Windows XP OS?

[WVgirl]

My mothers computer work. It says something like this, if you put the original disk in drive, you may be able to repair computer by hitting "r" at the setup screen. The item that somehow got deleted is \windows\system32\config\system
The problem is, my mom apparently threw away the original disks. It was a new computer because I bought it for her. It is a Dell 340 Dimension. I bought it in 2003 and she doesn't have the internet so I know it isn't a virsus.
I have a Dimension E310 and tried to use my disks to start her computer with but it didn't work.
What do I need to do and how do I do it?

Donna

[truenorth]

WVgirl,Welcome to the CH forums.Would you please tell us more info. Such as what is the computer? What is the operating system (version +service pack)? What "exactly" is the computer doing at the moment? What (if you know) was the last thing that was being done on the computer just before this "problem" was created? can you access the computer to get into safe mode? truenorth

[squall_01]

She provided enough there.  You have to get another copy of the OS.  Its rather cheap now that it will be easy to get.  If you have a copy of win 2000 it may work just as a repair.

[WVgirl]

Just wondering, why would I need WIN 2000 when it is XP?   

[patio]

Disregard all the above advice...
Contact Dell and give them the service tag# off the machine and they will ship you a recovery CD for a minimal cost...

[WVgirl]

Thank you Patio.

[patio]

No problem...
Stop by anytime...

[squall_01]

Cause you said she had gotin rid of the OS disk.  Cause it works the same way since one OS is built off the other, there a differences but it should work.  Patio I thought that she would have that disk,  didnt think of that sorry.  The only other thing would have been to ask them for another disk an I dont know unless you really pay them that there going to give it to you.

[Broni]

CTRL + F11 at Dell's logo should get you to recovery partition.
If you need to save some private data, that's another story, so let us know.

[WVgirl]

Thanks Squall_01. I got into digging a little deeper, persistent I guess. Anyway it apparently wasn't reading the hard drive, at least that is what I am gathering. When I ran a diagnostic, it told me that the IDE Primary Drive 0 Failed. Am I understanding that is the hard drive?

[WVgirl]

Thanks Broni. I appreciate your help.

[patio]

Does sound like the drive has failed....what diagnostics did you run ? ?
Double check the drives connections...

[WVgirl]

The only thing that comes up on the computer is the Dell logo and you can either hit F2 for Setup or F12 for Boot Menu and the Setup was never any help so I went to F12 and numerous attempts trying to get the computer to go there and that was what I got. I tried it several times and I did check all the connections and everything seems to be in place.

[patio]

Replacement Dell CD's

Meanwhile start shopping around for a good deal on a new HDD...
They are a bargain right now so i'd get one with more capacity than the one you have in there...
Let us know.

[BC_Programmer]

Squall_01- So you need a matching service pack CD to repair XP, but you can also use a windows 2000 CD?

It doesn't work that way. you need a matching Version and Service pack for a successful repair. XP SP1 won't repair XP SP3 any better then a W2K RTM disc will repair W2K SP4; and a W2K CD of any description will not repair any other OS.