Using recovery console to fix corrupted registery

[Guest]

Hi there,

My computer recently crashed while playing Counterstrike and upon rebooting
the following error message comes up.

Windows failed to start because the following file is missing or corrupted.

windows\system32\config\system

It then suggests using the recovery console to repair the file.

I boot up using my windows CD and go to the recovery console but it doesn't
give me the option to recover my windows installation. It just drops to C:\
and refuses to recognise the drive. My system is a Dell and I've contacted
Dell support and run the hardware Diagnostics and they can't find anything
wrong with the drive.

Does anyone know what might be the problem here?

 

[GTS]

This is a damaged registry file and cannot be repaired from Recovery
Console.
There is a way to do that in some cases as described in "How recover from a
corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545 but it cannot be used with your
Dell's OEM Windows installation.

You will have to run a repair reinstallation of Windows. See How to perform
an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341

It is good that you ran disk diagnostics since disk problems are sometimes
the cause of this problem.