ntvdm.exe - Header checksum does not match the computed checksum.

My boss gave me this Dell Latitude laptop to fix.  It's a new job, so I want to be a superstar.  Keep getting this error message when I try to boot up the Win XP OS, saying "STOP: C0000221 {Bad Image Checksum}" and the rest of the message is in my header.  From what I've read online so far, this ntvdm.exe can either be harmless or not so harmless.  My boss sent this laptop out with some dingaling agent that used to work for her, and the woman brought it back useless.  I don't know what the heck she did to it, since she no longer works for the agency.  Can't boot it with a Win XP CD...  Nothing in the bios seems to make any difference.  It just hangs there with a miniature version of the blue screen of death and then I have to turn it off with the power button.

 

Could anyone make any suggestions, please?  Should I tell her to take it to a pro?  Or send the HD back to Dell and swap it for a non-corrupted one?

 

Thanks much!