Netbook will not start; displays that System 32 is missing

[katelamark]

I have an Acer Aspire One Netbook, which was running Windows XP until it crashed about six months ago. For a few weeks leading up to the crash, I had noticed problems with my computer - my webcam stopped working, some programs were disappearing, and my virus scan wasn't working. I downloaded a new virus program and it found nothing, so I assumed nothing was wrong.

I assumed wrong. One morning I went to turn on my netbook and it displayed the following message to me:

Windows could not start because the following fie is missing or corrupt:
\Windows\system32\config\system

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the orignial Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to repair

I have a Windows XP Installation disk from when we updated our old desktop computer. However, it won't seem to install, so I want to know what you think I should do. I have spent hours on the phone with both Acer support and Windows support and they cannot figure it out. I just need my netbook back, I do not even care about the files that are on it anymore. I realize they will be lost.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

 

[Tmagic650]

How do you install Windows on this Netbook? Do you use a flash drive or external CD drive?

 

[katelamark]

I have a USB CD drive, and I was told by microsoft support that all I had to do was run the CD. However, I have since realized they're ******. And now I am here.

 

[Tmagic650]

Okay, boot from the XP install disk. Let the install get to the screen gets to the existing partition(s) and choose to delete the one(s) you see. Format using quick NTFS

 

[Bobbye]

If you can get in, the information here might help:

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Malware might have cause the corruption and that can be handled after you get in.

The Microsoft techies probably don't have a card to read that netbooks don't have a CD Drive!