Can't even start recovery console

[EDB]

or repair install!

I need some help here people... I came home today, ready to boot up my comp and back up all my important files for an upgrade of mobo, graphics card and ram. Was really excited to get them in the mail today, as I'm sure you can relate to...
But when I started up the comp I got an error msg saying corrupt file at Windows/system32/config/system. This happened repeatedly, and after some searching I found my original xp disc and started up recovery console. I got to select which partition to log on to, (c:Windows) and then I got a blue screen error saying Bad_pool_caller. I can't seem to work around it. I can't repair install or even fresh install. I disconnected all USB devices, then all extaneous devices, but still no luck. I've checked all connections and seatings.
What is this and how can I get around it?

I'm think ing what I'll have to do is take out the c:drive, mount it as a slave in another pc, copy my important docs, etc, then wipe it clean and do fresh install... Which would suck. I guess I could try running HDD diagnostics, but I'm still not 100%.

I can't seem to get much help on this issue from the web as of yet, so if you have any tips, let me know please.

I have an Asus P4PE mobo, XP with SP2, with 2x512gb PC2700 ram, P4 3.06 processor, FX5900 vid card... couple HDD and CD drives.

[macko72]

Looks like that you dont have Full XP Setup disc but recovery disc witch is related to your original motherboard (BIOS).

[glc]

Slaving the drive into another computer to get your files is the best option. You have a corrupted Windows install, and a fresh start will be best.

[EDB]

macko72, no thats not true, its a full xp disk, not an oem restore disk.

glc, thanks for the confirmation... I guess that's what I'll be doing. Can you explain what might have caused this corruption, out of the blue?

[EDB]

I was able to get the c:drive to install on my 2000 pro comp, and have taken off the main documents I saved there. Before I wipe it clean, I was thinking of trying to manually copy over the corrupted files to the drive from my xppro cd...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/ is where I plan on starting... let me know what you think? Can I boot the XP recovery tool on a 2000 comp and do this, or should I try copying from a command line direct from the CD?

How likely is it that doing this will solve my problem? If I replace the noted file, will I still get bad_pool_caller errors? Will running this scheme from a 2000 computer cause any problems?

A fresh install of xp will give me peace of mind, but a lot of work reinstalling patches, updates, etc.

Ideas appreciated.

Oh yeah, looks like I need to update my sigs now...

[blue60007]

I think if you've got your files that need to be saved wiping clean and starting fresh would be the best approach. Trying to fix the current installation might break a number of patches anyways.