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Which Window? XPHome, XPPro, 2k, Me (God, not Me, please!)
It would vary. Also, since this is a Dell, you may be more SOL than normal because it may not have a Win?? install CD but a "recovery Disk" that only 'recovers your system to the factory install. That is, all your data and customisations gone.

If you do have an actual Win?? instal CD-ROM then you may be able to use it to recover your Windows (assuming that the hardware is still good). THe last poster suggested a HW failure but it is not necessarily so although more likely if your computer is more than three years old.

The symtoms you describe suggest that one or more boot files are corrupted and need to be replaced. This is simple enough if the HDD and IDE controller have not failed. It gets harder if the corruption was caused by a virus that still resides on your HDD. After re-activating Windows, the virus may re-de-activate Windows.

If you do get in, you will first have to delete all temp files and caches to help stop the cycle. You may also have to boot up in safe mode.

If this is a bit too technical, get your local guru to help you and pay her whatever she asks. She will be worth it. Or he. It doesn't matter. You are no more than 6 degrees of separation from one. even closer if you have a ten year old.
Posted by: The King's Servant   Posted on: 04/05/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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By and large, this is not a big deal  Real World | 04/05/05
Re: By and large, this is not a big deal  Mack DaNife | 04/05/05
Sorry, I should have been more clear  Real World | 04/05/05
turning away from eCommerce TRUE  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
That's a raw deal  Real World | 04/05/05
thanks  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Video problems?  lcates@... | 04/05/05
vacuum time  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
A Couple of Good User Forum Sites  t.e.sumner@... | 04/05/05
Get Your Data Back  brian.giordano | 04/05/05
Assuming it is not a virus.  lcates@... | 04/05/05
Childs is even older than mine is  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Which Window? XPHome, XPPro, 2k, Me (God, not Me, please!)  The King's Servant | 04/05/05
XPHome  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Ah, now we have limited the issue.  The King's Servant | 04/05/05
Thanks to all for your help  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Sugestions  Real World | 04/06/05
if your trying the bios...  jdahs@... | 04/05/05
F8 does nothing  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
just a suggestion  lapwizrus | 04/05/05
Vacuum  lcates@... | 04/05/05
Vacuum addnedum  Linux User 147560 | 04/05/05
Dead PC  flan4u | 04/05/05
Reboots?  Real World | 04/06/05
Call DELL Tech support  johns_z | 04/05/05
Dell hangs on boot  paule4@... | 04/06/05
Dell hangs on boot  johnrich | 04/11/05
put it back in the box  afterbrnr | 04/05/05
Don't put it back in the box  johnrich | 04/11/05
Not a software problem?  danag42@... | 04/06/05
Another suggestion: memory  feskridge@... | 04/06/05
Therin lies the problem...  BitTwiddler | 04/05/05
Without foreign ISP action, there's no solution.  sdgreen42 | 04/05/05
Small correction  douglen@... | 04/05/05
Correction agreed...  sdgreen42 | 04/05/05
Small correction  johnrich | 04/11/05
What about Comcast?  JMusto | 04/05/05
RE:What about Comcast?  flan4u | 04/05/05
Domestic zombies, asian, So American links  Hsbarney@... | 04/05/05
Browser flaw helps phishers  mikew_z | 04/05/05
Try this  phobos | 04/05/05
Use two browsers for security  Wagadonga | 04/05/05
Security of communications  stevem_001 | 04/05/05
What is with ASP?  JMusto | 04/05/05
Or,...  The King's Servant | 04/05/05
MS couldnt scan your system with high security  NotMSUser | 04/06/05
What is it with ASP?  johnrich | 04/11/05
Nothing to see here- VIRUS=MICROSOFT  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/05/05
HSBC deluged by viruses  ncawthray@... | 04/05/05
Phishing  ydnas | 04/05/05
viruses  kemcrest@... | 04/05/05
viruses? you mean phishing  johnrich | 04/11/05
Dell laptop will not boot  ardlur@... | 04/05/05
a virus is a WINDOWS problem  JV711 | 04/05/05
virus attack does not equal virus infection. the virus laden email that is  wessonjoe | 04/06/05
Who's really at risk?  clazaam@... | 04/05/05
the biggest security risk is writing a password down for anyone to read.  wessonjoe | 04/06/05
That is what you pay for using Microsoft platform only.  systemcleaner | 04/06/05
HSBC  Tomchance | 04/06/05
Bugs Viruses and Worms  pgbev | 04/06/05
Bank Security  jack@... | 04/07/05
HSBC - Surprising??  nicari | 04/14/05
eCommerce Security / Virus  dlwz3@... | 05/02/05

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