I'm getting that same error message, and Dell wants to charge me $59 even though I have used the computer a total of 3 times. My message says "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 setup using the original setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

 

The only two discs I received from Dell are an application disc and an operating system disc. I tried inserting each disc, but I get the same error message. I tried selecting 'r', but it always goes back to the error message.

The exact error message is:

"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 Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.

Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair. "

It's been suggested to upgrade my BIOS and upgrade my RAID SATA driver.  Can't do either because I keep getting error messages that HDD's cannot be found when I try to boot WinXP from the CD. 

Any ideas?  From reading various Forums it appears that this is not an isolated problem.

zman, if you are willing to re install your operating system again, here is how I fixed it. When I turned on the computer, the dell logo came up and I pressed F2 before it went away. That put me in the BIOS screen. I pressed alt P once to bring up the boot order screen. I hilighted the CD and pressed "U" to bring the CD to the top of the boot order. That way, when I powered up the system with my operating system CD inserted, it booted from the CD instead of the hard drive. Then, I reinstalled my operating system and fixed the error. However, now my screen resolution is wrong, and im not able to adjust it. So, its on to the next problem