Looks like all my image files are intact, I'm moving the last few off onto external drives now.

Read all about it here ...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...=en-us&m=1&p=1

The people in the MS forums who know are the MVPs. Microsoft's Most Valued Professionals. I know, I used to be one - in database software development, not operating systems.


So far I have learned:
1) it's Windows, so the error that is reported (Jedi hand movement) is not the error you're looking for
Just because it says HAL.DLL is missing or corrupt doesn't mean that it is.
Nor does an error saying "error enumerating directories" mean that your C: drive is toast

2) do NOT use the manufacturer's recovery disk - except as the last resort
That ought to have recovered Windows, but instead it's trashed the primary install beyond repair by installing what look like Compaq drivers for a Patriot machine.

3) use another computer to go to the newsgroups and get the answer first
That would have led me to recover the registry form the hidden backup files in the SystemVolumeInformation folder and I might have escaped without damage.