused and hope that anyone can offer me some help.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"ZeeBabester" wrote:

| While I was playing a game (Cubis Deluxe) my Dell Inspiron 5150 Laptop shut
| itself down.
|
| Upon startup I got the following message;
|
| Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
| \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM
|
| I attempted to use the steps in Article ID: 307545 on the Microsoft site,
| but I was able to only get to Part 1 step 5 of the instructions..I got error
| messages stating that the tmp file already exists.
|
| I also tried F8 using the safe mode and got the following;
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\ntoskrnl.exe
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\hal.dll
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\KDCOM.dll
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\BOOTVID.dll
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\config\system
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\config\system.alt
|
| Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
| \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM
|
| I am lost and confused as to how to fix this problem...I don't want to have
| to reimage my laptop and loose all my saved docs, though I did take a look at
| reinstalling Windows XP...but there are 3 choices for the partitions which do
| I choose? I am asked to "select an item on the list';
|
| -: Partition [FAT] 63MB 55MB free
| C: Partition2 [Unknown] 57161MB 57160 MB free
| Unpartitioned space 8 MB
|
| There is also the choice of whether I want to delete the unpartioned space,
| or to create a partition in unpartioned space or to set up WINDOWS XP on the
| selected item.
|
| I am totally confused and hope that anyone can offer me some help.
|

Thanks but this doesn't help me...it doesn't answer my question on how do I
do the install...I have 3 choices and I don't know which is the right one.

Thanks anyway.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"ZeeBabester" wrote:

| While I was playing a game (Cubis Deluxe) my Dell Inspiron 5150 Laptop shut
| itself down.
|
| Upon startup I got the following message;
|
| Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
| \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM
|
| I attempted to use the steps in Article ID: 307545 on the Microsoft site,
| but I was able to only get to Part 1 step 5 of the instructions..I got error
| messages stating that the tmp file already exists.
|
| I also tried F8 using the safe mode and got the following;
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\ntoskrnl.exe
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\hal.dll
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\KDCOM.dll
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\BOOTVID.dll
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\config\system
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system 32\config\system.alt
|
| Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
| \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM
|
| I am lost and confused as to how to fix this problem...I don't want to have
| to reimage my laptop and loose all my saved docs, though I did take a look at
| reinstalling Windows XP...but there are 3 choices for the partitions which do
| I choose? I am asked to "select an item on the list';
|
| -: Partition [FAT] 63MB 55MB free
| C: Partition2 [Unknown] 57161MB 57160 MB free
| Unpartitioned space 8 MB
|
| There is also the choice of whether I want to delete the unpartioned space,
| or to create a partition in unpartioned space or to set up WINDOWS XP on the
| selected item.
|
| I am totally confused and hope that anyone can offer me some help.
|