Thx for that suggestion. I tried one more time to get to the sep up welcome
screen the following day and for some reason it let me in. I finally got to
the point where I could get a dos prompt and ran a chkdsk. That fixed the
problem. Now I'll follow th process you gave me to set up the recovery
console installl so that I have access to that the next time. THanks for
the information
--
JC


"Xandros" wrote:

An easier way is to run a Repair Install. See the information here to do
that
http://www.help2go.com/Tutorials/Win...Reinstall.html

--

Xandros


"JC" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the suggestion.....I was hoping for simpler solution as this is
a
little out of my realm of comfort but I'll see if I can get some help with
that.
--
JC


"Rich Barry" wrote:

What you are trying to accomplish with the following procedure is
replacing the existing Registry Hives with working Hives
from one of your System Restore Folders.

This procedure works great if you can remove your hard drive and attach
it
to a working computer. You may have to set the

jumper in the back of the drive to slave or cable select depending on
the other drive configurations. If the computer has a

External hard drive enclosure that would make it easier.

Once everything is connected and running Ok

What I would do is first is open Windows Explorer. Go to ToolsFolder
OptionsViewClick on Show hidden files and folder and

uncheck Hide protected operating system files.

Then open MyComputerdouble click on Your X:\ drive Icon. X
represents whatever Letter this working Computer assigns

to your hard drive.

You should now see a System Volume Folder. Keep double

clicking until you get to the RP numbered folders. Choose a numbered RP
folder about five from the highest. In other words

if the folders are numbered from say 1 to 20 choose RP15.

Then double click the folder and you will see a Snapshot folder.
Open
and copy the first five Registry Files.

Then go to C:\Windows\System32\Config folder. Open the folder and
paste the files you copied from the Snapshot folder into the Config
folder.
Then

find the DEFAULT, SOFTWARE, SAM, SYSTEM

and SECURITY files in the Config Folder. Create a new folder and move
the
files into it. Drag and Drop them.

Finally rename the files you copied and pasted by removing
the

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_ from each file you copied. That should leave
you
with DEFAULT, SOFTWARE, SAM, SYSTEM

and SECURITY files. Restart. Good Luck.

















"JC" wrote in message
...
I have a corrupt or missing file as noted in the message "windows will
not
start because the following file is missing or corrpupt
:\windows\system32\config\system

I have tried booting from the XP startup disc but at the Welcome to
startup
blue screen when I press "R" for repair the computer just shuts down
again.
I have tried tried safe mode; using last known configuration...etc but
those
functions do not seem to work.

Any suggestions to get around this?
--
JC