I have run the WIndows repair facility with no errors and still won't boot

I think you will need an XP installation CD to fix this, so I hope you have one.

 

Configure your PC to boot from CD if it isn't already set up that way. (You may need to enter the BIOS to configure the PC to boot from the CD.)

 

Start your PC with the XP Setup CD in the drive. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD..." prompt, do so and let the CD-based boot process begin.

 

When the Recovery Console option is offered (Press R to start the Recovery Console), do so. You may be asked which Windows installation to enter, in which case type the number of the Windows installation you wish to work on (usually 1).

 

When prompted, enter the Administrator's password for that Windows installation. If you did not set a password just press ENTER

 

At the command prompt, type
fixmbr
Enter

Then
fixboot
Enter

I called Dell support yesterday and did almost as you say in your post. However I entered chkdsk /r and not fixmbr. Once done (there were no errors) I then ran fixboot.

 

This didn't work. I still get the error page.

I think you also need to run the command

fixmbr

 

Does fixmbr protect my hard drive ie. will my files be ok?

fixmbr only repairs the master boot record of the boot disk.  It should leave your files alone.

 

Having said that, there is never any guarantee that all will go to plan when you run any fix.  All I can say is that it normally does not do any damage.

 

You need to fix this error to be able to access your files at all.  Your only other option is to slave the drive in another machine, copy off your files and then try to fix the error.

I think I'll have to go for the latter option as my files are too important to be lost

OK then

 

I wish you good luck :smileyhappy: