Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE
I tried the "last known configuration" by pressing F8--to no avail.
So, I tried this in the recovery console:
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
But it did not work. First, it says that the file "md tmp" already exists. But it lets me continue anyway. Here is where it gets screwy, when I type delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
and hit ENTER
it gives me the blue screen of death and I cannot continue with recovery.