Hello, I recently got a new laptop and installed XP pro on it. It worked fine for a few weeks, then suddenly I couldn't boot up. I just go a message that Windows\System32\Config\System is corrupt or missing. I tried to repair by inserting the XP CD, but to no avail. Then I tried installing it "on top of" the old XP. That didn't work either. After that I gave up and did a clean install of XP, I formated the partitition (NTFS) where the earlier XP had been and tried installing XP on it once again. Everything went alright until I got to the part where the computer restarts in order to begin the "proper" install. When it restarted I just got the same message (Windows\System32\Config\System is corrupt or missing). So now I don't have kind of OS on my computer. The only remaining ideas I have are to delete the partition and create a new one and then install XP again. The last resort is trying to install WIN98 and go from there. Can any one explain how Windows\System32\Config\System can be corrupt or missing, when I've just formatted the harddrive and performed (tried to) a clean install?

It could be that you have a virus in your boot sector. I don't know what you can do to fix that but i know it can be fixed. What i would do is perform a FULL format instead of a quick one, perhaps that will solve your problem. Also, is your cd booable or do you work with bootdisks because they could be infected as whell. good luck, Jan

Hi Jan, Thank you for your swift answer. I performed a full format of the partition when I tried the clean install. My CD is bootable. Regards, Jens