Help me fix corrupt WindowsXP

[Spydc]

The stupid power when out in my apartment while my brother was using the computer. Now when we start it, it says "Windows cannot start because the following file is missing or corrupt
\windows\system32\config\system"

Now i tried to do a repair install of windows, but it doesn't seem to give me the option..like it doesn't detect windows it just asks me to delete the partition or install windows on top of it" I've done repair installations before and this never happened. My other option is the recovery console but i don't know to do. I ran chkdsk and it found and repaired some errors, but don't know what else. I don't really care about the current windows install/settings itself. I'm more concerned about all the documents and files I have in "my documents" folder. If i do an installation on top of the windows, will it still be there? I am using NTFS. This sucks!!!

 

[SemperFi]

Put the xp cd in the drive and boot off of it just like you are going to install windows. If you have drivers IE raid press f6 to install those drivers. I don't remember the exact screen prompts but one of the first prompts it will ask to install windows, repair a installation. Select repair and you should get 3 options if I remember correctly. One is recovery console which is very much like a dos prompt. The other 2 are to repair with and without recovery disk use the recovery disk if you made one.

If this doesn't help post more of your system specs.

Semper Fi

 

[Bglad]

Computers fail now and again. You should have some procedure in place for backing up your data if it is important.

With that said, if you install XP over itself all your files should still be there. However, if you have any way to backup that drive first, I would sure try to do it.

 

[bruincal]

i hope you didn't choose to encrypt your files...
cause i did that .. and my winxp died hard .... nothign worked, .. not recovery console, restore mode, a reinstall on top ...

the only thing that worked was an install in another directory ...
however, since the files were encrypted and i couldn't log onto the account, then all my files were basically lost ...