Hmm ... the problem now is that every time I try to connect this hard drive and reboot, I get the following blue screen: "Windows has been shut down to prevent damage. ... then the tech info says STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D2524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

It sounds like either windows is corrupted or there is a problem with the hard drive. What you need to do is download and run the manufacturer's diagnostics. We can't help you anymore until you do.

You need to set your BIOS to boot the CD drive.

You should not have Windows starting.

The Western Digtal Diagnostic is a boot CD.

It boots,. Windows does not.

Thanks Jephree, and a happy New Year to everyone! Well, it took a while for me to reply, because in the meantime, my NEW graphics pc has crashed. However, luckily, I managed to get DIALDLG.EXE and other things from that Western Digital site, so many thanks to you for that. Using both the Quick and Extended diagnostics showed that BOTH drives are OK. However, the only way that I could get access to this computer was by installing Windows onto my D:/ drive. Trying to start Windows from the C:/ drive causes it to restart continuously - after the Windows logo runs, instead of going either onto a logon screen or just starting Windows normally, it goes to a blue screen that says "checking disk" and then just restarts ad finitum.

Now, I'd really like to log onto the C:/ drive, because not only would I then avoid having to reinstall everything onto the D:/ drive, but there are also some emails and other things I'd dearly like to retrieve. I've tried repairing the C: drive, but repairing only causes it to restart and restart and restart again. As I said, the WD diagnostics tests showed BOTH drives as being OK.

What I'd like to do now - before I have to reformat, because I'm aware that this might well be the port of last call - is to see if I can retrieve my Outlook data. I can see the installed programs, but can't use them unless I install them onto the D: drive. I've searched the C:/ drive for *.dbx, but of course, they don't show up, because I'm not logged on to the C: drive. Any ideas on how to retrieve my Outlook data? And if it's at all possible, any ideas on how to access the programs without having to reinstall them onto the D:/ drive?

Do you mean Outlook (part of Microsoft Office) or Outlook Express that comes with XP?

Outlook Express uses the .dbx files. See here for info: Moving Outlook Express "DBX" Files to a New Computer

Outlook uses a .pst file. See here for info: Move your Outlook data file to another computer

Can you access the data on the C: drive? If yes, you can copy everything you need from the C:\Documents and Settings\youraccountname to the equivalent location on the D: drive.