Windows XP PC not booting

I get piano keys at the bottom of the black screen for a minutes and then this error message:

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

It tells me to load the recovery CD and press 'r' to repair. Do I have to use the original recovery disk? If so I don't have it and it wouldn't be an up to date service pack anyway since this PC is from 2004.

Note: This might be a memory card issue. A little while ago I got a different hardware error on boot up and the fix required taking out a memory card. The PC worked fine for a few times and then I suddenly got this new error.

 

If the file is just corrupt you can run a chkdsk from recovery console.

You can use any XP disc since you just want to go into recovery console.
Enter recovery console "r to repair" select your Windows probably "1"
Enter your Administrator password. If no password, leave it blank and hit enter.
Run the command chkdsk c: /r
After it completes try booting normally.

You can download just the recovery console and burn the ISO to a blank CD as an image file if you don't have an XP disc. http://www.thecomputerparamedic.com/files/rc.iso

 

The problem is that I can't start the Recovery Console because I get an "Unmountable Boot Volume" blue screen. I can't get any CDs to work either.

 

There must be something wrong with my memory cards or the slots on the motherboard. I have 2x256mb that came with the PC and a 512mb I bought later. I have tried putting them in every different combination and I still get the blue screen.

 

You must not be booting from CD, that message is referring to your HD's filesystem.
Does F12 give you a boot menu where you can manually select CD? Sometimes the key to press for boot menu is listed on the initial splash screen.

 

Yea I've gone to BIOS and set the boot sequence to IDE CD-ROM but that doesn't work. I just get the usual startup.