I don't know if the registry is my problem, but I know what, when, where,
why and how I created my problem.  I was going to try the CCleaner as my next
step.  But now . . .  My problem started when I tried Edubuntu.  
Unfortunately, you can't use that particular OS as a Live-CD, so I
partitioned my harddrive and installed it.  Something went terribly wrong.  
Instead of using 8GB for the Edubuntu, it left that much and took the rest.  
I wasn't overly concerned, figured there would be a way to fix it when it
became a problem.  But since I wasn't happy with the distro, I broke the disc
and threw it away.  Mistake #2.  Monday, I decided that that tiny hard drive
was becoming a problem.  I formated the partition with Edubuntu on it using
GParted.  Using the same, I then merged the two partitions.  When Windows XP
came back up I was shocked, dismayed and horrified to see exactly three (3)
icons on my desktop!  Luckily for me, I had copied drive C onto a Seagate
500GB backup drive.  The first thing I tried was to move all the files back
onto drive C in a one click restore.  It looked pretty good, but I knew that
many of the icons were missing.  The next thing I tried was a system
recovery.  There was a recovery point from August 9th.  That brought a few
more back.  Some others I manually transferred, cleaned up the doubles, then
rebacked the file where I keep all the software and updates I download from
the 'net.  Looking better and better.  But something was still wrong.  Now is
where my good luck died right along with my backup drive.  Yep, it's dead.  
Took my files to its grave.  And whatever is missing from XP that is keeping
my system from functioning properly.

Symptoms:

1.  Can't remember my settings, except for the icons which are in the wrong
places, but it remembers the icon it is supposed to be using even those that
were changed after this started.  But it can't remember to stop hiding my
task tray buttons, what color background or wallpaper, the colors of the
active and inactive title bars or menus or font or font color I chose/set .
2.  Some help files are missing.  The toolbar on the Help and Support page
is missing.
3.  It won't let me install anything.  Keep getting "Access Denied" messages
although I am the "System Administrator".  The most recent error message was:
Could not create key:  
S-1-5-21-823518204-484763869-682003330-1004\Software\Microsoft.  Verify that
you have sufficient access to that key, or contact you support personnel.
4.  Until last night I was still able to go online.  The little computer
online icon in the system tray says I have a good connection, but none of the
four browsers I have installed can load a page.
5.  It does remember to stop turning off my monitor.
6.  I can't print anything.
7.  It can't remember that I want to see ALL files, including the "hidden"
files.
8.  C:\Documents and Settings\Regina\WINDOWS\system folder is empty.  (Is
that why I can't get online?)
9.  This document was created with WordPad, but will only open in WP if you
right click, click "Open With", then choose WordPad.  Tried three times to
change that in the Properties diaglogue box, but it won't stay changed.  I
don't think OpenOffice will even open a .rtf file, but I didn't try it.
10.  Lots, of my software and devices want me to register but I did them all
when they were installed.  OOo, I've registered it twice already since this
started and it asked me for it again today.

Those are what I have noticed so far, I am sure there are other issues.  Oh,
I did also try to fix this by putting the Original XP disc in and rebooting,
choosing to repair.  But that got me nowhere because apparently I'm supposed
to type in something after that.  All I knew to type in was Exit.  Anything
else would have just made matters worse.  If you can't help me, I'll have two
choices left:  1.  Backup my personal files to a USB stick, format the drive
and reinstall the OS.  2.  Take the box to DIY or Best Buy or Circuit City,
etc. and pay them to do it for me.  All help will be greatly appreciated.

This box started out life as a HP8275.  But then the power supply died.  
Then the harddrive died.  Then what the heck, lets get a new motherboard.  
Then my old CD-r drive, my scanner card and my Zip-100 drive wouldn't work
with the motherboard.  I bought a new CD\DVD\HD\BLU Ray writable drive and a
PCI card for the Zip (can't find one for the scanner).  Then neither Windows
95 or 98 would run, so I had to buy XP.  I shoulda bought a new one!  But the
point is, the drive is 160GB, the motherboard is a Gigabyte with an AMD chip
(I think) 1.6GHz, 1 GB RAM.  If you need any additional info, I will gladly
supply it.  I will be gone most of next week, but will reply as soon as
possible.  Thanks to everyone who reads this and has an opinion as to what
needs to be done next!