I have a three (3) year old Dell that already had Windows XP loaded.
Received the following error message:

Windows XP could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM error.

Went to find help and found http://support.microsoft.com/?id=307545

Used the XP disk that came with my Dell. Changed the boot sequence and
pressed R at the recovery console. Prompted for admin password, don't have
one, so just pressed enter. C:\Windows is now the prompt.
Followed these instructions:

md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system.bak c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default

When it rebooted, it went to the Windows startup and indicated that there
were errors the last time I tried to shutdown the computer. I chose - Last
Known Configuration.

The computer went to Windows and then a light blue screen appeared and the
Checking File on C:
File System is NTFS
Volume is dirty

CHKDSK is verifying files (Stage 1 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (Stage 2 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (Stage 3 of 3)
CHKDSK is verifying USN journal

Then reboot and loop back into this same chkdsk.
After several loops, I interrupted it and pressed F8 - clicked on Safe Mode.
While starting up in Safe Mode, an error box appeared that stated
While trying to update a password, there was a problem as current value is
not correct.
Loop back to CHKDSK.

Now when I try and use the Recovery console, it asks for the administrator
password. Prior, I have just pressed enter and it accepted it. Now it won't.
How do I find out the password?

Went back to boot disk, and selected Windows Setup instead of Recovery
Console. It indicated that it found a previous installation of Windows.
Previous to this, it only presented the three (3) partitions. I was now
presented with the option to install Windows or Repair Windows. I chose
Repair. After it copied the new files and rebooted, I received an error that
indicated that While attempting to use the password, the current value is not
correct.

I am so close to resolving this, but apparently a new administrator password
has been generated which is not allowing the "Repaired" version of Windows to
start. Please help me resolve this as I have been attempting all sorts of
solutions since Friday.

If I am forced to reinstall Windows XP over itself on the C:\ drive, what
will I lose? We have four (4) logons, will they be affected? My Documents,
will it be affected? Other programs? etc.

Thanks in advance.