Van Hoffe   Last week my computer crashed and I received the following message:
     "Windows cannot be started because the following file has been damaged or cannot be found: \Windows\System 32\Config\System.
You can try to repair this file by starting up Windows Setup from the original cd-rom with installationfiles. Choose "R" in the first window to start the reparationprocedure"
(translated from Dutch).
However I do not possess that cd; Windows XP home was already installed when I bought the PC.
Win Rescue XP and XP Recovery CD Maker
Fortunately 4 months ago I bought these programs. Now I put the Recovery CD containing Bart's Preinstalled Environment (Bart PE) in my PC and only by restoring the registry the problem appeared to be solved.
The immediate reason I bought these programs was a Windows crash I had in april this year. This crash was exactly the same with the same error message. (what may be the cause ?)
As I could not solve the problem myself I had to ask the help of a consultant. He fixed the problem but I had to pay 272 euro. In addition I had to pay 77 euro for a new antivirus program. The former had gone lost after the crash.
Furthermore I had to install myself all my own applications.
So Ray you can imagine how happy I was with the result of your programs.
Yet I had a problem using Bart PE.
I could solve the problem by restoring to the registry (the spare registry?). However I could not find my backups (WinConfig, UserProfile and My Documents) placed on an external hard disk, usually with the letter M. I tried all letters (disks) but didn't find the backups. Happily I did not need them this time.
My question is: Does the combination WinRescue XP/Bart PE also work with an external harddisk? If so how can I find the backups. If not how to handle? Using CD's ?
Another Question: Can I put the Recovery CD in the PC, without risks of damaging something, just to orientate  and get some exercise in using WinRescue/Bart PE ?
For your answer I thank you in anticipation.

   I am glad that our programs were able to help you.  Thank you for the kind words.
   My guess as to why the external drive could not be found is that BartPE did not have the proper drivers to access it.
   I would put the registry and WinConfig backups on the main drive (these do not need to be on a CD or external drive) and the other backups can go on the external drive.  That way the registry and WinConfig backups can be used to restore from a crash and then once Windows is up running again, you can access the other backups if they are needed.
   You should be able to run our part of the Recovery CD from your PC but I don't think you could run the BartPE part without restarting your computer using the CD (which you could always do).

Thank you for your quick answer. I followed your advice.