Laptop won`t start up ?

[Monty]

I`ve bought a cheap 2nd hand laptop and was working fine when i got it but there was a button missing on the mouse pad which had been pushed inside so out came the screwdriver and i glued the little sucker back in. I also change a couple of things in MS config startup but now the comp won`t restart and says something like:-

windows could not start file missing or corrupt
\windows\system32\config\system
try using set up disk to repair

The only thing is i haven`t got the setup disk, i`ve tried starting up in safemode etc but no joy I`ve tried e.mailing the computer make but the e.mail is just bouncing back

Comp is
I-friend NC202i4
XP home edition and has the product key on the rear.

PC world are a waste of time as they can`t do anything without the recovery disk.

Is it possible that microsoft will send out the software since i have the product key?

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers
Jay

[Doug]

I also change a couple of things in MS config startup . . .

that'll teach ya . . .

sounds like you need a start-up disc

I might think you could get one from someone else but it'll have to be 'laptop oriented' I think instead of for a desktop.

[Gary]

If you can get a copy of the XP Home CD then you can use that to repair it, but it will require some techy knowledge.

Best thing is to find some-one who knows about these things and get them to do it for you. I'm a long way away, but if you can get it to me (via Dico ??) then I'll have a shot at it for you. Unless you can find some-one closer

[Monty]

Thanks for the offer Gary, there`s a small computer shop about 15 mins away i`ll have a word there 1st when i get time.

BTW this laptop only has a cd rom will this still play CD-R`s & CD-RW?

[Gary]

Yep should do. It obviously won't write to them though

[TStevens]

It will be able to play Finalised CD-R's but not RW's

[Gary]

Don't you mean it will be able to play all CD-Rs, but only finalised CD-RWs ??

[TStevens]

Not all CDRom drives are capable of reading mutlisession CD's, and require CD-R's to be finalised. Most modern drives are ok with mutlisession though.

Re-writeable disks generally wont work in anything except a cd writing drive. There may now be some exceptions to this, but in my experience RW's would only work in a writeable drive, and even then some required the session to be finalised for that to work if you didnt have the same software that wrote the disk.

[Gary]

Yep what you says makes sense I've had no end of problems with CD-RW disks. Whereas DVD disks are much better. DVD-RW disks do what they say on the tin.

[Ashaman]

When you say a button was missing, like it was pushed inside - like the result of a pretty good impact? A decent impact could cause a hard drive crash....

Strange to have a file missing, though it could be the result of something else (virus or whatever). You can purchase the installation media which is typically very cheap (since you already have a legitimate license).

Regarding the drive, most reasonably modern laptops use a standard format; you should be able to add a multiformat DVD recorder for $80 if you like.

[TStevens]

I can provide media by post/donington if required.

[Monty]

Ashman,

It wasn`t the start button missing, it`s the left clicker for the touch pad, anyways i left it in and it was just a software problem but cost me £45 anyways i gets it home and i can`t connect to the internet says

can`t renew IP address

so took it back to the shop and he say`s it`s a i need to get intouch with ISP and told me to try a couple of things, so i thought i`d popped to Dico`s for a cuppa and guess what i get lumbered with errrrmmmm fixing there internet conection on there desktop and laptop (spent hours there ) so i eventually gets home, switch on comp and the dam thing won`t start up now now i don`t know if this was something to do with it being freezing outside and the comp stuck in the boot for hours

Tony

If u could provide the media at Donny that would be grand