First I must THANK YOU for number #6. After dealing with this for two days I needed a laugh! Before I do the last option because I have done the first option several times, I just want to confirm that the last option will not wipe out Microsoft Word or Excel - right? Also thank you for getting back to me so quickly - you are OUTSTANDING :-)

Thanks

KC

The only thing chkdsk does is check the hard drive for bad sectors and file system errors. It will move data from bad sectors and lock the bad sectors so they can't be used again, and it fix file system errors.

chksdks will not affect any personal files or any installed software. There are some errors that chkdsk can't fix but it should give you a warning message if there are unfixable errors.

chkdsk can take a very long time, depending on the size of your hard drive and how much stuff is on it.. #6 was my way of saying "Be patient and leave it along until chkdsk finishes". :emotion-2:

Please continue to post all questions here, and not in PMs. - That way everyone benefits from your experience. Thanks.

Not sure I understand the question in your PM. When did you get a black screen with Windows logo? Did you boot from the Windows XP CD, press R at the Welcome screen and launch the Recovery Console?

Did you put one space between "chkdsk c:"  and "/ r"  (without the quotes)? eg:  chkdsk c:(space)/r

At this point, use the power button to turn it off, Then reboot from Dell Windows XP Reinstallation CD, open the Recovery Console (press R at welcome screen) and try running chkdsk again.

CHKDSK will NOT however FIX a PHYSICALLY DYING DRIVE.

are you getting access to your start menu ?

SOOOOOOO You think my drive is dying? Why? I thought it was just an application error - right?

NO, nothing is happening - no start menu Thanks

Ok I am sorry! To answer your questions:

Question: When did you get the black screen?

Answer: Right after the last action was taken I recieved a blue screen with installion of the installing of the XP. Not all was copy because it had error message that could not find the folder to copy.

Question: Did you boot from the Window CD, Press R at the Welcome screen...?

Answer: Yes

Question: Did you put one space between chkdsk C: and /r?

Answer: No I didn't

Thanks I will try again in the AM to sure I am there for whatever problems that might arrive! Sorry about the PM I went to talk to you about this and I didn't see a button and/or space to ask. Now I know :-(

One single little space can kill ya! :emotion-4:

We don't know if your hard drive is failing or not. The first thing is to try chkdsk to see if it can fix any potential Windows file system errors that may be causing the problems.

If chdks can't solve the problem then we can run the hard drive diagnostics.

Always best to take one thing at a time and keep it simple....

Thank you so much for all of your assistance in this matter! You was right on target. It worked and I was able to get in and the first thing I did was to copy all of my school work on my flash drive. Now for the hard part. I am so ashamed that it took me almost two days to write you. I ran into another problem. When I got into my computer I had to first re-enter Microsoft Word , excel etc. The Internet Explorer had gone back to the original state like from years ago. It was so strange seeing that and then it wouldn't connect to my Internet. So I call Verizon to see what was wrong and explain to the tech what was happening over the last couple of days etc. He told me no problem that there was an problem in my area. Well I still had my laptop so I didn't understand that but I waited another two hours with no internet activity on my desktop. So I call back to Verizon and explain all over the problems I was having. This tech told me to do a system restore. The first one went through no problem but when it booted back up it stated "No Changes". I told the tech and he said that I went back to far. So I thought about and I know on the 1st of October I was not having any problems that day so I restore again for the first of October. The tech said is there anything else I could do for you, and I said "Nope", not realizing I am screwed big time. My computer is now rebooting itself. It will do this two times before a blue screen will apear with the following error message:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

STOP: oxooooo24 (oxoo1902FE, oxF12D6054, oxF12D5D50, oxF834B06D)

NTFS.sys - address F834B06D base at F8339000, Date Stamp 41107eea

Beginning dump of physical memory

Physical memory dump compete

I swear I was so happy and I was all prepare to write you with the good news and to offer to buy you a virtual lunch and dinner for saving me from a big fat  [AMIN NOTE: Post Edited per TOU Violation] 

Thanks

KC

At least you got your school work off the drive!  Keep in mind that flash drives aren't permanent storage, so be sure to copy those files onto another PC and/or burn them onto a CD or DVD.

When you say "re-enter Microsoft Word, etc" do you mean you had to reinstall all that software?

Stop 0x0000024 is definitely not a good thing. The error means the file system is damaged so Windows either can't find files where it thinks they should be on the hard drive and/or the files are corrupted.

You can try running chkdsk /r again after booting from the CD. But that if doesn't help, it's sounding like your hard drive has failed and may have to be replaced. 

If you have to get a new hard drive and install WIndows and all your software, you can find a excellent Wiki for installing XP on Dell PCs that was written by one of the other forum volunteers here.

And after you install Windows, drivers and software on that new hard drive, you can put the old drive back in as a secondary drive in case there are still files you didn't copy onto your flash drive. No guarantees you'll be able to retrieve anything else from the old drive, but worth a try if you really need something that's on that disk.

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