Recuring problem with win2k boot up

[DemonKnight]

Okay, I dont know what the deal is, but this is whats happening.

Install win2k every thing works no prolems, a few days later, if the system is turned off and back on for any reason (mind you I did this like 5 times installing mobo drivers and what not) I get the following error messege:

"Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEMecd startup options for windows 2000, press F8"


I have reinstalled win2k 4 times in the past week do to this. (i'm using win98 right now, they are dual booting)

system specs:

Abit NF7-S
Athlon XP2500 (defaults in bios and generic heat sink)
512MB Crucial PC2100 DDR (I know I should upgrade it but I already had it)
ATI X-pert 2000 (rage 128 based chip.. yea yea but I dont game)
US. Robotics v92win modem
10,000RPM 36GB SATA HDD (WD Raptor I belive.)
LG Electronics 52X CD-RW
Ultra 500Watt PSU

Should I just bite the bullet and upgrade to XP Pro?

[Dax_Brandy]

what happens if you press F8 and select safe or normal mode? is this happening everytime you boot up?

[DemonKnight]

Nothing works, I get the same error even I try using safe mode. Its not every time I boot up it normaly has been happening about 3 days after a sucsesfull install and the 5th or 6th reboot. I'm starting to wonder if my SATA HDD is defective.. it dosent seem to be as fast as reviews and things made it out to be. (and it makes a fairly loud searching noise, like old hard drives did, the grinding sound.. I may just switch back to a good 7200RPM ata133 drive. (my old IBM Deskstar 60GXP was a sweet drive...)