Windows XP won't start

[Stoo]

My friends Computer refuses to start Windows XP after a crash. A message
states.... Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt.
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair this file using the original CD-Rom using the
repair consul after pressing R.
Well I did all that but there is no help forthcoming in making the repair.
Just a list of commands which most mean next to nothing other than CHKDSK
and 1 or 2 others.
Please help.

 

[Rich Barry]

Have you seen this
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307545

 

[Hilary Karp]

See these:

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545

How to Troubleshoot Registry Corruption Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822705

 

[Alex Nichol]

My friends Computer refuses to start Windows XP after a crash. A message
states.... Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt.
\windows\system32\config\system
You can attempt to repair this file using the original CD-Rom using the
repair consul after pressing R.

See the method at http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;307545