I'm getting the error message ;WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM file is corrupt or missing. - when i try to start up. This is the 4th time it's happened to me after 3 complete system recoveries. - I went to the following link for "fix-it" advice - http://www.computerrepairservice.com/messages/1803.html
however even though this is the advice given all around the web to fix this problem, SONY does not supply buyers with a cd copy of XP, it simply comes already installed. This being said - how can I get into the recovery console another way. I am a website / graphics designer subcontracted by many businesses and I cannot afford literally to be without my computer for a week while I send it off to have it fixed. I've seen that this is a very common problem but there has got to be a way to get tyhis fixed once and for all. Any advice would be immensely appreciated.
Jay.

ERRORS:
missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM, or
missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE, or
Stop: c0000218 {Registry File Failure}

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from Starting

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

Boot the PC and select F8. This will bring up an option to select recovery console

ok - trying that but there is no option that specifically says - recovery console . the only options that i'm getting are;

safe mode
safe mode with networking
safe mode with command prompt

enable boot logging
enable vga mode
last known good configuration
directory services restore mode
debugging mode

staert windows normally
reboot
return to the os choices menu

that is all i get - should i select one of these?
thanks again - jay

Go to Microsoft.com, and depending on which XP you have (home or pro) download the bootdisk. It takes up 6 disks but it works like a charm for getting into the recovery console. All you do is make the disks...put the first one in, and reboot. It will load the info from all of the disks into memory and give you the option to run setup or recovery console. You want the latter obviously so choose that.

I agree, it sould like you have home edition running. If you have XP Pro, it has this option.

it is the home edition. now are these discs different from the system recovery disks? because i have those. if so i will go download them now.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307654

Ughh!!!!! It just keeps getting worse! I downloaded the boot program from Microsoft, made the first floppy boot disc (did all of this on my good computer), put that floppy boot disc into the computer with problems, went to boot it up as instructed, instead of getting a recovery console I get an error message saying
Disk I/O Error

What is this?