Make sure your XP operating system reinstallation disk is in the drive. If you have 2 optical drives, make sure to use the top drive since that is the master drive.

Sorry about that; you mentioned Windows XP in the first sentence.

If you have Windows XP, you may have the Dell PC Restore feature.  Access this feature by starting, or restarting the computer, waiting until you see a blue stripe containg the Dell name at the top of the screen, and pressing CTRL and F11, releasing both keys simultaneously before seeing a message appear below the blue stripe about loading the descriptor for PBR-2.  You should get a menu having the choice of restoring your computer to factory delivered condition.  Follow the directions on the screen.  This action will replace everything in your C drive with the software and data that Dell delivered with the computer.

Hi - I have Windows XP Media Centre version, I tried the above but I dont get the restore option. I have though managed to work out how to change my boot sequence to cd-rom. I attempted a windows reinstall but got stuck when it asked me which partition to install it on.

1. First partition didnt have enough memory

2. Second partition already had a O/S installed and it recommended that i didnt install on this

Any suggestions welcome.

Rgds,

                  Satnam

Patrition 1 is you Dell Diags don't mess with that one. you may need if later

Patition 2 If you dont want any of the data that is stored, if NO then, delete partiion 2 then creat a new one.  select  pattion 2 the press Delete the press "L" to confirm.  Then say create a new  partitions.  then it will not report windows already being installed

Thank you. Ideally I dont want to lose any of my data, is there any way I can retain it. I believe there was a 3rd partition as well.

Partition 3 could be a recovery patition,  It hard tell via forums. 

1) if you don't have your files(Pic's, Musinc, ect) backed up you could try dual booting the XP by installing in a diffrent directory. then back up them up too external drive or CD/DVD. 

2) to that you could try selecting repair when your given the option in the setup.  this is a non-destructiv option, however I have not had any luck in using this method.  

3) move the HDD to a differet computer and copy files off that way.

4) Buy a Ext. HDD adapter so you can copy the files that way.

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=external+hard+drive+adapter&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=cVN9S5qeHNb_8Abys_zfBQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQrQQwAg