Need Help, save me from having to format!!!

[Da11en47]

Heres my problem, I press "R" to repair my hardisk, as it says when an error comes up "Wont Boot Windows missing some file", it goes to the repair console, but I dont know what to do next. Heres what it says.

"Microsoft Windows XP (TM) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality"

Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C: Windows

Which Windows installation would you like to log on to
(To cancel, press ENTER"

It will only allow me to put ONE character in, which button do I hit to repair???? I've tried everything.

 

[brinks]

Try hitting 1.

 

[Da11en47]

Ok I hit "1", then pressed enter. It just went to this "C: Windows". It didnt repair anything. Restarted same problem.I really dont want to format.

 

[brinks]

That's what is suppose to show up.
Next you have to use DOS commands.
type: help
This should show you a list of command that you can use.

 

[Da11en47]

Ok i got it, but which command do i use to repair the system. I have no skills in DOS...

 

[brinks]

if d:\ is not your rom drive change the d:\ to your drive letter
don't type enter, press enter/return.

copy d:\i386\ntldr c: ENTER

copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c: ENTER

fixboot ENTER, yes

I'm not totally sure what your problem is but try these and see if it works.

 

[Da11en47]

Dont think that worked, it said it couldnt copy the file. But heres my exact problem.

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corupt."

"\Windows\System32\Config|System"

Then is says you cant attempt to fix it by pressing R, to repair. You know the rest. This happened to me be before, but with another computer. It repaired itself, but it was running Windows 2000, not Windows XP Pro.

 

[brinks]

You can try and read this article, it might help.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

 

[brinks]

You can also try a repair install
But you might lose your windows updates and services packs if i'm not mistaken from glancing at the articles.
Your other data/programs should be safe.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/software/windows/xp/Repair.htm