Missing or corrupted file...

Your registry has become corrupt.  If you can't boot to the last known good configuration (F8) at start, or in safe mode (same), you're looking at a Windows reinstall.

Purchase a 2.5" drive adapter cable, mount the drive in a desktop computer and copy your data over, and reinstall the drive into the notebook.  Boot the Windows XP CD and format and reinstall Windows - then put your data back.

 

Thanks for the help - I'll give it a try.

Unless you installed the operating system yourself, read the warning at the beginning of that article - it applies to Dell-supplied Windows installations from the factory.

BACK UP WHAT YOU CAN to a desktop BEFORE you try any further manipulations on the existing Windows installation.

 

I had the same problem (same message).  Dell said windows would have to be reinstalled and I would lose all data.  Before doing that, I took laptop to a local computer repair shop.  Tech there said it was my hard drive that was dead.  He tried to transfer the data onto three different computers with no luck.  Called Dell back and they sent me a new hard drive (which I am now using).  I called a data recovery company and after I told guy I had heard "clicking" and the rest of the story, he said it would probably be an "advanced" recovery - $600. to $850.  Are you saying that there is something I can do to retrieve the data?  Please explain in mickey mouse terms.  Many thanks.