missing files

[regans cortina]

hi all.
ive got a packard bell pc with win xp home on it that someone has been playing silly beggars with. Basically , it boots up fine and all , but it wont execute any files or programs!! it keeps saying missing this file or that file. it wont execute msconfig or anything, apart from certain things, like disk defragmenter. I also cant load anything via the cd/dvd drive.
when i try to do a repair from the win xp disc, it asks me for the administrator password , what is the default password ???
any help is greatly appreciated
cheers

[kingoftowns]

actually you dont need the password, if you boot from the winxp disc DO NOT go into the recovery console, instead hit enter as if you were going to install a new copy of windows, the next screen asks you to hit F8 to agree to the license and the next screen should search for previous versions of windows that are on your machine, once it finds that your pc already has windows installed it will say to hit "R" to repair the OS once you hit "r" it will repair windows without the need for any paswords

[doubledragon5]

It will still load like a new install so it might ask for the licience, so have it handy... I know if it were a dell the licience is not necessary..... Or when booting tab the f8 key when the boot menue shows go to safe mode or choose last known good configuration... If in safe mode do a virus scan and check for spy ware....

[kingoftowns]

yeah sorry forgot to mention that you will need the serial key to windows if you go the route i mentioned above, you will also have to reactivate the copy of windows so make sure you have it connected to the internet because the telephone option is annoying.

[regans cortina]

aaaahhhhh, ive cocked this up . decided to go for a fresh install . things arnt going smooth and by the numbers though.
after formatting , just before it should display the new win xp screen its saying all kinds of things are wrong. just changed the dvd drive for a 52 x liteon , and trying to run setup from this.

[Cricket]

You might want to test the RAM, sounds like it's messing up.

And change the IDE cables too.

Cricket

[regans cortina]

after getting nowhere with this , i decided to see if it would let me do a zero fill. so downloaded seagates discwizard and ran the quick version , then tried to do an install !!! guess what , it worked , no problems ??
so, just to make sure , i ran a diagnostics on it , and it still came back with no errors. finally ran the full zero fill , which on a 120 gb drive , took 8 hours, then reinstalled xp. running sweet at the mo. How strange these pc,s are .