get this error on reboot and from scandisk: data error while reading FAT entry for cluster xxxxx. getting this on one of my pcs here, pc has 80 GB HD, 3 partitions, 98 (10 GB), XP (10 GB) and data/backup (rest). I get this error for a different cluster whenever I try to do a scandisk on the C, D or E drive. anybody experienced this and offer any advice on correcting it (other than new drive and new installs, I believe that will fix it), will be getting another HD to try to copy files/data off each partition onto the new drive, don't know whether this will work or not, will probably be trying that later today. Al

I would recommend using a third party disk checking utility and see if you can run it. (you can possibly get this from your disk's manufacturers website or go to downloads.com for shareware.) Once you are able to use a utility succesfully, scan your disk to make sure that a your drive is not physically damaged. If there is no physical (surface) damage, then a reformat/reinstall is in order to correct the bad fat entry. So you are using FAT 32 instead of NTFS? Have you thought about converting the XP boot partition to NTFS and the partition to FAT 32? This may help going forward. (MAY help) Sempron 2400+ OCed to 2.15GHZ Abit NF7-S2 1 GB PC3200 Ram Thermaltake T2-M4 HSF rmackie@microtailors.com www.microtailors.com

along with useing the hdd test utility from the manufacture, try running a memory test utility. Might try a different IDE cable.

progress to date: bought new drive and copied E partitiion to the new drive, process took a long time to copy, then used Norton ghost to restore the other 2 partitions (98 and XP dual boot), system back up and running with backup taken Dec 31st, long time ago I know but better than nothing. will try to get data off C drive later, Al