Each time I boot up, I get the WinXP logo screen, and before I get to my desktop, I get a dialog box that pops up with what looks to be either a couple of symbols or Asian letters on it. I have to click OK to get past it. When I get to my desktop I get an error message that reads "One of the files containing the system Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. Ther recovery was successful." I spoke to Dell and they said it was a boot sector virus and that I should reload winXP. Before I ge that desperate, I thought I would try here.

I don't know which AV you are using. What I would suggest is d/l avast free and be sure to turn off your AV and then let avast do a boot scan on reboot. Just make sure to move all files to the chest that it finds, don't try healing or any other method. That could be the answer, as I've done that with many of my clients clients. Dell tech support is definately not the best at times and it's always a cop-out to say, reformat and reinstall. Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks