SP2 Install Went Awry - Can't start Windows XP

After installing SP2, got black screen:
"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 using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the
first screen to start repair."
I did this and followed the instructions in
MicrosoftKnowledge Base Article 875355 (uses the "Recovery
Console"), but after Step 3, instead of starting Windows,
I get the same black screen with the above message. Tried
it twice, same result.
Also tried to follow Dell's instructions for doing a
repair installation (after booting on the CD), and the
setup screens do not appear as they say they should.
(Should get to one that offers a repair of the
installation vs. a whoile new installation; it doesn't
happen that way for me.)
I'm hoping I don't have to start from scratch and reformat
the hard drive.

Same thing happened to me. Is yours also a Dell computer?
Did you notice if scandisk ran and replaced and deleted
files?

Yes, it is a Dell, and they are not of much help. I don't
know if scandisk ran. How can I tell?
>-----Original Message-----
>Same thing happened to me. Is yours also a Dell computer?
>Did you notice if scandisk ran and replaced and deleted
>files?
>.
>