Can not boot XP or repair on laptop

[Guest]

First problem - XP would not shut down
Second problem - needed to go to DOS menu option to start up
Current problem - can not boot at all, stops halfway through Safe Mode,
stops all together on all other options.

What I tried: Downloaded set of 6 XP Home Edition boot disks and started
installation, but received following message:

"The following value in the .SIF file used by Setup is corrupt or missing:
Value 0 on the line in section [source disk files] with key "SPI.cab." Setup
can not continue. To quit setup, press F3."

Can someone help please!?

 

[Guest]

To follow on from my query below. I forgot to say when I first start I get
the option to start:

MS Windows XP Home Edition
MS windows XP Setup

If I choose setup I get the following message "Windows could not start
because the following file is missing or corrupt. <windows
root>\system32\hall.dll Please re-install a copy of teh above file"

But if I can not access anything, how can I install it? I tried a Nortons
disk that booted into DOS but at the a:> I typed c: and got "invalid drive
name". I