Windows problems

So I started up the computer the other day and windows wouldnt start up it said that a file was missing in C:\WINDOWS\system32\config I cant remember exactly what it said but it suggested tossing in the windows cd and going to repair. I didnt have a cd with windows xp media center edition on it but I did have an old regular xp cd, it wouldnt repair it so I put the older version of windows on the computer, copied the files out of C:\WINDOWS\system32\config and replaced all the files on the messed up windows (i didnt see any files missing) and it works....kinda. There are a few glitches such as firefox is gone, i just recently got the media player working again, all of my old settings have been changed back to the factory settings.


Anyway, anyone have any idea as to what happened and what I can do to get all of my settings back to the way they used to be and have everything work the way it used to? I made a copy of all of the files before I replaced them. Any help would be great, thanks.

What settings are you talking about exactly? It sounds like you just installed a version of XP over a version of Media Center, so obviously all the basic stuff is going to change, but you should still have all your files. Just reinstall Firefox to fix that.

What did you try in the repair console that didn't work?

repair said there went any problems


there are just random things wrong like for example the windows games (solitare, pinball) and a few other random programs dont work like some engineering programs, CAD, just random stuff.

repair said there went any problems


there are just random things wrong like for example the windows games (solitare, pinball) and a few other random programs dont work like some engineering programs, CAD, just random stuff.

You can't just reinstall those programs?

As for the Windows games, go to the Add/Remove programs section in the Control Panel, remove them, restart the computer, and then re-add them. See if that works.

When you installed XP over the top of MCE, it would have overwritten the Documents and Settings folder, so if you had any data stored in your old Windows Profiles (C:\Documents and Settings\%username%) it's probably long gone. About your only chance to get it back is data recovery software like GetDataBackforNTFS, but I don't like your chances.

Winblows won't let you install over Winblows and still work right, will run into all kinds of conflicts, if it were me, I would backup all my important stuff and install a fresh copy of windows after a reformat. As far as it deleting files from your documents, it shouldn't have, seeing as you still have your programs and things on it.

ive had some similar problems. i have an hp pavilion a1514n with XP media center 05. i was getting many program errors and the computer would restart randomly. then i did a disk cleanup and then windows would not boot. did system restore twice and now every time i open a program, i get a windows installer error so the only program i can use is the internet. i also can't install or uninstall any software or hardware, still get program errors, and still shuts down randomly. i got a message one time that says it might be an error with the video card and to download an update. well i tried but i get that windows installer error so i can't get the update to possibly fix the problems. anyone have some other suggestions on a possible fix? if i can't fix it myself im cashin in on the warrenty.

ive had some similar problems. i have an hp pavilion a1514n with XP media center 05. i was getting many program errors and the computer would restart randomly. then i did a disk cleanup and then windows would not boot. did system restore twice and now every time i open a program, i get a windows installer error so the only program i can use is the internet. i also can't install or uninstall any software or hardware, still get program errors, and still shuts down randomly. i got a message one time that says it might be an error with the video card and to download an update. well i tried but i get that windows installer error so i can't get the update to possibly fix the problems. anyone have some other suggestions on a possible fix? if i can't fix it myself im cashin in on the warrenty.

You could reformat and try a fresh install...just back up all your documents on a flash drive or external.

You could reformat and try a fresh install...just back up all your documents on a flash drive or external.
did a system recovery twice which reformats the hard drive each time. it did not come with a windows recovery disc.

did a system recovery twice which reformats the hard drive each time. it did not come with a windows recovery disc.

System recovery isn't quite the same. I will bet if you do a real format and clean install, it will take care of the problem. If you don't have any operating system disks, borrow a friend's and use your serial key during the install.