my computer started playing up wehere it would keep randomily just keep rebooting its self it slowly got worse and programs would crash and the only way to get them back was to reboot the machine. I have no decided to format and do a clean install. but i have done a full format and started the XP install off and it started to install the files it got to cinemst2.sys or someting liek that then wouldnt copy it i pressed esc and it said it couldnt copy some others so though ok bad CD so used another XP install disk and the same things happening. I have run the dell dianosgic tools and also the maxtor ones for the drive both have reported hard drive read errors and i have also tried doing a chkdsk and it found some errors and reported to have fixed them but its still doing the same thing. Do you think the harddive has a bad problem or on its way out. on the dell dianostic test it passed all the tests likke SMART etc but not the read tests. phill

Maybe your CD drive isn't reading as well as it should. You could try copying the .cab files to the HDrive and install from there.

Also, you might want to check your memory (RAM). Defective RAM can cause (what appears to be) hard drive read problems. Memory test http://memtest86.com/ There is a version to create a bootable floppy diskette and/or an ISO for creating a CD. Run it overnight and any failures are unacceptable.

you say it could be bad ram but as part of the dell diagnostic test it tested the ram and passed, and also its brand new dvd rw as the other died i have only used it to burn one DVD since i had it. phill

I think memtest86 has a much better chance of detecting an intermittent error than the Dell test.

Test the ram like max00 said. Your symptoms are typical of faulty ram. If you have more than 1 stick of ram then leave in only one stick at a time while testing. Simply removing each stick, cleaning the contacts and re-seating it, may be enough to restore full function. If memtest reports any errors on any stick you will have your answer. I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

ok i will try that and see what happens phill