About a week ago my computer froze when I was using Internet Explorer. The only way to get out way to turn off the computer. When I tried to turn the computer on, it generated a black
screen after the initial BIOS screen. Safe Mode wouldn't load and Last known Config wouldn't work. I called Dell and since I din't have anything important on the computer, they had me reinstall XP.

Well this lasted about a day, when the Bluee screen appeared with a x0A problem. Dell had me do chkdsk /r and it cleaned up the problem for another day before the computer froze again when I was using IE. The this time it would load to the Windows startup, but it said it was missing a .dll file. The only way to correct that problem was to reinstall XP.

Well that reinstall has again failed, this time with a blue screen error ending in x07B error.

I've run all the diagnostics and they say the HD is fine. Is it possible I have a boot sector virus? It loos like XPs .dll files are getting erased.

You may want this to find any blue screen info:
KNOWLEDGE BASE LINKS STOP MESSAGES

Some missing dll messages can be caused by Spyware. If you get popups when surfing, use
ALT+F4 to close popups.
Get Service Pack 2. It puts a popup blocker in IE.

Watch for help from others.

Seems specific to Internet Explorer -
You can try a reinstall:

Start the Registry Editor
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Active Setup \ Installed Components \ {89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}
right-click the IsInstalled value, and then click Modify
Change the value data, from 1 to 0
Close the registry editor
Download and install Internet Explorer 6.

Rule #1 Good computers don't go down.
Rule #2 There is no such thing as a good computer.

Reinstalling IE should do the trick, just change the registry value.

-Matt

HelpDesk-Hub.Org
A Help Desk Information Resource

Just to be on the safe side, run the following command:

fdisk /f

if you need a copy of fdisk, goto www.bootdisk.com and download a bootable floppy disk. boot to that disk and run the command above.
This will not damage any data on your computer, will just reformat the boot sector.
If you are still now sure and don't believe me what the above command does, just do a goodle of the command above.

Good Luck.

Chris

Some dells have a recovery disk. That CD is an image of the OEM install. It might/could wipe out any boot area. Do you have such a CD? I don't mean the XP disk I mean a special CD from Dell. If so try that. The info might be stored on a special partition sometimes which may not in fact cure your issue.

To help you find out more use the event viewer and read about dump logs and drwatson to help you id the real issue if it keeps returning.

Hi Be careful running recovery disk if you have anything on your C drive that you don't want to lose as it restores factory defaults but nothing you added since you bought the computer. Good luck Ferg

fdisk /f

?

Chris, I've never seen the /f switch associated with fdisk. What does it do and is there any documents supporting it? Thanks

i_XpUser