xp prof startup trouble

[pkpradhan]

When I started windows xp prof(with sp1) it said "windows cannot start because the followilg file...\WINDOWS\SYSTEM3\CONFIG\SYSTEM ..FILE IS MISSING OR CORRUPT.Restart with your xp cd and press r at the first screen to repair the file.".What to do?I have win98 in c drive and xp prof in d drive installed.As I tried as above pressing r did not happen anything.It just stared copying files as if trying a new installation.I aborted.I have no trouble in starting win 98.BTW I canot start xp in safe mode/last known config..not in any method. Please help
NB:1.8 ghz,513ms ram m/c

[alib_i]

try this
restart comp
put in the winxp cd
when the first screen comes up ..
press r to go to Recovery Console
it will ask which windows partition to boot .. enter the winxp one
you may have to enter your administrator password
now type fixboot ..
see if this solves the prob