system crash

MGPowell,

If you cannot boot at all, you can't use System Restore. If you simply can't boot to Normal Mode, see this.

still can't get in.

message is:

the following file is missing or corrupt

\windows\system32\config\system

says I can attempt to repair this file by using original set up Cd and selecting r to repair.

is this the only course open?

 

 

 

 

 

Better would be to move the drive to a working system as a secondary, and back up what you need to.

Then return the drive to the existing system, boot, press F12 and load and run the Dell diagnostics - if the drive fails, which is likely, have it replaced.

MGPowell,

If the hard disk passes the diagnostic testing, the procedures for repairing the problem are here and/or here. While these procedures are not always successful, System Restore cannot be used for this problem.

Thus, if the hard drive is okay and you are able to copy the perishable data from it on another system, your option in the event the corrective procedures are not successful is to do a clean installation of XP.

thanks. I will run the diagnostics and take it from there.