Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt : \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.
Little history about the pc. It's a Dell over 7 years and is just being used by my son for his homework. It came with Windows 98 but my now-ex husband apparently had someone install Windows XP (not even sure what version) on it (I guess that makes it an illegal copy.) That beind said I don't even have a disk to even get to the RC. I don't want to fix the pc with the current OS on it as I don't want to be someone using pirated software, I want to make it right so I have been looking at buying a new OS for it.
Is it possible to install a new genuine OS to override the corrupt one or do I need to address this problem first? I've done a lot of research about this problem but I'm not very technically 'smart'. Would it be wise to maybe take the HD in to a repair shop and see what they can do?