Windows boot error

[NatePo717]

Alright here's the deal. I start my computer up and I get this error message right after the bios boots up and right before windows loads that says there is a corrupt or mising Windows system file and that I need to insert the windows cd to do a repair. But when I do so the option to repair that windows install is not there. I only have the option to delete the windows install and reinstall over it. However I can not do this because I have a lot of stuff in the My Documents folder and deleting the Windows install would delete these files. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I could do other then getting another hard drive and installing another version of Windows on it to access the hd that M$ f'd up?

 

[PC Freak]

Boot to the XP CD.. Press Enter to install windows... then F8 to agree .. then select Repair.

 

[CameraShy]

I was unaware that a reinstall of windows XP over a previous version would delete data files in the My Documents folders.

In the event you are right about that, why not use a boot disk, then copy all needed files to another folder. Then proceed with an install over the previous one. I've reinstalled windows many times, and without the user accepting a formatting, I don't think windows deletes any data folders.