It'd be nice to know if you can boot to windows on this machine Anthony.
Here's some context because some of the suggestions assume familiarity with
these moves you may not have.
System File Checker
So that you won't be confused if you haven't used any of these things: sfc
/scannow is to run system file checker. Windows File Protection replaces
corrupt dlls from a folder called dllcache. You could probablyrun it in
safe mode with a command prompt if you can't boot, and in the run box or at
the dos prompt if you can, but I'm not sure of its connection to this error.
It won't hurt you, and you need to put in the XP CD most probably-it'll ask.
You may have to keep hitting "retry" to make the progress bar run, and you
won't see anything saying you ran it unless you put "eventvwr.msc" in the
run box and look for an entry that says Windows File Protection ran
successfully.
Description of the Windows File Protection Feature
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...ticles/Q222/1/93.ASP&NoWebContent=1#appliesto
Windows File Protection on XP
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...protection_on_windows_2000_and_windows_xp.asp
I'd go through my steps before trying Last Known Good and then the Recovery
Console. If you use the F8 key, one of the options is Last Known Good
configuration. It returns to a snap shot of your system when you last
booted, and may help but it often doesn't work. The XP Resource Kit
recommends it as a first try if you can't boot from the Advanced Options
menu the F8 key reaches, but unfortunately it doesn't work and it is a
snapshot of when you last booted, and it has the disadvantage that can be a
good while ago.
Recovery Console
*I'd try the order of my steps before going to the Recovery Console.*
Here's an explanation of it from Kelly's site to context it for you. It has
13 regular dos commands and is a command interface with its own commands to
fix things in your OS when you can't reach windows:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm
You'll need to make sure the boot order in your bios is set to boot from the
XP CD to get into the recovery console. Then after getting in, you'd have
to use the appropriate command. The 3 commands you can run most likely to
help you would be
Chkdsk
Fixboot
Fix MBR
The Recovery Console is powerful but I'd use it as a last resort because
it's results can be a bit of a crap shoot. Many "can't boot" problems
aren't fixed by the Recovery Console. The list of commands possible is in
Kelly's article and can always be shown by typing in "help" without the
quotes. When it says which Windows system do you want to log onto, type the
answer "1" for your Windows os if that's the first operating system and
you're not dual booting.
How To Install and Use the Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...gb/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-gb;307654&ln=en-gb
Screen Shots of the Recovery Console
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm
Use the Recovery Console PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1206397,00.asp
Let us know how you make out.
Chad Harris
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