Windows XP Recovery Console

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pa

My Windows XP Professional operating system will not boot
up. Even in 'last good configuration' or 'safe mode'.
The error it returns is
'Windows cannot start because the following file is
missing or corrupt \windows\system32\config\system'

I then try and run 'Windows Repair' from the original cd.
It then goes into command mode and presents a list of
drives to repair which will start the Recovery Console.
When i pick a valid drive it just goes back to the
command prompt c:\windows

I guess I'm wondering what am i supposed to do from here?
I know I can do copying/moving, but what files am I
supposed to modify.

If I can't get the Recovery Console to 'recover', can I
just reinstall the operating system without having to re-
activate the software?(I do have a legal copy).

I'm in dire straits so any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks
pa
 
The Windows message states, that your Windows Registry is corrupted (hence
the file name mentioned).
That's bad luck. Try to search the internet to find a solution besides
reinstalling (if there is one).
 
I wonder why windows repair does that.
It is supposed to go thru 2 stages, and the second one is
the real one after you boot the computer again, with the
CD inserted on the CD Drive. Then the real reparation
start. I have a problem similar to that, and I repair the
installation with the original CD. But, like I said, it
went thru an install process repairing everything that was
wrong.
The first time I just was scare because looks like a new
intallation, but no, it really was reparing. After the
whole process everthing was the way it was before. Just
that I have to reinstall the SP1 and windows update has a
lot of files to update.
 
pa said:
My Windows XP Professional operating system will not boot
up. Even in 'last good configuration' or 'safe mode'.
The error it returns is
'Windows cannot start because the following file is
missing or corrupt \windows\system32\config\system'
Click to expand...

The registry files are badly damaged. See
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;307545
for a method of recovery.
I then try and run 'Windows Repair' from the original cd.
It then goes into command mode and presents a list of
drives to repair which will start the Recovery Console.
When i pick a valid drive it just goes back to the
command prompt c:\windows
Click to expand...

That is just a pure command mode version of XP used to give very simple
commands in a recovery situation - see the guidance above. It it does
not do the trick, next thing to try is a repair reinstall, which you get
to by entering setup from the CD boot, instead of the immediate
recovery, then after the license agreement 'repair installation.
 
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