Anyone who is knowledgeable about Windows XP, Please Help Me!

[equate975]

I have backed up my data to an external hard drive. When I tried to go through the dft, everything went exactly like you said until I got to the drive list. it shows no devices. Any idea what that means? Also, while I was backing up, I checked the system32 files and the stoskrnl.exe file that it says is missing is actually missing. Maybe I can try copying it from another windows machine and pasting it there??? Will that have any negative effects, even if i doesn't fix it?

You can try it, it's unlikely it will fix it but possible. Sounds like DFT doesn't have the right controller driver to find your HDD. Try using Western Digitials Data life guard to test it

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=505&sid=30&lang=en

Or Seagate Sea-Tools

http://www.seagate.com/staticfiles/support/seatools/SeaToolsDOS220EURO.144.ISO

[equate975]

Dell also uses shit drives sometimes. I use that series of Lattitude laptops often.

Yeah I think that was the era they started using shitty seagates, I like dells but I have replaced way to many hard drives in them compared to other brands from that time. Seagates are pure garbage IMO.

[scabzzzz]

I've never liked Seagate. Im a Samsung/Western Digital kinda guy.

I've taken a WD before and thrown it against a wall angry and drunk, and that bitch fired up the next day. :)

[equate975]

Eh it all changes, they used to be solid back in the day. WD has been good to me for a few years now, I switched back to them after all my maxtors started blowing up way to early.

[bubbajan21]

You can try it, it's unlikely it will fix it but possible. Sounds like DFT doesn't have the right controller driver to find your HDD. Try using Western Digitials Data life guard to test it

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=505&sid=30&lang=en

Or Seagate Sea-Tools

http://www.seagate.com/staticfiles/s...20EURO.144.ISO

I copied and pasted the missing file, and now Windows opens, but there is no task bar at the bottom and no icons on my desktop, just my wallpaper. I am going to try one or both of the other diagnostic tools you gave me. I'll report back what they come up with.

[bubbajan21]

So........ Now what?

[equate975]

So........ Now what?

Excellent, glad it didn't fail. At this point you're probably better just re-installing windows then trying to repair what is there. You can try a repair install if you can get the XP cd to boot up all the way.

Also by chance, are you using the XP disc that came with your computer?

[bubbajan21]

Can I reinstall windows without losing all of my data, or do I have to back everything up, reinstall, and put it back on? I am fairly certain I am using the disc that came with my computer, but I have 2 that I found in a box. Neither one works, but I'm almost sure that one of them is the one that came with my pc.

[equate975]

You can do a repair install which would keep everything intact, or try doing another regular install on top of your existing one.

I honestly wouldn't mess around doing either and just back up, wipe clean, and start over. You will probably have less headaches down the road then.

[bubbajan21]

Hello, I've been thinking about how to proceed with my laptop, and I'm sick of not having a laptop. I've backed up the data I need and I want to reinstall windows to wipe everything clean and get Windows back up and running. How would I go about that? When I put in the Windows XP disc, I get BSOD every time, so I'm not sure how I can reinstall it. I've tried CTRL + F11 that works for some other Dell computers to restore to factory, but that doesn't work either. Help!