Can I repair an Error in XP Media Center with Windows XP Professional or Home Edition

Actually you could try ERD commander 2007, I usual use this to solve my customer boot up problem. About 10 minutes then problem could solve.
please download from http://www.area51warez.info/2007/09/21/winternals-erd-commander-2007.html

no u cant

go into recovery console and replace the missing file

http://antivirus.about.com/od/windowsbasics/ht/windowsrecovery.htm

I would remove the drive and hook it up in another operational PC. Save all the data you can or need to. Then format and reinstall Windows with a CD for which you have a matching Installer. The Windows XP Media Center Edition is not the same as Home or Pro, and the key will not be valid.

If you do attempt to install Windows with a different CD and get stuck at the Key Entry screen, your data could be toast due to the Setup process copying files to the hard drive in preparation to install Windows.

As it seems, there is only one hive of the registry (the SYSTEM hive) gone corrupt.

If pressing F8 on windows bootup and selecting "Last known good configuration" does not work, you will have to replace the  SYSTEM hive with one of its backup copies made during installation. You could do this via the Recovery Console; this KB article gives you step-by-step instructions:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us

(Remember that you will most likely only have to replace the SYSTEM hive, not the other four)

If the Recovery Console doesn't work for you, and you have access to another XP machine, make yourself a UBCD4Win boot CD and use its file management tools to replace the corrupted hive:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm

Good luck.

yes you can, but this is a more easy way :
windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:  \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An easier way is to boot from a Bart PE CD (or UBCD4Win CD) and use its file manager for manipulating files. Here  the procedure :
1. rename c:\windows\system32\config\SYSTEM to c:\windows\system32\config\SYSTEM.bak
2. Navigate to the System Volume Information folder.
it contains some restore {GUID} folders such as "_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}".
The restore points are in  folders starting with "RPx under this folder.
3. In such a folder, locate a Snapshot subfolder. This is an example of a folder path to the Snapshot folder:  C:\System Volume Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}\RP1\Snapshot
4. From the Snapshot folder, copy the following file to the c:\windows\system32\config folder
 _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM
5. Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to SYSTEM
6. Exit Bart PE, reboot and test

Use a fairly recent restore point from at least a day or two prior to problem occurring .

** you can add the other hives also with this procedure
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/             BARTPE
http://www.ubcd4win.com/                  UBCD4WIN

I downloaded BartPE and went to the File Management Utility.  It would not show the C: drive.  There was a "B:" drive wich was the RAM drive and the "X" drive which showed the Bart PE folders.   How can I get to the Windows files to delete and eventually re-install the new System folder?

ok - then try this one :
http://searchwincomputing.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid68_gci1167895,00.html  

New issue that came up when I was put the Windows XP Home CD in to replace the "System" folder.  When I hit "R" for recovery console it says no hard drive found.  When I run the UBCD diagnostics, under Seagate, it locks up on the license page.  When I try to install Windows XP Home via the CD it says no hard drive found.  WHen I put a new hard drive in the computer and try to load windows XP home, it says no hard drive found.   I took out the Ram and cleaned and reseatred it.  WHy does it not see the hard drives via the XP CD, and the UBCD freezes.  When I put this hardd rive in an external drive case and connected to another computer and ran diagnostics, it passed, and I was able to copy files to the other computer.  It cannot be the Sata cable because it loads the boot until System folder is called for?   Could a stick of Ram be bad?  Any ideas?

is it a sata drive?  then you need the drivers

They are sata drives, both the old and new ones.   So for the one with issues, I need drivers?

u hd is probaly only its way out, thats probaly the underlining reason for the missing or corrupted file. you need to check your hd, using the hd manufactors diagnostic utility

cbmm I have already run diagnostics and the drive passed.  

Nobus, my question is when I let the computer try to boot it sees the hard drive and the error message comes up for the \Windows\System32\Config\System folder.  SO it sees the hard drive for that.  Why is not seeing itr when I try to run the Bart PE or the Wiondows XP for repair?

By the way, the owner said this all started during a lighting storm and they lost power, then all this started happening.