noceire,

just to clarify things: you don't get into Windows, but you are not blocked always at the same screen? The various options (Windows could not start start normally - safe mode - last known good config and so on) are on a black screen. But then you report a Stop error code - which definitely would appear on a blue screen.

For the meaning of the Stop error codes and some suggestions to solve the related problems, look at this site: www.aumha.org/win5/bestop.htm.

24 is a NTFS FILE SYSTEM ERROR and I definitely would try to get your system working again for a backup before tackling the "start from CD" problem.

This is probably due to the fact that you have a very briefly appearing message in the process where it says "Press any key to boot from CD". This is easily overlooked, and therefore the system tries starting from hard drive as before. BUT: starting from your Windows CD would allow you to reinstall your operating system. Do you really want to do this? Are your important files on a different partition than the one Windows is installed on? Then, there is no harm doing it.  

If OS and data are on the same partition, reinstalling XP means loosing your data as well. That's when it's worth looking for other solutions first.

Lemmi

Thanks for your reply! Yeh the screen is black at first and contains the relevant options but if i restart the computer and press F8 before it enters this screen i am brought to a "Windows Advanced Options" screen. From here i can choose not to restart on system failure....this ultimately results in the blue screen appearing telling me that "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to our computer". The previously mentioned STOP error code is then shown on screen.

I have done a search on google to try locate a solution to this problem but all the results indicate that i should boot from cd in BIOS mode(which doesnt work properly) or boot from a boot disk which again i cannot do. I guess i shouldnt reinstall Windows XP Pro based on your views because the partition that i previously made is based on the same drive. Is there any way i can remove my hard drive and connect it to another computer to try recover my data??

Thanks so much for your help!

noceire,

If the partition with your data is on the same drive as the Windows partition, then it would not be affected by a reinstall of your operating system.

For example: I have one single drive with 3 partitions (C:, D: and E:). Windows and all programs are on C:. All my data, including "My documents" are on D: (E: is currently empty).

When I reinstall XP, everything on C: will be erased, as this partition will be reformatted during the install. But my data are on D: and still available after the fresh install. I have to reinstall my programs as well, but that's no problem as I have the CDs for them (or they are available with my data on D: if I downloaded them - because that's where I saved them).

That's to say that if you are sure that all important files are on a partition which is not C:, they should survive a reinstall.

Having said this, you should first check if your hard drive is okay. The Stop error code you mentioned indicates a problem with ntfs.sys, which allows reading files on your hard drive. This could be a corrupt file, but also a problem with your hard disk. Did you run the Dell Diagnostics? They should be available from the Advance Options Boot Screen (Boot to Utility Partition) or otherwise from the Dell Resource CD that came with your computer.

If the hard drive diagnostics don't detect any problems, then it might be worth trying the HD in a different computer. Make sure that the cable connections are the same (SATA? IDE? - you didn't give details about your system). That would allow you to backup your data before proceeding to a reinstall of Windows..

Right well i have an 80GB HDD partitioned into C and D.....C is for most things including programmes and documents: D is for all music and DVDs. Can you just clarify if i reinstall XP what will i loose(programmes/documents or Music/DVDs).

Silly as i am i havent run the diagnostic tool yet so ill give that a go and see what happens. In the mean time would you mind explaining SATA and IDE to me....i know what the stand for but thats about it. How do i know which cable ill need?? Sorry for the stupid questions! If nothing shows up from the diagnostic tool ill have to give the HDD option a go,trying it ou in my laptop(I hope thats possible?!) Il let you know what happens anyway this afternoon.

Again i owe you one for all your help....its great to finally talk to someone who can explain things in simple english yo me!

Lemmi,

I have run the diagnostic tool and all drives passed successfully. I assume now that this means my Windows XP Pro is corrupt in some way? Its probably best for me to reformat my hard drive now but the problem is getting my hard drive information onto another system to back it up first.....is there any way of connecting the HDD to a laptop?(I have a work laptop i could use with enough space to store the data) I have tried looking for connections to do this but i seem to be able to find every other conection apart from one linking a desktop tower HDD to a laptop.

Thanks again