SO2315,

When you restart the computer with the XP Reinstallation CD in the CD-ROM drive the first thing you should see is a "Press any key to boot from CD." Do you receive that prompt? It appears only briefly and if you do no press a key at that time the system will attempt to boot to Windows.

Yes I get the prompt to hit any key, and then it checks the computer and I get the error message and it say's it will exit setup

Anybody have any ideas? My disc works, it's just that the file missing is stopping it. Is there a way I can just erase everything without the disk and start all over again?

SO2315,

If the reinstallation is balking because it is not finding a file removing everything probably won't accomplish anything, but if you'd like to give it a try boot with an emergency boot diskette from Windows 9X (you can download one from here), run FDISK (see this) then FORMAT the C:\ partition and try the installation again.

Does running the System File Checker not replace the file ?

From Start|Run, enter this command:

sfc /scannow (note space)

I found on the Microsoft board something pertaining to Intel Raid. Can I find the file I need somewhere and downlaod it?
Would doing an F Disk get my disk restored to a "factory new" blank formatted hard drive ready to have OS installed?

SO2315,

Yes, FDISK followed by FORMAT will leave you with a blank hard drive.

Denny,
When I put in the boot floppy I get an error that says " Non system disc or disk error replace and strike any key when ready" Will a 98 disc work on XP?

OK, I finally got it to read the disc and now I am in the fdisk program. The problem I now have is this: When I get to the Delete DOS Partition it says No Logical DOS to delete. HELP!!!!!

If you have any questions wait for Denny; in the mean time see what you can learn on your own.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=FA1011782