This problem seems to have krept up several time in the past, always with the same solution given. Upon booting, my system gets to the black loading screen and then complains about a certain file being currupted or missing (system.ced). Here's a good description and explanation of the problem: http://is-it-true.org/nt/nt2000/atips/atips118.shtml Several threads on here have dealt wit the problem as well, such as this one: http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/1321.html My problem is that the solutions given require the use of the recovery console, which I don't have. I can boot of the cd and start it, but it freezes after I select my windows instillation. The exact commands recomended are as follows: cd system32\config (press enter) ren system system.old (press enter) ren system.alt systemalt.old (press enter) copy c:\windows\repair\system (press enter) copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system (press enter) Correct me if I'm wrong, but those look a lot like MS-DOS commands for renaming and copying folders. I would crack out a Win98 bootdisk, but I'm a little rusty of dos commands. Shouldn't copy commands have desinations attached to them? For example, "copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\winnt\system32\config" as opposed to just "copy c:\windows\repair\system" ? All we're doing here is renaming some faulty files and copying over backups as a replacement, right? I'm feeling a little girly-manish ;) not just trying some stuff, but I really don't want to hose my system any worse than it already is. Thanks to any replies.

Hello J, First of all, it doesn't say system.ced. If you look closely, there's a period at the end of the line that says WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM and it has written over where it says "press F8 to access Advanced Options Menu" the CED at the end of your system.ced is the end of the word Advanced, it's just been overwritten. You need to boot up with the 2000 cd and choose "r" for recover. Then choose to use the recover console. This will take you to the %systemroot% prompt (similar to command prompt) where you can make those copy commands. It will restore a good copy of your System HIVE. Let me know if you have any other problems. Usually the System Hive doesn't just go out, so you may be looking at something a little more serious. MrExacta -`

Thanks, but like I said, the recovery console wouldn't load. I'd get to the promt asking which Windows installation to load, and would then hang. I ended up fixing it by booting off of a Win98 Boot disk and renaming the system file (Winnt\system32\system) to system.old and renaming the system.alt file to system. The commands looked something like this: C:\ cd\winnt\system32\config rename system system.old rename system.alt system You can get Win98 bootdisks from www.bootdisk.com It took me so long to reply becuase I had some problems with my hardware. In short, don't try to to trouble shoot hardware problems when you've been awake for 30-some hours. You may not clip your heatsink on right, causing it to fall off later, burning up your Athlon XP. ;) At the very least, take a nap first,