Windows XP activation problem

I`m experiencing lots of XP related crashesthat require me to reinstall the whole of Windows XP Home each time. I then take out part of my comp, say the graphics card, memory etc... to see what is actually causing the problem as I`m pretty sure it`s harware related but the problem only occurs every week or so.

Anywho the main niggle I have is that I want to install windows updates to keep my computer secure in the mean time but I am having to phone up and register each time I reinstall windows just to be able to install these updates. Is there a way to use windows update whilst my product is still unactivated as it`s becoming a chore. As an when I find the solution I will of course reactivate it properly once more.

Jason.

AFAIK you are just screwed.

Your best bet is to ditch that Home crap and get a corperate edition of Pro.

Alternatively, the BSOD error will usually tell you which hardware/driver component is failing.

There are plenty of websites that tell you what files to backup and then restore to maintain activation.

Its the Hard drive. (Which mean Power suply as well obviously)

If it isnt the HD then xp would not fail, you could boot it in safe mode and change the drivers. The only way for you to get a crach that needed a new install would be for the instal to be broken on the hard drive.

(Im willing to give a secondary solution of its the cd, but as you are insatlling again and again I assume you are installing from HD and not CD anyway, so again its the HD)

Well the error I always get is,

\WINDOWS\System32\config\System

is missing or currupt.

I then try to repair it using the recovery console with the chkdsk command and also fixboot but nothing. I also try to run in safe mode and also last good configuration but again nothing.

How can I be sure if it`s a hard disk problem as I have scanned it and I get no errors reported. As it happens one a month or so it`s hard to tell what is causing it. If it was a hard drive issue wouldn`t it keep happening on a more regular basis?

Jason.

Oh I get this occasionally on Dad's computer - cheap and nasty hardware. It could be the harddrive, it could also be the PSU, motherboard or memory.

I would suggest a BIOS upgrade first and foremost.

registry corrupt. It's a hardware issue but more a hardware configuration issue. You may want to look at your bios settings for boot roms on ethernet adapter settings memory settings peripheral settings and so on

System32 - Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Suggestion: To fix the "windows\system32\config\system file is missing or corrupt" where XP wont boot, go to
recovery console and type:

cd system32\config
ren system system.old
ren system.alt systemalt.old
copy c:\windows\repair\system
copy c:\windows\repair\regback\system
exit

You can create a restore point after you get i booted properly and create a new restore point everytime you boot
so you can recover from a bad boot.

be very careful shutting down your computer shut down
all programs then log off then shutdown or just leave it
on all the time. until you find what is causing.

Look at any new hardware you have installed recently as
a culprit.

Thanks for all the tips guys, I will give them a try. Hopefully I will be able to find the fault.

Jason.