Hello, (Also posted on Software forum/Dimension HD forum)

"Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM "

If there is anyone who could help me with the above error message it would be greatly appreciated.

When I first got the error msg it said to put in the WIndows CD and press R.

So, I put in Windows XP Pro cd and went to repair.

But first, it couldn't find my HD's so I downloaded:

Driver : Intel Application Accelerator RAID Edition
Version 3.5.6.6222, Rev. A02
For Dimension : XPS Gen 2
On Windows XP Professional

put it on a floppy and and the windows cd found it. (I did notice that on booting up my Intel Serial ATA RAID is v3.5.6.6253?)

Then, I selected R from the next windows menu for Repair/Recovery Console.

Went to a DOS styled screen and said "select installation you would like to log onto?" and only had "1: C:\WINDOWS" as an option.

When I hit "1" and enter, the cursor went away and nothing happens.

I thought it might have some something to do with my BIOS so I tried flashing bios from A02 -> A05, it flashed fine, but still error/lockup.

I tried to Reinstall windows completely but then it hangs on "Finding current windows" or some similiar.

I *think* my hard drives are fine.  When the system first comes on, I hit F12, and there was an option to select "Utility Partition" that is a DELL utility.  Ran the tests for the two hard drives and they both passed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I never saw any problems prior to this.  I came home one day to find a black screen, so I rebooted and got the above message.

Please let me know if I can provide any other info.  I don't *think* I downloaded SP2 but maybe it auto loaded when I was away?

Thanks again for any assistance,

--Kevin S.

Message Edited by Silvercourage on 08-29-2004 02:50 PM