My computer crashed after I used registry mechanic 5.0 and restarted the comp. The computer says I'm missing some dll files and can't start, not even in safe mode. I'm trying to reinstall windows xp home edition, but the recovery disc I have from emachines can only reformat my hard drive and then install windows. I'm really worried because I don't want to lose my digital photoes, documents, and other important things. I tried using boot floppy disks to access the windows setup and then the recovery console, but I don't know how to use the console to reinstall windows. In addition I have no backups of my registry available. Is there a certain method of using the recovery disc to reinstall that I don't know of? Is there a way I could simply reinstall/repair all the windows files I'm missing? Are there any available restore discs that allow you to reinstall windows without reformatting? Please, any help is very, very, very appreciated!!

Hi Jeff, If it can be fixed with the recovery disk, it won't be easy. Someone here may have a tip. What I suggest is put the HD in a working XP box and save what you need; then restore. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

Think about Knoppix linux live cd to rescue your data and free

I'm sure can you can just do a Windows XP repair installation which will leave all your documents intact . I've reinstalled and done Repair installations with the Windows XP Home Edition installation CD plenty of times . The proceedure can be confusing but is simple . Probably the only confusing step is in the choice given during the installation as to choosing whether to Repair the installation or Install XP . If you want to repair the installation you choose to Install XP and then you are asked again if you want to Repair or Install a Fresh Copy . Choose Repair THEN .. this used to confuse me and maybe I think this is what has stopped you too . hello

Sure But it sounds like he doesn't *HAVE* an XP CD. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

As mentioned, your best route is to try & slave your drive to another pc, rescue your files & then use the restore disk to reinstall from scratch. I know eMachines restore system & it's pointless trying to work around & just do a repair - even using a normal XP disk doesn't work because you end up with file incompatability problems. I've not tried the live Linux method - I'll have to one day - but in theory you should be able to run it & access both your files & CDRW. You can get the Linspire live version here: http://media.linspire.com/cnr_linspirelive/ "I know that I'm mad - I've always been mad..."

Firstly, thanks guys for your lightning-fast responses, I really appreciate it! I've asked my brother in college to mail me his set of Windows XP Professional CDs, but would that result in a Windows incompatability problem if I try to reinstall over my previous Home Edition installation (and then try to burn my files onto dvds)? Before that, I'm gonna look into that linux method mentioned by don and john. If worse comes to worse, I'll have to find some way to move my hard drive to another computer. Unfortunately, I've never had any experience working with hardware. Thanks again everybody for responding so fast!