Use your windows xp disk to enter the recovery console
You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 pr del key during memory count up, then searching for boot order, and setting the CD as the first boot device)
When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD...after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for recovery console. You will be asked to log in.
For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit enter. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.
Once at the Recovery console c:\windows prompt, type
chkdsk /r
<enter>
Take a long walk, as this will take a while
If you do not have a windows xp disk, download RC.iso from the following link:
http://www.thecomput...edic.com/rc.isoYou need to burn this image to a CD and boot your computer with it--this is different than burning a file to a CD. If you do not know how to burn an ISO image, then download the following program to another Windows XP machine, install it.
make certain you download the proper installation for your version of windows
http://isorecorder.a...isorecorder.htmAfter installation, right click the RC.iso file you downloaded above and choose COPY IMAGE TO CD.
Then reboot your broken PC with that CD in the CD-ROM drive.
This will give you a recovery console to use to run
Insert in non-functioning CD, set the PC to boot to the cd-rom first in the boot order section of bios (get there by pressing f1,f2, or del depending on machine while memory is counting up)
When boot begins, a windows setup will appear to start, but you will be taken to a recovery console. You will need to select your windows installation by pressing a number, then typing in the administrator password, which is blank for XP Home or whatever you set when you installed your machine for XP Pro.
After entering the password, you will find yourself at a command prompt
type
chkdsk /r
<enter>
follow the prompts, then when it is complete, type
EXIT, to reboot
Remove CD from drive
Fix?