Computer will not start windows2k, boot from cd or floppy

[djmcfresh]

When I attempt to start Windows 2000 it gives me this error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

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

Seems simple enough, but it will no boot from the cd, or from the floppy. Got any ideas?

 

[tlcscousin]

Check the BIOS and ensure that the first boot device is set as either floppy or CD-rom. It sounds like it is set to boot from the hard drive first.

 

[djmcfresh]

I tried many different configurations with the bios, and it still will not boot from either floppy or cd-rom.

 

[tlcscousin]

Start the computer with the CD in the drive, watch the screen and see if it prompts to hit any key to boot from the CD.

 

[djmcfresh]

There is nothing like that, but at one point it says:

Primary Master: No Drive
Primary Slave: No Drive
Secondary Master: No Drive
Secondary Slave: No Drive

or at least something to that extent it only flashes on the screen for less than a second.

 

[djmcfresh]

I just got it to boot from the floppy, but the boot disk I have isn't working. Would a boot disk, from windows xp work? Can you even make one in xp?

 

[tlcscousin]

If the message you saw flash showed what you have recorded here, your BIOS is not finding any hard drives/CD-ROMS or other devices hooked to the IDE cables. If that is the case enter the BIOS and set the IDE devices to AUTO or restore to defaults. Then save and exit and watch to ensure the drives actually show up.It wont boot to CD if the BIOS says none exist.No a boot disk as such cant be made for XP, you can make a bootdisk from XP with system files by formatting a floppy, one of the options is to create an MS-DOS startup disk.You can download the XP bootdisks from M$ here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-CA;q310994