missing operating system

Kaboom.-
just got blown off?
I did the the update of SUPERAntiSpyware and did a full scan.=result = nothing found in normal mode.

Did a shut down rebooting in safe mode. shut down network (which did not matter as i was in safe mode without network connect)ion)
and re-did scan complete with SUPERAntiSpyware. nothing found clean sweep. That was gratifying.
Installed malwarebytes. and proceeded to shut-down to reboot into normal mode.
Intent was to run Malwarebytes,GMER,Hijackthis, and post logs of each.

Well, black screen with message"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 set-up using Original set-Up CD, select "R" at first screen to start repair."
As HP Pavillion, I did make a copy of the E:\drive to CD 1-2 but when inserted it wanted to set-up only so I cancelled.
I had a OEM CD win-XP PRO with SP2 and used that CD.
After loading got the C:\ prompt and typed CHKDSK back came message
"The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems".

I took out my 6 Floppy disk "boot disk" and started to load these. The result was that when I inserted disk #6 Computer started to read, but then....
Blue screen of death. I guess it found the same error as the CHKDSK and shut down.
(Did check out disk 6 on other computer and read with no error in explorer, folder/files)

Took out DLGDIAG disk as ran a Quick test on drive (5min+) No errors found. proceeded to run Full media scan (2.21.25 hrs) Error/status code :0000

With Bootmaster V5.0
I was able to get into the windows\windows\system32\config folder
and found
default 1,077,248 kb
sam 32,768 kb
security 262,144 kb
software 61,194,240 kb
system 11,161,600 kb
all dated 10-20-2009 03:36 pm

can't copy those to floppy for sure!

How can I get into DOS mod?
The files are there, O/S seems askew to me!
bootmaster F5 rebuilds MBR, F6 saves location, F2 sets it.
(I don't think it did)

result now get black screen with
"Missing operating system"
Rebooting with OEM CD gives me
Press any key to boot from CD..... Missing Operating system_
cursor hangs there
only Ctlr/Alt/ gets me out to reboot. catch the prompt to boot from CD:
with same results The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems.

sorry for the long post, but had to insert to keep uptodate

would appreciate input

resolved by using using cloned drive 6 months old.
Was able to read and save my documents folder and re install.
As well as only a few changes in new software.
Lesson learned. Do Cloning more often as a rotation.

Aside from True Image (Acronis) is there a more reliable cloning program WITH support?

True Image (Acronis) is generally consider the best...There are some free versions that will clone and do an ok job..But if you Acronis, I'd stick with it. The doing it more often is the hard part;)