Bad Image Checksum Error--Help??? Please???

Question

Hi all.  I am a newbie to this site and I am hoping that someone with computer smarts can help me.   I am currently using Windows XP on my Dimension desktop computer.   This morning, an error came up that says:   Stop:  C0000221 (Bad image checksum) The image NETAPI32.DLL is possibly corrupt.  The header checksum does not match the computer checksum.   What does this mean?   This error occured when I tried to boot up the system. The computer worked fine and shut down fine last evening.   What do I do now?  I cant get past this screen.    Can anyone help me please????  Thanks.

Xenova · Answer

Only if system restore fails, have a few attempst at diffrent restore points first. If that dosent work, then you might have to, but you might be able to rescue your My documents folder

JBCGordy · Answer

I have blank CD's.  I should copy my documents to CD's or disks before installing Windows if I have to?

Xenova · Answer

Start the machine, after the Dell logo dissapers, keep tapping F5, a menu SHOULD apear giving you a list of options, one of them will be safe mode, use the up and down arrow keys to highlight it and then hit return

Xenova · Answer

If you sucessfully boot to safe mode, it will probably want you to log in, make sure you select the Administrators accout. but not your own. If that works, log out, and try and log in using your account, still in safe mode. If all goes well, try restarting the machine and logging in normally, cause sometime if the computer is booted from safe mode, it can repare critical system files. If you still happen to have problems log in again with safe mode, and back into the Administrator accout, from the start menu,point to All programes > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.

JBCGordy · Answer

If I do all this and system restore doesnt help me any, then do you have any other suggestions?   I was reading other threads where they totally reinstalled Windows?  Do you think I may have to do this?   Thanks for all your help.  I truly do appreciate it.

JBCGordy · Answer

Do you mean that if I have to reinstall Windows if system restore fails, I will lose documents on my computer?

JBCGordy · Answer

I am soooo discouraged. Your help and all you have typed I will try.

I tried to have hubby boot up in safe mode and he is more clueless than me. He says he followed the F5 instruction.

Chose safe mode.

Then there was all this other stuff that came up and he doesnt know what to choose and neither do I. Unless I am in front of the computer I cant see what the options are and he cant tell me (he is deaf and cant speak clearly).

I just dont understand why this would happen. I will follow the instructions you gave me. I just have a funny feeling that I am going to lose my entire computer system because I cant figure this out.

I have Norton Antivirus. Would that stop viruses. The error does say DLL.

Xenova · Answer

Can you boot to safe mode?

Xenova · Answer

If you want to try and recover your My Documnets folder, try going into safe mode using the Administrators account and in My Computer you should See a document folder saying ' *your* Documents' If you can you might be able to copy them to another media like a DVD or external harddisk if you have one, or a set of CD's

JBCGordy · Answer

It occurs before while the operating system is booting up.  Windows doesnt even come up for me to log in.

JBCGordy · Answer

I dont know how.  I have had my computer for two years and never had to do this.   How do I boot in safe mode?

Xenova · Answer

If you reinstall Windows XP over your old installation yes, you will, but Windows XP set up if started from computer start up. meaning you boot into the set up, there is a repair feature, that MIGHT repair the problem and SHOULD keep all the documents and user accounts

Xenova · Answer

Can you boot  Windows XP on your machine? Does the error occour as the Operating System loads or before you go to log on? Message Edited by Xenova on 08-15-200609:07 AM

Xenova · Answer

However this could be a CMOS checksum error, im not really certain, but if the problem file is a .DLL (Dynamic Link Libary) file, the chances are that if you reinstall Windows you should have no more problems   But for this error to suddenly apper makes me supicious to the fact that it could be that the motherboard battery that losing power. Viruses can also affect CMOS settings, but I cant exactly say

JBCGordy · Answer

Ok. I am at work right now and am writing all this down. If I can access the safe mode, then what?

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Bad Image Checksum Error--Help??? Please???

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