Mental Note:
Next time this message comes up:
WINDOWS COULD NOT START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE
IS MISSING OR CORRUPT
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
Boot into Safe Mode and use System Restore; don't use these instructions kindly provided by Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545 I wasted 4 hours tonight trying to fix something that could have been fixed in 10 minutes!!!