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Offline Snoopy

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On the borrow
« on: August 30, 2009, 06:58:05 AM »
Has anyone got a Windows XP Pro installation disc I can borrow?

Minimus has an error message
Quote
"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"

Big Pockets, from whom I bought the laptop as second hand in July, are happy for me to send it back for them to reinstall but this will cost a lot in postage as it is quite heavy and they suggest that I get hold of a disc and reinstall it myself.

Any other ideas to solve the problem cheaply would be appreciated
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Offline Darwins Selection

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2009, 07:40:01 AM »
Isn't there a 'safe mode' or something you can use to heal stuff like that?

I do have such a disk somewhere although a quick look in the obvious place just now didn't turn it up.
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2009, 08:11:56 AM »
On this occasion it is not offering me that option.
That is why I was asking for ideas ..... hoping that maybe one of the techies would be able to say "Press this combination of buttons and the safe start screen will appear" or some other suggestion.
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Offline tel

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2009, 08:32:43 AM »
Have you read this?

OEM version is worrying.
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     RTFM

Offline Snoopy

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2009, 09:24:17 AM »
Quote from: tel on August 30, 2009, 08:32:43 AM
Have you read this?

OEM version is worrying.

Your link does not work nor does it copy and paste.  noooo:
Please try again
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Offline Barman

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2009, 09:27:46 AM »
I have a disc that you could borrow...

However, in my experience of these situations you always (after days of frustration) end up formatting the disc and starting again...

So, you might want to consider an upgrade to Windows 7, linux or Vi$ta as a faster solution... 
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2009, 09:48:58 AM »
I might but I do not intend to consider those options because that would destroy the whole point of his having this particular machine.

There is also the obvious cost of an upgrade versus the worth of a second hand laptop for an 8 year old which does not make economic sense. The reason I got him the Laptop with XP Pro was that it meant his machine is totally the same in all respects as that of his brother. Thus they can all do the same things, find the same things in the same places and the little one feels that what he has is as good as everyone else. Such considerations are important when dealing with children (by which I mean more than one child).

So back to the original requested solution ~ I could solve this by throwing money at it by buying him a new machine but that would not, in the 8 year old's eyes, be the RIGHT answer ~ I need to find an inexpensive way of restoring his operating system. Nothing else will do.

I have indeed considered buying a new XP Pro CDRom Cost is £40. I have been quoted a cost of £45 by a local "We fix your lap-top shop" for them to reinstall XP Pro. To return the machine to base under the warranty for them to reinstall would cost me about £30 carriage. I was simply looking for a faster and cheaper solution to fix a minor problem on a Laptop that only cost £130 in the first place. Why so cheap ~ well I knew that he would break anything I gave him within a shortish period of time so why spend more?
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Offline tel

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2009, 10:23:55 AM »
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Must have been too early in the morning for me.
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2009, 07:39:20 PM »
Thanks tel ~ clear as mud  lol:

However the good news is that neighbour immediately reached up to his tidy shelf (how unlike all our "offices") and handed me a spanking new CD-Rom labelled Windows XP Pro. An original ~ not a copy!!!!. Complete reinstall and removal of infected installation achieved in 40 minutes most of which was spend sipping a cold tinny and watching a yellow line creep along telling me how far I'd got. Only had to press three buttons and enter the 28 digit code during the entire process. Little boy thinks I am a God

I think he is taking it a bit far but I do feel I must be a technical genius (given the predictions of gloom, doom and frustration offered earlier)  cloud9:

Thanks all for your input. A great help indeed.
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Offline TG

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2009, 04:32:07 PM »
I have a genuine XP pro (and XP home) disc and numbers. PM me.
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Offline TG

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2009, 04:46:28 PM »
I read the first post but not the last.

I am surplus to requirements.  sad24:

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Offline Snoopy

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2009, 07:50:42 AM »
Quote from: TG on August 31, 2009, 04:46:28 PM
I read the first post but not the last.

I am surplus to requirements.  sad24:




Never surplus  noooo:
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Offline Darwins Selection

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Re: On the borrow
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2009, 10:42:35 AM »
Quote from: Snoopy on September 01, 2009, 07:50:42 AM
Quote from: TG on August 31, 2009, 04:46:28 PM
I read the first post but not the last.

I am surplus to requirements.  sad24:




Never surplus  noooo:

Always surplice
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