i am missing the SYSTEM.INI file from my computer.  I have tried booting with every OPTION available.  I have a hp pavailion.  I can't find the system recovery or application recovery discs for my computer.  I down loaded a boot disc for 98 but it did not do anything.  How did this whole file come up missing? That is critical for Windows function and it grows as more programs are loaded, system settings change, etc. so you can't borrow someone else's. I fear you are lookng at a reinstall.  :-/First try this.

You might even be able to rename the System.bak or .nnn file using a bootdisk (bootdisk.com).

Good luckmy sister was uninstalling some unused programs and deleted that file on an accident.  I got a boot disk from bootdisc.com,  but the computer won't read it.  i put it on a cd, and CHANGED the bios settings.  Try rebooting and hold down the ctrl key while the system boots. A menu should come up. Select Command prompt only. At the c:> prompt type scanreg/RESTORE. Select a DATE prior to the disaster and restore the backup that was in effect on that date. Reboot.