XP will not start

There's a way:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307545

"How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows XP from
Starting"

Alternately, do a repair installation:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;315341

"How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP"

A repair installation will preserve most settings and installed
applications, although everything installed via Windows Update will be lost.
It's simpler for unskilled individuals (e. g., me) than swapping around
various versions of the Registry.

HTH.

Bob Knowlden

Spam dodger may be in use. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

"John Larson" <jlarson@equitable-savings.com> wrote in message
news:034c01c35556$4b2b1950$a501280a@phx.gbl...

> The file 'windows\system32\config\system' is missing or
> bad. Is there a way to correct this? I am using the
> upgrade windows XP prof.
> The startup gives the safe mode of normal start but they
> all die looking for this file.