Can't run programs or connect to internet

[Xerinous]

Still can't copy it, but now I'm asked to confirm overwriting NTLDR.
cd windows\system32\config gives the message "The path or file specified is not valid"
ren system system.bak prompts the error "The system cannot find the file or directory specified"

[Dr Jay]

Confirm overwriting NTLDR...

[Xerinous]

I did.
"File could not be copied"

[Dr Jay]

Are you sure that was the right CD drive?

[Xerinous]

Rather certain, I checked the directory on it with dir h:, and it looked right to me.
I went at it alphabetically, h: was the first with anything in it, besides c:

[Dr Jay]

Allow me to explore a couple other options. I won't be long.

[Dr Jay]

Does your computer have a floppy drive? Do you have a spare floppy disk?

[Xerinous]

The main computer has a floppy drive, but the computer I've been using does not. I don't think I have a floppy lying around either.

[Dr Jay]

Fixing NTLDR via Recovery Console

• Insert the Windows CD and start the computer.
• When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R.
• Type a number corresponding to the Windows installation you wish to repair (usually 1) and press Enter.
• When prompted, type the administrator password and press Enter.
• From the command prompt, copy NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM from the i386 folder of the CD to the root folder of the hard drive. In the example commands given below, C: is the hard drive and D: is the CD-ROM drive. You will need to change the drive letters if appropriate:

expand D:\I386\NTLDR C:\
expand D:\I386\NTDETECT.COM C:\

• Remove the Windows XP CD from the drive and restart the computer.

[Xerinous]

That didn't work either I'm afraid.

Took a look at the CD itself, and found the problem I think. In tiny letters it says "This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers." I should really pay more attention to these things 

[Dr Jay]

If you can find a CD, that would be good.

Try a local computer repair shop, and see if they will sell one to you. They rarely charge anything much.

[Xerinous]

Okay, been a while since I posted here. It took me a long time to find a repair shop, then a while to get there. When I finally got there to ask about a new cd, I was offered the same one I already had. So, tinkering with the one I had, I managed to somehow get the recovery console to copy the files, but now it looks like boot.ini and hal.dll are missing,so I still can't boot the computer. I tried the same method to get them off the disk but it doesn't seem able to find them.

(Sorry if this is considered a necropost.)

[Dr Jay]

This topic has gone on long enough. Please start a new topic.