PC help please.

[fosters headband]

PC help or recommendations for a good cheap repair company in Brighton.

I purchased a second hand laptop for my grandkids to use, which came with Windows XP installed. In the maintenance section it told me to tick a box to check for any damaged or missing sectors on the hard drive then restart.

When I did this and it rebooted the following message appeared.
'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 Set-up using the original set up CD-ROM. Select ‘r’ at the first screen to start repair.

As I have not got the original disc and I have looked at the cost of purchasing one, which is over £100, has anyone any ideas how to overcome this or recommend a good cheap repair shop in Brighton.

 

[beardy gull]

Laptop Ell? On here.

 

[SpidersLegs]

Try a site like Kickass torrents you might be able to download it.
http://www.kickasstorrents.com/applications/2/

 

[Fungus]

Replace XP with a free operating system? Ubuntu homepage | Ubuntu

Do you know anything about the history of the laptop? If it's not been reformatted, there could be all sorts of nasties lurking in it.

 

[brakespear]

Don't know if this any help@

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

 

[fosters headband]

No I don't know the history of the PC.
Thanks guys for the help..

 

[GOM]

Don't know if this any help@

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

Unfortunately he has already stated he does not have the original startup disc.

 

[Laptop Ell]

fosters headband...PM sent!

 

[BensGrandad]

I have hijacked this thread rather than start another My keyboard is showing " when it should be showing @ and vice versa, the @ sign is on the upper case of the 2. I have checked the language is UK and the keyboard is UK Extended what else can I check or adjust to rectify it as it is a bit of a nuisance as it is.

 

[Laptop Ell]

I'd remove "UK Extended" from the keyboard language option (plus any other languages you have installed) and re-add it again, making sure you simply select "UK"

 

[Barrel of Fun]

BG - I have re-hijacked the thread. Advice on the way on the legal front.

 

[Robot Chicken]

I have hijacked this thread rather than start another My keyboard is showing " when it should be showing @ and vice versa, the @ sign is on the upper case of the 2. I have checked the language is UK and the keyboard is UK Extended what else can I check or adjust to rectify it as it is a bit of a nuisance as it is.

Just press the left shift button and the left Alt key. All that's happened is the keyboard has flipped into USA mode!

 

[BensGrandad]

Thanks all is now well