Windows system32 config system error on Bootcamp partition

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I have a Macbook (upgraded memory and HD) running OS X 10.6.8. The other day, I went to get into my Windows partition and got the following message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows set up using the original setup CD-ROM. Select "r" at the first screen to repair.

I tried to press F8, to no avail.

Can someone lead me through how to do this step by step from beginning to end of repair? IE: "Power off. Insert original Windows set up CD-ROM. Power on computer," etc.

My default is to turn on with OS X so I was worried that if I did the above process, for example, it would screw up my Mac partition which is working fine. So I am not sure if I need to turn on computer, press option key to allow me to select which partition and THEN insert the Windows start up CD before I select the Windows partition? Or do something more like the above? The more specific you can be for the relatively computer illiterate, the better. Thank you!!
 
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To be honest, if you dont have a lot of data on that partition, delete it and start over.

Sometimes doing a recovery repair can work, usually it doesn't. Here at work, we just plug the drive up, get the data off and reimage from scratch.
 

chscag

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\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM

That's the Windows registry. If that's corrupt you're better off doing what member Deckyon suggested.
 
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I thought I'd at least give it a try to repair using my CD-ROM. Got to the repair console and tried to follow the directions to type:

md tmp (ENTER)
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

And it said, "The file could not be copied". Any ideas why and how to resolve?

What would happen if I "installed" Windows on the partition? I started the process and got as far as selecting the partition, but it said that the BOOTCAMP partition already had an operating system and do I want to continue to install. Wouldn't an install just wipe out the damaged Windows XP currently on the partition since it's the same thing?

If not, I will do as Deckyon suggests re: deleting partition and starting over. Question: Do I need to buy Windows 7 to do so? When I set up my original partition, I was using Bootcamp 3.0 (since I have Snow Leopard) and I installed Windows XP, service pack 2.

Thanks for your help!
 

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