good news, i got my computer working (after several attepts trying to boot from the winxpsp2 disk (not the origonal)) bad news, i had to do a clean install so i lost everything on that drive (which is everything because there is nothing on the other drive)

So are things running OK now?

sorry, thaught i replied, must have clicked back by mistake, yes, things are running fine, no errors yet and i hope i don't get any!!! lol i had a sound problem, but ive sorted that, just needed to search for the driver on DELL website. im just going to try again to delete those files that wont delete!! hopefully they will go thanks for your help

Sorry I don't recall the delete problem but here are 2 good tools that will delete just about anything:

Move On Boot:

http://www.gibinsoft.net/gipoutils/bin/moveonb.exe

If for some reason that fails then try:

http://www.jrtwine.com/Products/DelF...lesInstall.zip

Thanks, the files are deleted. I have just changed my windows xp theme and now, when i have a few progs. opened, i get th following error message:

There is not enough virtual memory or resources to complete operation.
Close some programs, and then try again

is there any way to stop this without changing my theme back? or is it another problem that leads to not enough RAM memmory? i havnt had time to try the memory test yet but i will try tonight.
Thanks, Mike

You can check your settings here:

Right click My Computer then click Properties | Advanced

Performance | Settings

Advanced | Virtual memory | Change

choose System managed size

Set | OK | Apply | OK | etc.

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You can also view your active Vitual Memory via the Task Manager: Start/Run/ taskmgr

Performance tab

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As this is another RAM issue I would definitly consider getting more.

ok, i think i will order some when we come back from holiday thanks for your help