repair file in windows

Recently my computer crashed and i have narrowed the culprit down to a certain file that is corrupted the file is C:/WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM I tried to use the repair console to replace the file using the copy command with no luck, it would appear this file itself cannot be found on the setup disk. i have tried to copy the file from one install into another again with no luck. i believe there to be a volume number in the file itself to match the partiton volume number to which it belongs, i really dont want to lose whats on that install since i have become used to the configuration etc, and i dont really want to be reinstalling all that i have on there.does anyone have any ideas of another way to correct this problem?
 
Unfortunately with the system file corrupted the install disc doesnt detect a windows install, it only detects the o/s that is working, and i wasnt trying to copy a system file off another computer, the system file i was trying to copy is from the same computer, just on a different partition. i dont know y the install disc wont detect the original install, i have to choose which install to boot when i start the computer, but only the most recent install works, i can re-install evrerything but i simply dont want to take all that time getting the programs setup to where they were before this happened. also i cant run sfc/scannow on a windows install that i cant log on to that i know of
 
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i managed to get back into my c drive with some but little loss......... the way i did it was log into the repair console from the install disk and hit repair instead of install... then i logged into the version of windows on the c drive, from there i tyoed CD \windows\system32\config to get into the config directory, once in there i renamed the old file with "ren system system.old" then i repired it by using "copy C:\windows\repair\system" once i rebooted most evrything was back in its place, less a few hardware drivers and such, still better than re-installing the whole works
 
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