If this was my computer, I would replace the hard drive and reinstall the operating system now that you have your data saved.

Remove the current drive and install the new one then install XP. Once it's installed, connect the old drive as a slave and see if you can access your data directly from it. Makes it easier and faster if you can do it that way.

Once you're done with the old drive, do a long (not quick) format and use it as a not especially trustworthy backup drive.

Otherwise, try a Repair Install

I followed the link you suggested and this too did not work. I followed something someone had commented on this link and copied the system file in off an old, good, restore point and the system booted OK. I have run CHKDSK and that reports no errors. I am running other things that use the disc and have tried several reboots. All looks OK.
I am happy to go off to India now for 7 weeks and leave, as at the moment, two working PCs for my wife so I can keep in contact by email and Skype while I tour round. I will sort out the system when I get back. As I have had it for about 11 years now I think it is time for an upgrade rather than replacing the hard disk and rebuilding XP.

Thank you for all your help and interest.

Kind regards.

trubmij

Dear ztruker (or anyone else who can help!)

Now back from my 7-week India trip and have decided to replace the hard disk in my existing PC, an interim measure before I upgrade the PC later in the year.

I have purchased a new hard disc. Installed Windows XP Home Edition and now have started installing the Service Packs before finding all the various patches etc.

In the process of downloading the first SP, SP1A but I am having a problem. Every time I try to run the installation program it stops and says the server is not responding. I hit 'retry' and eventually get the message:-
"Service Pack 1 Setup Error
The following error occurred while Service Pack 1 Setup attempted to download the Service Pack 1 files from the Internet:
The server did not respond.
If the error persists after you have clicked Retry several times, go to the Windows XP Service Pack Web site and select "Problems Downloading the Service Pack." This will give instructions on how to download a version of the Service Pack that does not require a Web connection during installation"

The URL of the site it is trying to connect to is http://xpSP1.microsoft.com/isapi/pst.../SP1.USA.1106a. Which, incidentally, I cannot connect to on my other PC.

I cannot find a site referred to as the "Windows XP Service Pack Web site" that has the link "Problems Downloading the Service Pack." I shall be grateful for any help on where to find SP1a without such a website.

Is the problem that XP SP1 and SP2 are no longer supported and therefore no longer available?

Any help will be gratefully accepted.

Regards

trubmij

Download SP1a from here: Windows XP Service Pack 1a Express Install (32-Bit) for End Users

Once that's done, do SP3, no need to do SP2: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

Ztruker

Thanks for that but regret that this only downloads the 1.9MB "loader", i.e. the "Express" file which, when run, goes off to the MS site which no longer exists - the problem in my previous post. I was looking for a copy of the Network version of the SP which is between 125-140MB.

I understand that if I can find SP2 I can skip SP1/1A. I have found both SP2 and SP3 (Network versions) and have downloaded them and run them against XP, all seems OK so have downloaded all XP patches etc, started reloading my software and recovering backed-up file.

Hopefully, all will be OK and I am on the road to a good system.

Regards

trubmij

Sorry, I can't find the full SP1A any more either. You can download SP2 here:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers