DEll DimensionE520. File missing or corrupted

[Kyffin]

My Dell Dimension E 520 was working well until a couple of days ago.
Now when I try to start up I get the following message
File missing or corrupted
WINDOWS/SYSTEM/CONFIG/SYSTEM

A local engineer tells me its a motherboard problem, so "It's a bin job"
I find that hard to believe. I can run lots of diagnostics, system tree for example. All tests PASS

But I can't get the computer to reinstall XP from the CD. The system appears to load , then the above message appears on a " blue screen"

Engineer has checked the hard disc and memory, which he says are OK

ANY SUGGESTIONS

[Paul Komski]

I would attempt a repair installation (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm) but possibly no help if the you are getting a BSOD during a normal reinstallation attempt.

If the BSODs persist during an install then backup any data (say using Knoppix as per my sig) then wipe/zero the drive with its maker's diagnostics or with copywipe (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/copywipe.php), go into the BIOS and reset to failsafe defaults. Boot to the CD (F12 during startup) and try again. After that I would try a borrowed retail CD of the same version or try a hard drive installation (http://paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1711).

Are you sure its WINDOWS/SYSTEM and not WINDOWS/SYSTEM32 for which there is a MSKB article (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545).

If your dell has a recovery partition you should be able to attempt a factory restore by using CTRL + F11 during startup (http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/dellmbr.htm).