BleepingComputer.com: Can't boot / "bad pool call"

So, I recently had problems with the virtumonde and smitfraud viruses, and kindly asked for help here at bleepingcomputer.com.

After I was helped and the viruses were removed, my computer was completely fine and back to normal. However, two hours later it suddenly crashed and restarted to the following screen:

"Windows XP 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 restarted the computer and loaded the recovery console. This appeared:

1: H:\MiniNT
2: C:\WINDOWS

I pressed 2 and hit enter. The screen turned blue and said "BAD_POOL_CALL". I have no idea what this means. I haven't done anything to my computer except eliminate the viruses as directed in the thread I posted (using ComboFix and little else). Could this be a RAM issue, or maybe something happen to the registry?

I'm sitting on a mountain of problems and I just want to get this computer fixed; it's driving me crazy! I'd appreciate any help. A quick note: I do not have a backup of my harddrive, so if there's anything way I can do so on an unbootable computer or do anything to fix this while avoiding data loss, that'd be great. I realize there's always a risk, just saying. Thank you!

My suggestion is to remove the HD, install it in a working computer [as a slave if it's IDE] , & rescue your personal folders/files by sending them from the HD to My Documents on the working computer.

Put the HD back in the computer [don't forget to set to Master if it's IDE] & do a clean install of XP.