Windows File Corrupt

[a7med_360]

Hey im running vaio AR21s widows xp mce, today i restarted my computer afer istallig live update for my Norton, and as the laptop was booting up i got the boot options(which is a first) it gave me the safe mode options etc....but whe i chose any of them (boot widows normally was my main goal here) i received an error msg saying

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\Windows\System32\Cofig\System"

and i have so much important data on the the driver, i was going to do a system recovery but was worried everything might get deleted.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

sorry for any problems reading what im writing im using my old DELL laptop and the key "N" does not work properly

[a7med_360]

i have a dell xp home restoration disc......but all boot options give me the same problem i tried safe mode may times but gives me same error

[MattWilson]

The only way to be sure of keeping the data is to remove the hdd and use it in another computer to copy the data. You probably have a sata drive though and unless you have a fairly new computer you won't have sata connectors.

Can't really think of any other way round it.

[a7med_360]

so if i perform this registairy repair task i will lose my data?

[MattWilson]

No it won't but it also says it is not definatly going to work but its worth a try.

[a7med_360]

but will the dell reinstallation of xp professional work?

[MattWilson]

The basic system files for all of the XP range will be the same so it should work. It will definatly tell you if it won't. You need to make sure that you are in the recovery console and not doing a full install or you will right over the data. I am sure you won't but i thought i should be said.

[a7med_360]

if i recall the recovery console options, there are 3 one if u press enter it will install a new OS if u press R it will repair and last option i dnt remember

[MattWilson]

You want to repair (R) it. This will only fix the system data and not any of your data. This is the only way i can see you fixing it.

[a7med_360]

im going to run this now but the cd is SP1 that shouldnt make a difference as the main files of the system are still stored on the cd.....my laptop is SP2

[MattWilson]

Thats not a problem. You may have to run sp2 afterwards but i doubt it.

Good luck!