Re: Windows XP Home Boot Disk Download

My boyfriend's Compaq HP V2000 laptop was working fine last night. I have saved a majority of my homework on the thing since he got it back from the shop. This morning I went to turn it on so I could print off my homework before I left for school and the darn thing went into an infinite loop. It just keeps restarting. A blue screen shows up for about 30sec. that says:

stop: C0000218 {registry File Failure}
Registry cannot load the hive (file):
SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE
It is corrupt, absent, or not writeable.

Then it goes on to say that it does a physical memory dump-- dump complete.

I have various questions regarding this:
1. I tried putting the downloaded boot disks from this site onto numerous CD's to no avail. The first disk works, then it asks for the second and that disk won't work. I've used almost all my discs so far and wandering if there is a way I can put this all on one CD (as I only have one left)?

2. I do not have the Windows XP Home Edition install disk. The laptop was in the shop before for the same problem except no blue screen. I keep trying to look online for any possible ways to fix my problem. Everyone keeps talking about a 'Recovery Console' but you need the installation disk to get to it. I can't start the laptop up in any mode. It just goes back into the loop. Any ideas on how I can obtain the installation disk or burn one onto a CD? We have no money to go out and buy one right now and I just need a quick fix for now so I can get to my homework.

3. His son has a habit of shutting off the laptop by pressing and holding down the power button. Could this have caused the loop? Everything that was on and done to the laptop has been done to my desktop (in fact, there's a lot more crap on my desktop) so I don't understand how this could have happened. The only other idea I have is that it's something to do with logging off and shut down or the hibernation mode. It would be nice to know so that we don't make the same mistake again in the future. Please help!!

If anyone knows anything, please respond ASAP. Thanks!!