Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from Starting

[maspain]

Having problems with XP Home SP1 OEM. Fresh install with a new Hard Drive. Given the following error: Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM Checked out the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 307545 which lists a fix. Tried it and it worked to an extent. Allowed XP to boot, but my programs wouldn't start, like Outlook, or MS Money. Reformatted the HDD. Re-installed XP SP1. It worked well for 1 day. Booted it up the next day and got the same errors. I need to know what is causing the problem so I can fx it. Microsoft doesn't seem to want to address it yet. Not enough people having this problem yet.

Anyone?




Bueller?

[Wiggo]

Firstly check to make sure that the hard drive jumpers and settings in BIOS are right. Then I'd go to the hard drive's maker's website and see if there is a testing utility for checking the drive itself. If those turned out ok then I'd check the memory for errors with Memtest86. Both of these utilities will run from a bootable floppy so ya'll have to make sure that ya floppy drive is the first boot device. ;)
<center>:cheers:</center>

[maspain]

Thanks, That helped. I updated my Bios. Got some new Ram (on sale! 512 for 29.99) upgraded to a gig. Did a recovery and a repair install. Seems to be working fine. Even did the tweak according to the guide.

New Problem. Outlook Express isn't working specifically the Address book after I installed Office 2000 with all the updates thru SP3.

Already tried uninstalling and reinstalling it. Didn't work. Trying now to download a stand alone version of outlook express to install and see if that works.

Any ideas?