Hi Roszchak,

While all of these are software errors, they could be a hint of an underlying hard drive problem. Let me suggest you run the Dell diagnostics and test your hard drive to rule out any bad sectors. To do this, you should boot to your Dell resource disc. Run both the fast and extended hard drive tests. If an error is indicated, then stop using the drive.

If the drive comes up clean, then I'd suggest you head over to the operating system forum for more help.

Hi

thanks for answering. I did run the diagnostic test from the resource cd (did only the fast one) and it didnt report any error, gonna try the extended

too. But im starting to think maybe i should do a new install of the windows xp, havent done it since i bought the computer nearly 5 years ago, and

i read that you dont have to lose the files if you just reinstall and not formated.

The registry is corrupted. :emotion-6:

After you do the extended hard drive tests, go to How to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry. Read the section  about "Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM"

.Ron

im gonna use the harddrive as an external drive. I have never done it before but is this the right thing to buy ?

http://www.cableworld.se/pc-kablar/sata-kabel/usb-2.0-till-sataide-adapter.asp?gclid=CP-y_5j2zaQCFQyGDgod40TR6A

also.. at the moment i only got a macbook working so will the harddrive work on the macbook?

 roszchak 

The USB 2.0 SATA/IDE adapter will work fine to attach a hard drive temporarily to a working computer, to recover the files and folders, but if you wish to use the hard drive as an external drive, it's better to use a powered, USB 2.0, SATA enclosure, similar to THIS

Bev.

sry meant this one sata 3.5

http://www.kjell.com/content/templates/shop_main_details.aspx?item=91721&path=97000000,119000000,149500000,151020000

thanks for the reply :) . Im gonna buy this one tomorrow

http://www.kjell.com/?item=91169&path=97000000,119000000,149500000,151020000

hope it will work on my mac.. ive heard diffrent answers on that.

 roszchak 

The 3.5" enclosure shown HERE will be fine.

Sorry, don't know if it will work a Mac.

Bev.