I've got the famous problem of the system file corrupted:
"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \Windows\system32\config\system"
I tried replacing the registry files with the ones in the repair folder but it didn't work... I'm worried because it seems that that method worked for everyone else! Do you know if there are any other way to solve the problem?? I formatted the PC one week ago... I would really prefer not to do it again for at least 3 months...

It would help to know if you have Pro or Home. Pro has more repair files in System Volume Information. I'm not sure about Home. When you say it didn't work are you saying you get the same error? If so, you probably didn't copy the files correctly. I've never heard of a case where it did not work.

Boot from the CD, Go thru the menu to the install page,[not rcovery console], repair the system on this computer. This will reinstall windows without any loss of data except the MS updates. You will have to reinstall all the updates including SP1. Luck.

HERE'S A SOLUTION TO XP'S FAMOUS MIND
BOGGLING ERROR "SYSTEM FILE CURRUPTED"

hai,

welcome to the XP world of troubles !
What u tried (restoring registry ) works up
with windows 9x and not with 200x & xp
theese OS have an additional set of
binary files along with windows registry
present in "system32\config" folder
the largest file is " system " file that is
always open & being appended by windows xp
saving ur configurations & settings ,etc ...

A CRASH OR POWER FAILURE
SOMETIMES(manytimes) CURRUPTS THIS FILE
AND XP WONT LET U BOOT , ITS WORSE IF
U HAV ONLY ONE OS & ON A NTFS DRIVE !

IN THAT CASE U NEED AN XP CD AND REPAIR
OPTION DOES IT ALL ,
ELSE USE THE CD TO BOOT IN DOS MODE

FOR XP INSTALLED ON FAT JUST USE A
BOOTABLE FLOPPY !

IF U ALSO HAV ANOTHER OS LIKE WINDOWS 200X( WHICH SUPPORTS NTFS ) THEN DO THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE BY BOOTING INTO 200X !

This method is gonna b a LOT HELPFUL in FUTURE
to PREVENT this ERROR & to FIX IT FAST !!!

THERE EXISTS A "SYSTEM" FILE BACKUP
CREATED DURING WINDOWS INSTALLATION
& DURING ITS FIRST BOOT,THIS FILE IS
PRESENT IN THE " WINDOWS\REPAIR" FOLDER
REPLACE UR CURRUPTED SYSTEM FILE
WITH THIS ONE & UR OS IS BACK ONLINE !

UR SYSTEM IS NOW SET TO NEW OS STATE
U NEED TO REINSTALL & CONFIGURE SOME OF THE SOFTWARES THOUGH
( THATS A MUST IN ANY CASE )

HERE'S A USEFUL TIP :

IF U MAKE A BACKUP OF THE FILE AFTER SETTING & CONFIGURING UR SYSTEM IT WOULD PROVE HELPFUL FOR FAST RECOVERY LATER !

BONUS !!!

U GET TO USE ALL YOUR SHAREWARES AGAIN AS THEY ARE SET BACK TO THEIR FULL TRAIL PERIOD !

( sense u r happy abt the crash ! )

REPEAT :( JUST ONE STEP DOES IT ALL )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REPLACE
" WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM " FILE
WITH
" WINDOWS\REPAIR\SYSTEM " FILE

thats it !!!

BYE
ENJOY !