The  problem began at boot up: hal.dll missing or corrupt:  ran chkdsh /r  ( "the volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable errors") and tried Bootcfg /rebuild (Error: failed to successfully scan dsks...")

 

I ran the Dell DST: Test results "FAIL Error code 1000-0142" plus lots of beeping!

Msg UNit 4 Drive Self Test Failed Status Byte = 79

 

The subsequesnt test facility gave:

 

Error Code 0F00: 0244:Msg Block 139455 Unrecoverable data error...  Which went on with loads more Msg Blocks 6676147 etc 

 

So I guess the Hard Drive has had it.

 

My question really is how do I get Windows XP installed on a replacement hard drive:  I understand that Dell only ships a compressed(?) copy on the backup CDs that came with the laptop and the Symantic recovery option is on the duff hard drive.....

 

Many thanks

 

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