Error message on Windows XP start up screen <black screen>

[Svnla]

Ok, I shut off the computer without the proper way <start..shutdown>..I know.

The computer is a Dell XPS with XP Pro.

Now, when I start up, the black screen says ...(no grinding noise or anything..everything looks normal)

"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt.
C:\windows\systems32\config\system
You can attempt to repairt this file by starting windows setup using the oringinal setup CD-ROM.
Select "r" at the first screen to start repair"

Am I screw? If need be, I rather make this hard drive to become a slave and copy the files to another hard drive at another computer rather than try to repair windows and lose all the files.

TIA.

 

[Skitzer]

Boot Windows using recovery CD, choose the "r" option for recovery,
go to the command mode and then run chkdsk C:/R
(see also http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 ).
It should fix errors (probably bad sectors) and you should be able to restart windows as usual.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Svnla
Am I screw? If need be, I rather make this hard drive to become a slave and copy the files to another hard drive at another computer rather than try to repair windows and lose all the files.

Yes, the safest strategy is to have backups. Next best is to copy your data to another PC before attempting any repairs.

I'd:
1) Copy important files elsewhere. Don't forget your email databases and Internet "Favorities" and files on your desktop and "My Documents".
2) Test the hard drive by booting with the disk maker's diagnostics utility.
3) If the disk tests OK, I'd try a "Repair Installation" of XP. It's best to use an Install CD that's been upgraded (slipstreamed) to at least XP SP1. After doing a Repair Install, you'll need to update to the latest Service Pack and Windows Updates.
4) Assuming you are using a Dell XP Install CD, no re-activation will be required.

 

[Nothinman]

That file is the system registry hive, if it really is corrupt you'll end up having to reinstall everthing from scratch anyway so it's probably best to just backup all of your data and reload the machine.

 

[RebateMonger]

Nothingman is correct. That's one of the Registry files. If it's corrupt, then after a drawn-out Registry replacement, the best you will do is allow your PC to boot. You don't need to boot your PC to read the hard drive from another PC and copy off your data files.

Here's an MS article that explains the error and possible causes and possible fixes.

Miccrosoft: How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents XP from starting.

Note the warning in that last article, because it almost certainly applies to you:

"Warning
Do not use the procedure that is described in this article if your computer has an OEM-installed operating system. The system hive on OEM installations creates passwords and user accounts that did not exist previously. If you use the procedure that is described in this article, you may not be able to log back into the recovery console to restore the original registry hives."

 

[Svnla]

I put an OEM XP CD and use the "r" option, it then ran the checkdsk option for a while and now my pc is back to normal <whew>... Thanks to all replied. Appreciated it.