I have two Windows XP and nothing running

[Guest]

I will try to explain this the best I can, I am an ammerture but determined
to do this without calling someone to the rescue.
I had some kind of system falure and had to reload XP. A message came up
that said this file was missing: c:\windows\system32\config\system.
I did not have a back up and could not log into XP. Using the XP disk and
the Recovery Console I reloaded XP to the same partition and am able to boot
to the newly loaded version. I can pull up explorer and I have a folder with
everything from before; all my programs, data, folders and files are sitting
right there as before. I have two folders for windows; one is the old OS
called WINDOWS and the new OS called WINXP. When I look at Add and Remove
programs there is nothing there. Looking at the device manager looks good. I
have an external hard drive that I am going to back up all my files to today.
After I do the backup I'm at a lost of what to do next.
Please help!

 

[Jose Gallardo]

You have installed two copies of XP in the same parition what is not recommend. After backup I recommend you a fresh install:

Section: "Install Windows XP to a new hard disk"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jose! If I'm going to do a new parition; should I just reformat the
entire disk and Perform a clean install of Windows XP as described in the
same link you sent?

 

[Jose Gallardo]

Do you have a single partition on your hard disk or several ones?

 

[Guest]

I have a single parition.

Do you have a single partition on your hard disk or several ones?

 

[Jose Gallardo]

Format the entire partition and then install XP on it.

 

[joseph2k]

You have installed two copies of XP in the same parition what is not
recommend. After backup I recommend you a fresh install:

Section: "Install Windows XP to a new hard disk"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

Been there, done that, it won't help. Read The Fine Post much more
carefully.
Welcome to microsoftism No. 58613854165411aa18186dea418615161688121146165854

 

[joseph2k]

Thanks Jose! If I'm going to do a new parition; should I just reformat
the entire disk and Perform a clean install of Windows XP as described in
the same link you sent?

It is probably the only way to get to a clean system. Of course you will
have to reinstall everyone of your applications again. You seemed to want
to avoid that several hours of installs from what you have tried though.