This is very frustrating. Its my neighbors computer and she only uses it for Email. She never surfs the net.
Here is the message I get.

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 the Repair.

Well I have done this now 3 times. I hit r while its on the above message and then it goes to the first boot up where you can choose boot menu or bios setup. It then proceeds to another boot screen and thats where you hit f-11 to get to a recovery. Then another screen opens that is a Emachine system recovery. You then have 2 options. Full system Restore (destructive) or Full system Restore with back up. I have done both of these.

No recovery disk is needed. It just takes the files from the hard disk. So over and over I just reload the same problem. The computer will run for maybe a day and then we are back to the same old problem.

How can I boot from the Recovery disk they give you with the computer? Do I need to get it up and running and then boot from Windows with the recovery disk? The info on the Disc says to close all programs insert disk and restart your computer. Well I tried that with the above error message and it just goes to that system recovery with the 2 choices I explained above. Its not taking any info from the disk. I have also not put the disc in and it does restore so it is using files from the hard drive.

How can I fix this corrupt file???

Thanks for any and all help and I know my neighbor thanks you too.

if it is a windows xp recovery disk....
follow these steps to perform a repair install..... this re-installs the windows files without losing any documents.

hope this helps,
mike

Is your CD drive set to boot prior to the Hard Drive?

This is a BIOS Setting (or your Boot Menu).

It also sounds like your hard drive may be failing.

I will look around for a diagnostic specific to eMachine.

From what I can find eMachine loads ExcelStor hard drives.


ESTest.410.ZIP Diagnostic utility for IDE and SATA drives. Supports ExcelStor drives up to 160GB capacity. This utility must be extracted and run in DOS mode.


http://www.excelstor.com/soft/ESTest.410.ZIP


If you need help creating your floppy please let us know.

Thanks for all your thoughts.
I went on Emachines site and did their online chat because I had thoughts of the PSU maybe on its way out and I wanted info from them. Calling was not an option because the system is just out of warranty by 2 weeks and the price for answers was not worth it.

In our chat I did ask about hardrives because they show none for replacement so I asked what brands they use. The tech said seagate and western digital. But who knows what this machine has in it. I need to figure out how to open the case so I can look in and see what it has.

If indeed its the Excelstor can I ask what this Utility will do? Sorry for the question but I'm no expert and just learn as I can.

My other thought was a PSU problem. Could it cause the corrupt file?
This unit has a 300 watt atx form factor.

Here is Seagate:

http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

Here is Western Digital

http://support.wdc.com/

The diagnostic will check the status of your drive.

It reads the SMART data then test various mechanical functions and reports its findings.

Repeated Clean Installs of XP failing are very indicative of a failing drive.

The PSU can also trigger many diverse failures if it is failing. Most electronics stores have inexpensive PSU testers.


I would also verify that you did indeed boot your XP CD and ran a Full Install from it. Again in order to do this you need the CD drive to boot prior to the hard drive.

Okay
I know for sure its not booting from the CD. The re installs were from their emachine system recovery. No CD was needed.
That I could not figure out. They must have partioned off a system recovery that allows you to reformatt and install from files on the partition.

Can you walk me thru how I would then boot from the cd and do a clean install from that. I did notice the first screen is the Boot Menu and Bios settings. I have never booted from a Recovery disk.
I have the system turned off but it was up and running at that point. So if I can get it to startup in Windows can I then try and do a restart and hope I boot from the disk or do I need to change something in the boot menu?

Whats the best way?
Thanks for your help

You are correct that many PC's have the Recovery function on a hidden partition on the hard drive. This works as long as the hard drive is not the problem in itself.

Anyway to try the other route: Open the Boot Menu or the BIOS Setup and change the boot menu to put the CD drive prior to the hard drive.

Then insert your XP CD and choose Exit saving changes or whatever your prompt may be to reboot. The CD should then boot. You will probably see a screen that say Press any key to boot from CD...

Press any key.


Is this XP CD a CD from eMachine or from Microsoft?

If from Microsoft there is a good guide here as madmikejt12 posted:

Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Clean Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html


If this is an eMachine disk follow their prompts but the basics should be similar.

Thought I would report in and say Thanks
I opened up the system and it had a Seagate Hardrive. So I went to the link you provided and thought I would start with their online testing. Within 15minutes it told me the drive had some errors and was soon going to fail. Back up your data etc etc.

I spoke with Emachines and they would sell me a Maxtor but there is no guarantee that the Recovery disk would work even though I was to buy from them. So decisions will be made because its like starting over from scratch.

Thanks again you have been very very helpfull

Thanks for the thanks.

Let us know how it goes.

I use Maxtor drives always. I've had many other brands fail but never a Maxtor.