I am trying to start up my HP PAVILION with Millinium and the Windows startp menu appears with 5 options
1. normal
2. safemode
3. step by step config
and below this is an error message that says:
registry has detected a registry/configuration error.  Use scanreg to correct this error
      When I chose any of them they all come up with an error when loading saying that the file C://windows\IFSHLP.SYS is corrupted or missing and then it goes on and says taht it can't find WIN.COM

When I try to reboot the COMPUTER with the recovery discs it starts to extract files but then stops and says that the recovery has ran out of disc space and to rmove disc and restart whch brings me back to the beginning.  
 I am confused and does anyone know what is wrong with this computer.

Does anyone know what is wrongchose step  2.......now go to to start/programs/accessiories/ msdos prompt....and type scanreg/fix....after the it....so its C:\WINDOWS SCANREG/FIX....maybe  in lower case thou......
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another whim
I still believe win9x will kill winxp.......maybe someone like amiga/linux is waiting for msoft to disown it..scary stuff?like msdos7.1Beltrez:

Sounds like Window's Registry is corrupted.  You may attempt to repair the Registry this way:

1. Get a blank, formatted floppy disk.  From a computer with an Internet connection, go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and click on the Windows Me (OEM) link to download the files for a Windows Me boot disk, and SAVE them to the floppy.

2. Put the Windows Me boot disk in your computer's floppy drive and power it up.

3. At the A: prompt, type [size=13]scanreg /restore [/size] and then press ENTER.

4. Select the most recent backup date, and then choose Restore.

5. When the Registry is restored, press CTRL, ALT, DEL to restart your computer.  It should boot normally, but let us know if it does not.

Regards,
Doc
LOL

Looks like you beat me to the post, Merlin!