Can't reload XP pro

[mike13]

I have a friends computer. He told me he got this message "Widows could not start because the following file was missing or corrupt." WINDOWS/SYSTEM32

Config/SYSTEM . I thought I would just wipe the drive and reinstall. Well, I have tried about ten different times. I keep getting message like it can't load the following files from the CD. DSOUND.DLL, TOSDVD.SYS, TSBVCAP.SYS, LABEL.EXE, LUNA.MST, USBCAMD2.SYS AND OTHERS. Sometimes if I hit the RETRY option, it will then load, and move on to the next file that it can't load. I do not always get all those messages, but usually some of them. I also got the message that NTLDR is missing, I think. I Googled it, and it appears to be a bios problem, need an update or something. How would I get a bios update, if I can't load an operating system on the computer. but I doubt that is the problem, because it was working not long ago. I also tried different CDs, and different CD / DVD readers etc. I even tried another hard drive..same message at one point or another. Suggestions..please. I also tried loading from another XP Pro disc just to eliiminate the possibllity that the disc I had was damaged. Same results.Thanks for any suggestions. The computer is a non name brand computer bought from E-Bay about 5 years old. It does have that cheap ECS P4M890T M2 Motherboard in it. Thanks for any suggestions, Mike

[Ponch]

I also got the message that NTLDR is missing, I think. I Googled it, and it appears to be a bios problem, need an update or something.

I don't know where you found that but it's almost funny. Back to your real problem.

At first, a file is missing or corrupt means that; it is missing or corrupt. Either it's been badly copied (like when you pull the plug when writing something) or corrupted by malware or mistakenly erased. This can -sometimes- be solved by chckdsk or an XP repair. Other reason could be unreadable sectors (bad HDD).

You went for reinstall, but still got problems. Now... you've checked with different CDs and with different HDD, so I'm lost as well. Are you 100% sure the other HDD was OK ? Do you have any mean to perform hardware tests on an other machine ?

[jaclaz]

All in all sounds like a problem with the CD/DVD drive. (the current ones I mean)

The missing NTLDR has nothing to do with it, though.

Simply get the UBCD:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

and see:

• if it boots on that machine
  
• run the appropriate manufacturer tool for the HD
  

If the CD/DVD drive is flaky, besides replacing it, you can attempt a good ol' DOS based install, this way you can re-attempt copying to the internal hard disk files that have problems during the copy before starting the actual install.

A rough guide is here:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16713

Or youmay want to go the USB way:

http://www.msfn.org/board/forum/157-install-windows-from-usb/

jaclaz

[mike13]

Ponch and jaclaz...Thanks for the replies. Problem solved. The only items I did not replace from other computers that I had laying around was the memory, and the motherboard. Well, I found the same type memory in another computer. I then tried that memory in the computer I am working on and wala..all is good. I was able to completely install XP pro from the original disc that i had, as well as getting all the updates from Microsoft. SP 1,2 and 3 plus many others. So I am pretty sure it was the memory all along. Thanks again for your suggestions...Mike