im using an acer travelmate 530 at the moment. it has come up with an error upon startup that is as follows: "Windows could not start because the follwing file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system" i have done as it suggested and used the setup cd accessing recovery console. i havent as yet been able to find anything that will allow me repair the missing or corrupt file. bios is recognising the hdd, and it recognises all partitions on the hdd. i thought about simply reinstalling C:\, but was told that the information needed from the laptop might be stored on this drive. any ideas someone may have would be greatly appreciated. cheers muchly

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm Can't remember how or if that particular file is a file that can be copied to the C drive to repair the Xp installation but maybe this link would help you find what you need Hope someone else knows and is able to help you with your Prob...

A kwik trawl aroudn via gogle brought the following hits; and there are many more out there... I used the string/search term: missing windows\system32\config\system for the trawl/search. Perhaps you could do/use the same if the links/info below do not resolve it? http://www.techgroup21.com/subpage.asp?subnavID=121 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B307545 and this link incudes a sugestion that defective/failing RAM may be partially to blame for problem's arival. Perhaps reduce RAM to a single stick (min 128Meg) and see if problem persists; try each stick in turn to determine if any are failing? Perhaps beg/borrow/s...l a known good stick to test system with too? http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1020568103

Those were some interesting links And I just used recovery console!!! for a search string .. Techgroup is what I would have liked to have seen One time when I had a prob... But Now I can Hopefully remember what to look for next time , Thanks!!!

If the repair console did not work for you have a look at the following link and also here. This shows a work around for this type of problem.