Uh don't think the machine model matters that much for software error codes... for what it's worth, it's an Inspiron 6000. It passes the relevant hardware tests and I can load up my knoppix dvd without a problem.

I'm trying to avoid a reinstall if at all possible ... repair gives me the console, and as I said, I haven't a clue what to do with it.

As for googling ... there are a whole lot of suggested causes and solutions for stop c000021a, but I've not managed to come across any for the error return c0000139 (we think that's what I said heh)

I was hoping for something to narrow it down... I'm suspecting either a corrupted registry or some other corrupted file through the crash, but I'm don't even know how to actually test for that.

The KB article you linked is for failure of session manager, not failure of logon process.

If you want to do a repair/reinstall of XP to preserve your personal files and software, boot from XP CD. Press ENTER at first screen. Do NOT press R at first screen. XP user license should appear. Accept the license and press R at next screen for Repair/Reinstall.

When the repair is done, get firewall and antiviral software running. Then go directly to MS update site and install all XP updates and hotfixes. If you surf or read email before installing the updates, you'll likely get infected with all sorts of malware.

Note: The CD must contain the same version of XP that's on the hard drive. If the CD contains XP, but you updated the hard drive to SP2, the repair isn't not going to work, but there are ways around it.

Ron

> If you want to do a repair/reinstall of XP to preserve your personal files and software, boot from XP CD. Press ENTER at first screen. Do NOT press R at first screen. XP user license should appear. Accept the license and press R at next screen for Repair/Reinstall.

Ah, R at the first screen is for Recovery console and R after saying you want to install is a repair? Natty, thanks :)

> When the repair is done, get firewall and antiviral software running. Then go directly to MS update site and install all XP updates and hotfixes. If you surf or read email before installing the updates, you'll likely get infected with all sorts of malware.

Heh, not much need to worry ... My home network consists mainly of gentoo boxen ... including the firewall/router. I think I may be behind in the updates, but I might just put a fresh install on at some point soon... it's due a reinstall anyway.

> Note: The CD must contain the same version of XP that's on the hard drive. If the CD contains XP, but you updated the hard drive to SP2, the repair isn't not going to work, but there are ways around it.

Ouch, didn't know that... any easy way to work out which service pack in on there from nix?

Browse the CD. If it's SP2, there'll probably be files or folders with SP2 in their name.

It's more how to check what pack is on the install.

If the XP CD that came with the PC is SP2, then that's what's on the hard drive.

If you try to repair SP2 on the hard drive with an SP1 or XP CD, you should get error message saying version on hard drive is newer than what's on the CD. That's when you need to make a slip-streamed CD with SP2 in order to do a repair/reinstall.

Doesn't matter what's on hard drive if you reformat and do a clean reinstall.

Ron

Sadly the laptop didn't come with install CDs ... that does tell me what I need to know though ... if the laptop does have SP2 the install media I have won't work (assumably neither would the licence key that came with laptop).

Not to worry, if it has SP2 I'll find a work around til I can burn off the reimaging cd on the hard drive (bleh oem no-cd policy)

Thanks for the help

Depending on when you got your PC, if you didn't get all the CDs, you still may be ale to get them from Dell. Read this:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&thread.id=214841

BCB17 You should have started a new thread because your problem isn't related to this one. If you do PC Restore, you'll lose all your personal files. Instead, do a System Restore to last date available before the problem started:
Click start>help&support
Click "Undo changes..."
Follow prompts. Personal files will be ok, but you'll have to reinstall all XP updates and other software originally installed after the date used for the restore.

Ron