How should I address the error message "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \Winnt\System32\Config\System.ced"?

Boot your system to the recovery console using the Windows 2000 installation CD-ROM, selecting R for Repair and C for the Console.

Select the installation to repair and enter its associated recovery/administrator password.

Navigate to the System32Config folder by typing the command

  cd system32config

Rename the current system files by typing the commands

  ren system system.old   ren system.alt systemalt.old

Run the Emergency Repair Disk Wizard from Win2K Backup and Recovery tools, and copy the backup System registry hive from the %systemroot%repair folder or the %systemroot%repairregback folder to the current folder by typing the command

  copy %systemroot%repairsystem %systemroot%system32config

Exit the recovery console by typing the command

  exit

After you replace the System registry hive, any extra services or drivers that you installed since you created the backup hive might not work correctly, so you might need to reinstall them.