Well I have checked my system for spyware/adware/malware/virus ..using 3 different programs and all are showing clean...tried the cd/xp scan and that showed ok, but still cannot get into that screen...

I have been trying to research this error msg but cannot find anything that deals w/specific problem..have any ideas where I could look?

Thank You for the suggestions though I appreciate the help

tbug

Good Evening,

Well I am still having this problem..I wrote Dell and actually received a reply in less than 24hrs...

This is their solution to the problem:

This may happen if desk.cpl file is corrupted.

To resolve the issue, perform the following steps:

1. Click on START -> My Computer-> Double Click On C Drive-> Right Click anywhere, click
on New and choose Folder. This will create a new folder. Name it" Desk "

2.  Insert your Windows XP installation disk into your CD drive or DVD drive.
* Click Start, click Run, type Msconfig, and then click OK.
* On the General tab, click Expand File.
* In the File to restore box, type Desk.cpl and then click Open.

4. In the Restore from box, type D:/I386/Desk.CP_ then click Open.

5. If the Save file in box is not already populated from step 4, type the path to which
you want the file to be restored. Or, to locate the destination folder you want to expand
the file into, click Browse To, and then click OK. 

6. Click Expand.

7. copy the desk.cp_ and expand.exe to \Desk folder.

8. Click on Start -> Run -> Type in cmd
* In the command prompt type in C:
* At c:\> type in ? CD DESK? (without the quotes).

9. Now type in the following command :-

expand.exe desk.cp_ c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DESK.CPL

Performing the above steps will resolve the issue for you. If the issue still persists,
we need to perform the Repair Reinstall of Windows XP.

Perform the steps given in the following web-link to do the Repair Reinstall of Windows
XP.

Note: Rename My Document before performing the steps,so that you will not loose any data.

============================================================

But I ran into a problem>When I did this: In the File to restore box, type Desk.cpl and then click Open....There was "open" option to select..only cancel or expand files.which when I clicked on expand files I got this message from System Confirguration.."One or more fields are empty>All fields must have values before expanding...

Any Ideas as to what I am suppose to do??

Thank You

tbug53