I have a Toshiba Satellite A30 laptop and today when I tried to start it I got a message "Windows cannot start because the file WindowsSystem32ConfigSystem file is damaged or missing".The laptop comes with two recovery CDs by Toshiba but as far as I was able to discover it only gives you the choice of formatting the HD and install the default Toshiba software...I would like to keep what I have on the HDD (I should have done a backup earlier I know!) but I don

Your laptop is booting, it is just that the Windows operating system may be corrupted. Have you tried starting the computer in Safe Mode?Start the computer, between the black DOS screen and the Windows Screen press the F8 key several times in an attempt to reach the DOS selection screen. If successful, use the arrow keys to move the highlight to Windows Safe Mode, then press the Enter key. If the computer still wouldn't load, you may have to do a Windows repair.If you are using WinXP, insert the Toshiba supplied CD that contains WinXP. It should allow you to try repairing Windows. If not, you may have to let it restore the computer to the base configuration.If you have a 3 1/2 floppy disk drive, you could try starting the computer with a Boot Disk.W. Sieffert

Thank you for your help. :-)Unfortunately starting the computer in Safe Mode doesn