I turn on my computer and it starts booting up like it normally does, then just after the windows xp screen, it shows a black screen with a error message saying: "The apilication or DLL c:\WINDOWS\System32\WINMM.dll is not a vailid Windows image. Please check against your instalation diskette." I then click ok (ok being the only button) and another error message pops up saying: "The attrabutes of the specified mapping file for a section of memory cannot be read." I click ok then the computer automatically reboots itself and we go through the same cycle again.(and again and again...)

any ideas as to how I could fix this problem? Or would have to pay to get it fixed?

Thanks

Hi Vanessa welcome to D.A.L

Have tried to getting into safe modeTo get into safe mode press F8 repeatedly as soon first screen disappears.
Explanation of safe mode here Getting into Windows Safe Mode
If you can get to that menu please select as your first option
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Does your PC now start.
If not go back to same menu and select Safe Mode
If your PC starts in safe mode you now need to start system restore.
How to start system restore in safe mode here http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true
Once in system restore select a date before the problem occurred and restore your PC back to that date.
Will PC now start OK?

Jim

Thanks for the idea..at the moment i'm on the recovery console as someone else suggested..

I typed in: EXPAND source E:\i3686\WINMM.dl_C:\Windows\System32 but it comes up with access denied

Can you help me with this problem or do you think i should just do as you suggested??

i just tried safe mode...it doesn't work..

If you are in the recovery console I assume you have used your XP install CD/DVD to get to the recovery console.
Is this correct?
If so You could use your XP install CD/DVD to do a repair install of your PC.
An explanation of a repair install here How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
If you decide to do this and need any further advice please post back

JIm