Well, i tried booting with the last known good configuration (accessed by tapping F8 during bootup) but no success.
Also tried the chkdsk /r from Recovery Console, same result

Then i was about to try the option given of using system restore files to replace current, corrupt ones. That was when i realised i could do it via my Ubuntu installation, as i dual-boot and could access (read and write) to my windows NTFS partition. For me this was a neater option than mucking around with the command line and recovery console.

Note that you can also boot from an ubuntu live CD and perform the same operations as i did, provided your windows partition is not NTFS. If it is, and ubuntu is not installed, you can not proceed. However if it s FAT32, then you are in luck.

So here is what i did:

1. Got my ubuntu feisty 7.04 to have write access to ntfs partitions by following this post: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MountingWindowsPartitions/Th...artyNTFS3G

Well, i tried booting with the last known good configuration (accessed by tapping F8 during bootup) but no success.
Also tried the chkdsk /r from Recovery Console, same result

Then i was about to try the option given of using system restore files to replace current, corrupt ones. That was when i realised i could do it via my Ubuntu installation, as i dual-boot and could access (read and write) to my windows NTFS partition. For me this was a neater option than mucking around with the command line and recovery console.

Note that you can also boot from an ubuntu live CD and perform the same operations as i did, provided your windows partition is not NTFS. If it is, and ubuntu is not installed, you can not proceed. However if it s FAT32, then you are in luck.

So here is what i did:

1. Got my ubuntu feisty 7.04 to have write access to ntfs partitions by following this post: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MountingWindowsPartitions/Th...artyNTFS3G

2. Opened up C:/WINDOWS/SYSTEM32 and renamed the SYSTEM file to SYSTEM.bak

3. Then i accessed my windows partition and went straight to C:\System Volume Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}\RP141\Snapshot
(Note: RP141 is the second to highest numbered folder, meaning the second most recent system recovery backup folder).


4. Copied the _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM file to C:/WINDOWS/SYSTEM32 and renamed it to SYSTEM

5. Rebooted, and my XP was back to life

Its always good to have a backup OS, and my Ubuntu has proven it once again!!!

I have a similar problem, I think my computer suffered a corrupt registry and power surge (damaging some sort of hardware) in the same power outage. Basically, if I try to boot up, WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM s missing or damaged, when I try to boot to recovery console or safe mode or anything, I get BAD_POOL_CALLER. My computer is unbearably slow when scrolling down webpages or moving windows. I'm writing this from a partition on my C drive (after the power outage, windows setup for some reason changed my backup drive from E to C and my boot drive from C to D ). All my files are okay, I got some 2pac bumpin now, but theres something else wrong I can't figure out. If I try to access event logs from my C (now D) drive, they are corrupted. A lot of the files (programs or whatever) on my D drive are corrupt, or not able to run (missing whatever.DLL). This Windows would be fine if it wasn't totally loopy. Windows Update will not install anything, then there is the beforementioned scrolling/moving windows problem. My memory is always free, so I think it may be my processor, unfortunately theres no way to tell. If anyone could calm me down, talk me through trying to diagnose what the heck is wrong, that'd be great.
Cheers,
-Luke

I just had this problem. I booted from the cd and selected r for repair. I ran the command chkdsk and was told the volume appeared fine, to run chkdsk anyway to use /p.

So I ran (chkdsk /p) and it worked!! Make sure you space between the k and the /

John

I see its been 3 weeks since a post to this thread but this may be able to help if someone else comes to this and needs help. You need to boot to the command prompt. Normally at this point you will need to do this from a windows XP CD since normally your system will not boot to anything on the hard drive if your getting the message that something in your system32 folder is missing or corrupt
.
Once you have gotten to the command prompt you need to run chkdsk /p or you can run chkdsk /r. If you use chkdsk with the /r chkdsk will also look for bad sectors and try to recover data from any bad sectors it finds. It will also automatically run chkdsk /p along with the /r but chkdsk /p only runs /p.
It will take a while if you use the /r method (like a couple of hours or so). After its done scanning then run fixboot.
When your done with that type exit and hit enter. Your computer should reboot. When it starts to reboot you need to hit the F8 key to get into the windows startup menu. Choose last known good configuration and hit enter. Your computer should start up correctly now.

If that doesnt work you'll need to fix your win32 files by using the command prompt and your system restore points.
Heres a page that tells how to do it all including getting to the command prompt if you dont know how.
http://icompute.info/System_restore_from_xp_cd.htm

Hope this helps. The instructions there helped me on several occasions.

hi 2 all

I have a similar problem
in the blackscreen ( select ' r ' at firest screen to start repair )

the problem is: i cant use the keyboard !!!

i try with the usb keyboard or the usual one nothing happen !!

i try f8 key or delete key in first screen nothing happen !!!

the keyboard dosnot work

any help plz .

** I appreciate if u till me what the reason of this problem .

thx

Since you cant use the keyboard with the xp disk, Im going to guess that your computer may have a chipset not recognized by the command prompt protion of XP. Hard to believe but it can happen. Hopefully you have another computer with a burner. If so try these articles:

http://www.icompute.info/restore_with_B_PE_disk.htm

http://icompute.info/repair_0x7b.htm

I've used both and they work well. Both will put you into a live version of Windows that should support your system.

Theres a new page on the icompute website that tells how to use the Ultimate boot cd for windows to do a system restore. It may work if the other things didnt.

http://www.icompute.info/repair_windowssystem32config.htm

I have a laptop computer, model Ever ex Step Note N series. I am having the same problem with this system error popping up. I have tried many of the things I know and those listed on this site. many will not work at all. when I hit " r " the computer restarts. I have gone in the operating Bios to change the order of bootable devices and still it will not load the XP CD. I am at my witz end of where to turn. Any suggestions. thanks