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]

tnxxx

[Blencogo]

You just need the disc to get into the Recovery Console as it will load the basic DOS Operating System Files into memory.

When in the Recovery Console you are just going to do a manual System Restore by replacing your current corrupt System.ini file with your last saved file. You are not going to copy any files from the disc. Copying a System.ini file from anywhere else would cause untold difficulties as this file contains all your Registry Settings and you need one created on your PC.

[a7med_360]

i am at the recovery consol and every time i type in Md tmp and press enter it says access denied

[Blencogo]

You are logged in as an Administrator?

Try:

md c:\windows\tmp

or

mkdir c:\windows\tmp

[a7med_360]

it still says access denied..... each line starts with C:\> ......i think i have to remove that then type in....for dos i knw its echo off and it will remove it but here im not sure anyone?

[a7med_360]

its never gave me an option of becoming admin it took me straight through.....i only have one account and its admin

[Blencogo]

You shouldn't have to worry about the screen echo - did you have to logon?

Type this to change the prompt to C:\windows

cd windows

then try

md tmp

[a7med_360]

no i didnt have to log on and that doesnt work

[Blencogo]

I'm not sure what to suggest but I thought you had to logon as an Administrator to get into the Recovery Console.

Try typing in Chkdsk and press enter - this should check you hard disc for errors and fix them. It may even fix your problem if you can run it.

If not - just try one thing - the directory may already exist - type

dir
and press ENTER

Is a directory called "tmp" shown?

If you can't type in any commands then either you are not logged in or you are not in the Recovery Console proper. (or the Dell disc won't work with your Vaio)

[a7med_360]

no it doesnt show TMP in the directory it only shows directory of C;\ also i am in the recover consol....how do i log in?