Trouble reading my HDD,

[t1no]

I turned on my computer and it says that i am missing a file in the windows/system32 folder "system" is name of file i think. Anyway i thought maybe my hdd gave up on me so i tried the hdd on my other computer, it worked just fine but i couldn't get into the C drive. I tried to repair with the windows CD, but it wouldn't let me because couldn't read my HDD. I don't want to clean my HDD and reinstall windows because there are some important files i need for work. Maybe my mobo is damaged?
Thanks,

[nn_step]

1)get a spare hard drive
2) Install windows on the Spare drive

[t1no]

1)get a spare hard drive
2) Install windows on the Spare drive
I don't have a spare hdd.

[nn_step]

then buy a really cheap one, kind of like this
http://www.etech4sale.com/Western_Digital_Western-Digital/WDE9100/partinfo-id-117024.html

[XSAlliN]

Your Mobo has nothing to do whit that error, if you can access it from the other computer, copy your important files from there to a friend's HDD and just format C:/ and go whit a clean instal.

You could use Ultimate Boot CD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html) or Hiren's Boot CD to access partition C:/.

PS.You have more the one partition right? - because you loose only C:/ when you instal win.