Windows XP Missing file issue

You must boot to the windows cd  and run Repair to reinstall the missing files. You can't fix it from within Windows.

Insert disc power down and press F12 at the dell BIOs Screen:

Follow the option for repair.

Note I would recommend doing a clean install if that does not work, this will delete all data on you laptop however. A clean install may also be useful if you have other problems, such as computer running slower after the repair:

Back up data on a flash drive or external harddrive. May need to purchase an IDE/SATA to USB HDD Caddy and copy the files to another computer.

Must do a clean install from BIOs though, insert disc press F12 at the dell BIOs Screen:

Need to select partition C: install, leave the rest all alone then do a full format. 

Then just follow the set-up it will ask you afew questions such as regional settings, keyboard settings and your name.

Next you will need to configure your drivers and updates, download the following and save them on a usb flash stick external harddrive dvd or cd. External harddrive or flashstick will be better.

1. Download xp service pack 3:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en

Download the following drivers from here:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_6000&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

2. Dell System Notebook Software Under System Utilities

3. The Chipset drivers

4. Then the Intel video or ATI video driver

5. Then the four Conexant Drivers Under Communications

6. Then the three Broadcom Drivers Under Network

7. Then depending what you have Dell Wireless Card or Intel PROSET Wireless under network

8. Then the Sigmatel Driver under Audio

9. Then Synaptics touchpad under Input Devices

10. Then the Dell Quickset under Applications

11. The two Diagnostic Drivers under Diagnostics (May not need to do as your diagnostics partition should be fine)

12. Go here: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/ and you can download a Black XP and XP Media Centre Edition Colours.

13. If using msn messenger download from here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Chat/Instant-Messaging/MSN-Messenger-8.shtml and download this http://www.apatch.org/ to customise the messenger and get rid of adverts.

14. Download and install windows media player 11 and the Klite Codec Pack:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1d224714-e238-4e45-8668-5166114010ca&DisplayLang=en

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/KLite-Codec-Pack-Download-16475.html

(Set associations for media player don't install classic media player)

15. Also recommend you download and install Adobe Reader 9 and PDF Creator here in order to read and print PDFs:

http://www.adobe.com/

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57796

16. Download Dell Media Experience under Applications:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INS_PNT_6000&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

(Note may have a media direct supplied with your system, pop that in and run it after all the drivers are installed)

(12. - 16.) Optional but Recommended. You will need to get your antivirus and other software installed aswell.

Also what happened to your RAM, it melt? Vista does seem to be alot harder on RAM, my inspiron 6400 heated up alot more when on Vista opposed to XP but I have got Vista to run faster then XP so theres no going back. Got a cooling pad to help.

Edited to run together better and for better clarity.