Missing System File

Windows XP tells me the System32/Config file is missing or corrupt so could not start. to attempt to repair it I am told to start Windows setup using the original setup CD-Rom, then select 'r' a the first screen.
This would be fine if I had such a disk.
Windows was preinstalled; I have a Restore disk but this of course puts the computer back to its factory state - a process I've been through before and it takes ages to reinstall all the programms etc.
Is there anyway I can fix the problem? I tried copying the file from another computer but it wouldn't let me.
Would getting hold of a secondhand CD-Rom work? Obviously I have my registered number.
Any help greatly appreciated.

 

Any Windows XP CD-ROM should work. For this specific problem, I would recommend running a repair installation rather then the recovery console (Which is what you were describing).

iirc OEM computers may be different though but I believe it will still work.

 

Here is a link to the Microsoft article on recovering from this error
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545
How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

 

Thanks for the input.
I had already read the Microsoft article which cannot be used without the disc. The problem of having an OEM system with no Windows CD still remains.
Also I would like to do a repair installation but thjis would seem impossible without the disc.
I do have access to a friend's cp also running Windows XP, another OEM sytem; is it possible to copy the necessary files to disc to kickstart my cp?

 

If you both have the same OEM system, then yes. I am unsure of the legality of it though.