boot error, corrupt file any way to save it?

[Adde]

So this morning I left my laptop on while going to college and then
work, after work I came home the laptop was off. Weird I thought I
start it up and *It keeps giving me an error that the "Windows could
not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM".*
It tells me to instert the Windows XP cd, or set up cd.

Now I havent done it yet because I want to know is there anyway *to
save my stuff that I have on my harddrive? and DO NOT WANT IT TO FORMAT
MY HARDDRIVE*

The reason is I have FINAL PROJECTS for my term papers and also FINALS
and all information related to college. I am really worried that I dont
have it anymore and I dont know what I would tell my college proffesors.
Please someone if you know how to save the portion of the disk thats not
windows please help.

Thank you.

I also tried doing a start up disk, before coming to my senses
realizing that my laptop doesnt have a floppy drive.

I think this cd that im using is not service pack 2 even thought my
laptop had it on when it crashed. Any ideas what I can do thank you

 

[Jim]

So this morning I left my laptop on while going to college and then
work, after work I came home the laptop was off. Weird I thought I
start it up and *It keeps giving me an error that the "Windows could
not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM".*
It tells me to instert the Windows XP cd, or set up cd.

Now I havent done it yet because I want to know is there anyway *to
save my stuff that I have on my harddrive? and DO NOT WANT IT TO FORMAT
MY HARDDRIVE*

The reason is I have FINAL PROJECTS for my term papers and also FINALS
and all information related to college. I am really worried that I dont
have it anymore and I dont know what I would tell my college proffesors.
Please someone if you know how to save the portion of the disk thats not
windows please help.

Thank you.

I also tried doing a start up disk, before coming to my senses
realizing that my laptop doesnt have a floppy drive.

I think this cd that im using is not service pack 2 even thought my
laptop had it on when it crashed. Any ideas what I can do thank you

You have a corrupt registry. This file is the system hive.
You in for a lot of work. Search Help & Support for "corrupt registry".
Jim