After numerous attempts to rectify a failing OS we have partitioned and reinstalled XP....However now both partitions apon start up come up with missing windows/system32/config/system files....and when attempting to enter the BIOS get a frozen opening page.....the motherboard we are dealing with is an ASUS TUV4X any help or assistance would be worth a case of beer.

If your pc is locking up in the bios it has nothing to do with windows. The one time it happened to me my processors heatsink was on backwards, it came that way :( I flipped the heatsink around and everything was fine. Make sure that your heatsink and processor are properly seated and that the processor is not overheating. Also make sure that the fan on your heatsink is working and not blocked. Check all of the connections inside your case. Make sure that your ram and any pci/isa/apg cards are seated firmly, This is a hardware problem. Hope this helps, Sandman

bad memory dimms can cause this try and check them out good luck

Hi, I had similar problems - xp becoming increasingly sluggish, random crashes, etc. then tried to reinstall xp multiple times without success. Finally I tried rearranging PCI cards .... turned out that my mobo didn't like a soundblaster live except in the first slot. Been running fine since reinstall. Maybe this would help. Good luck.