Also, I just tried to start the system in safe mode by tapping the F8 key and it will provide the options ( I chose safe mode) and it asked me which OS (I chose XP Home) and it will start displaying all of the files that are loading until it gets to what I assume is the ntdll.dll file and then it won't let me go any further.

Perhaps if you posted the full and exact text of the error message, we could help you recover without having to reinstall.  Also, you could try running System Restore from Safe Mode if you can get into Safe Mode (tap the F8 key several times before Windows attempts to load).

Steve

Steve,

Thanks.  The card mentions both the system restore and the PC restore.  After reading the document you linked I'd rather try re-installing the OS so as not to lose any data.  I don't have much but I can't remember the last time I backed up my computer.  Maybe a month or so ago.

Is there any way to run the system restore without the computer booting up?  I see the PC restore can be prior to starting up but it doesn't appear that system restore can be run.

 

Just got off the phone with Dell support.  They wanted to charge me $100 to troubleshoot my problem.  I asked the support person to just send me a new boot disk and she said I'd have to contact Customer support, which of course is closed now.

From everything I've read you need to re-install XP, but of course they don't give you the disks.  Now I need to find someone with the disks or figure out how to make a bootable disk from my wife's computer.

any suggestions?

The error message was in my first message but here it is again:

C:0000221 unknown hard error

\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll

Its on a blue screen.

The computer will advance to the screen where it provides options to boot in safe mode, safe mode with network etc.  No matter which one I choose it always hangs at the same place and I get the above message.

The computer I'm using right now also has XP Home on it - its a sony vaio computer.  Is there any way I can use it to make a disk that I could use to put in the Dell?  Then I could copy the ntdll.dll file from here and re-install it on my machine.  Would that work?

Everyone should have a Windows XP reinstallation CD.   You may still be able to get one by calling Dell Tech Support.  Otherwise, if your read the card that came with your laptop carefully, it probably does not refer to "System" Restore, but more likely PC-Restore.  See the following:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=CA293A35FDB811DA9C560FC17473698F&docid=DC493DC313321A9BE030A68F27281E82

Steve

See the following post for information on how to contact Dell to get the CD:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_mediaexp&message.id=2495

Steve

You still haven't posted the full and exact text of the error message.  I think you will find that it has a "Stop:" in front of the C0000221 and no ":" between the C and first 0.  Spelling is extremeley important with computers.  See if the following Mircorosft article regarding the correctly spelled error message will help you solve the problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314474

It looks like you could copy the ntdll.dll file from the other computer, but you would have to be able to boot to the recovery console from a Windows XP CD and use DOS-like commands or be able to boot into Safe Mode - command prompt and use DOS-like commands to copy the file into the correct folder.   The file resides in the folder C:\Windows\System32.

Steve

Steve,

Sorry you are right.  It's late and I'm tired and frustrated. 

The full message is Stop:

c000021 Unknown Hard Error

\Systemroot\System32\ntdll.dll.

 

I had seen and read that article.  I guess it boils down to having to get a bootable disk so that the Dell will allow me to get to the DOS prompt in order to copy the file I need.

Is there an easy way to make a bootable disk from the computer I'm working on?  Keep in mind I'm an accountant not a computer tech and my knowledge of computers is probably a 2 out of 10.

Steve,

Thanks again.  Unfortunately I don't have an XP disk.  But I think I know someone who does.  If that doesn't work I'll call Dell Tech Support and be extra nice.