Problem with XP not booting, repair install not working

[Detour]

My apologies for another thread on this problem (I found many in the search funtction), however I've encountered a roadblock following intructions on how to solve the problem with:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM being corrupt.

I've followed some links and I keep getting stuck at the repair installation because I never get prompted to enter the admin password. It just goest straight to the c:/ prompt, however when I enter the commands I get a message saying access is denied. I never have a chance to enter the admin password.

I've also tried at the XP installation to hit enter, then F8 to accept lisencing agreement, and to select the drive and hit 'r', however 'r' is not an option listed on my computer and nothing happens when I press it.

I have a Dell Inspiron Laptop (3 years old), Windows XP Home Edition if that matters. Can anyone help me? I don't want to lose all my files.

[Detour]

I just noticed something different with my setup installation, in all the demonstrations online I found, once you choose to set up Windows XP in all the screen captures they show the choice being

C:WINDOWS "MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME"

Except that in mine I see three partitions as follows:

19078 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 atapi [MBR]

-: Partition 1 [FAT] 31MB
c: Parition 2 (Unkown) 19038 MB
Unpartitioned Space 8MP

I have no option to repair at this point, are these partitions supposed to be there? Can anyone help at all?