So your Windows based laptop has just failed to boot and left you staring at the message "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupted: system32\drivers\pci.sys." It suggests that you insert your OS disks and press "r" as a solution--but when you try, the OS disks do not reach that "fix it" screen before the old "Windows could not start because.." error reappears... You try booting from a thumb drive--but all that changes is the "corrupted" file in the error message...
You cannot reinstall Windows--and no other OS (Linux flavors included) wants to install... They all fail--leaving your computer with that SAME error message...
Is it time to get a new hard-drive? Time to toss the computer? NO! Check the memory module cards! Try running the laptop with only one card first (slot A, sometimes called slot zero, must always be populated) to see if one of the cards is dead. Your computer should complain about memory changing. Hit F1, or whatever key your computer suggests to continue. Try this with both cards. If successful, it should boot normally.
Also make sure that the cards are correctly seated.
You would be amazed at how cheaply one of these "broken" computers can be purchased... The last one I picked up only cost me $37 and less than 30 minutes of my time... The cards were fine--but they were not completely seated.
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