editing the registry

What are the SOURCEPATH entries in your Registry at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup Please list them exactly as they appear. (I suppose you could take a screen-shot or just write them down with pencil) I know this is being frustrating for you. Take it at your own pace. TC Forums will be here to respond. Best Regards

The only thing I found under SOURCEPATH was C:\Autoinst\winxp\

In Registry Editor, at this location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
Single-click on Setup - to Select and Highlight - Setup
With Setup Selected, SourcePath should be one of the items in the Right-hand Panel

Double-Click on the item SOURCEPATH
Doing so, will open "Edit String" dialog box.

Presently, the "value data" box should show: "C:\Autoinst\winxp\" (according to your report, – without the quotation marks)

Change that value data information to "C:\" <—– just "C:\" without the quotation marks
By making this change you are removing the part of the data value (Autoinst\winxp) and leaving only (C:\)

Exit Registry Editor and re-boot the machine.

Reboot and try SFC again now.
Start - Run - (type)sfc /scannow <—- notice the space between the "c" and "/"

Keep us posted with your progress