Original problem started w/error mess saying files required to run have been removed/replaced-tried doing system restore to previous date-same error message-put Win XP Home Ed cd in (inc sv pk 1) like it said to- froze in the middle of setup.Fatal error pdt catalog -signature invalid-prevents setup from continuing. Called Dell support(over an hour) they can't help anymore since my warantee exp in Dec. can't stand phone support any longer! tried other online tools w/microsoft etc. Tried recovery console too. found 1 error & fixed. Computer starts, keeps going back to "setup is being restarted..." then goes to a black screen. Is there anything else I can do - or just loose all & reinstall xp? any info appreciated. is it totally damaged now ??? I have a dell dimension 4500 series; Intel pen 4 ; 2.40Ghz 512 KB int thanks:cry:
A format-and-reinstall looks to be in order.
If you have a second partition (now you know why that's a
good idea), you can back up your data to it before reformatting and reinstalling.
Warning!!! I cannot emphasize this enough!: before you go on the internet for the first time after the reinstall, use another machine to go to
Gibson Research and download and run
at least the following programs:
DCOMbob.EXE and
ShootTheMessenger.EXE (download them at a friend's house, they will fit on a floppy) or your machine is likely to be
0wned before you can download the rest of the patches from
Windows Update -- I have seen the Blaster worm hit within seconds of getting on to the Internet on an unprotected machine, along with a spam Messenger pop-up. Another recommended program is
XP Anti-Spy, which can be used to turn off a lot of the Microsoft "phone-home" stuff in XP.
Unsolved 
