, I think I figured out the problem I posted earlier, I think the root of my problem is that I have been using a ubcd4win cd I created with a dell windows xp install disk and trying to use it to restore an emachines t5224 with windows vista on it, and while I did get it to run a couple of days but, it has been acting sporadic seems to crash a couple of days after rcovery, if I add a plugin to locate and install the specific drivers needed for that model and OS (like say driver robot)would it work at all, and if so how do i add plugins to ubcd4win? Is there anything I can do to repair this thing with a dell windows xp recovery disk and freeware or any good pay options, emachines no longer offers recovery disks, I am doing this as a favor for a nieghbor and neither of us have a whole lot of cash to throw around now, i.e., any ideas short of a brand new copy of windows (recovery console does not help,chkdsk doesn't help, I have no restore points, etc., none of the factory installed options seem to work)

Download the Ultimate Boot Cd
Create cd or usb disk
put in ubcd4win restart computer
press F9 or F10 to get boot device menu
It will run a xp version from from the device you choose
when it installs
go to start
choose Password tools
use the bios one
read properly and follow the instructions

UBCD for Windows

What version of windows is this? This is a catastrophic registry failure. You may have to reinstall the operating system.; .

Ouch, I hate it when that happens. There are some diagnostics available on the web (or from a buddy) that can be made bootable. Two come to mind:

Ultimate Boot CD for Windows www.ubcd4win.com
Hirens BootCD www.hiren.info

You will need to download the data and then follow the instructions to create a bootable CD. If you're a geek this could be a fun project... if you're not a geek and don't want to spend some time... then don't bother.-, it could be troublesome.

It sounds as if you have already resigned to a new HD or rebuilding your system from scratch... you could borrow a Windows CD from a friend and attempt a Repair. Just make sure to get the same version of Windows.

You can also bring the machine to Staples, Office Depot or some other store that does repair work. If you purchase a new HD and have them install it, they should be able to recover your operating system.

I think you need Windows Password Key. It has solved 100000 users of that problem in one year.Hope it can help you.
Related Tutorial about how to reset windows password by using windows password key http://www.lostwindowspassword.com

Just boot from XP CD - pressing F12 should give you the option in Bios, allowing you to boot from CD when all is completed. Some PCs still need sata/scsi drivers loaded by pressing F6 in the install. If all fails read original manual that came with Dell 6400. If lost you should be able to download from dell support, using express service tag.

Is it the Windows password? For that you need to use a program called System Commander which you can find on the Ultimate Boot CD.

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Download and burn this to a CD to boot the laptop from. The utilities on it will help you reset the password.

Best of all, it's a free program!

Good Luck!

It's a large file, but you can download and burn a copy of:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
It's a bootable cd that has a password recovery tool plus a lot of other stuff.

It's a rather large file, but download and create a UBCD4WIN cd. It will have a password recovery tool that you will allow you to do what you want, plus a lot of other stuff:
http://www.download.com/UBCD4Win/3000-2086_4-10550208.html

Go to http://www.ubcd4win.com/index.htm to download UBCD4Win. UBCD4Win will allow you to creat a bootable disc with your Windows disc that will have the Windows environment and tools to recover passwords among other things. Read the instructions carefully.

Post back with questions.

Through the All Programs menu:
1.
Click Start.
2.
Point to All Programs.
3.
Point to Accessories.
4.
Point to System Tools.
5.
Click System Restore.
6.
Follow the instructions on the wizard.
Creating a restore point can be useful any time you anticipate making changes to your computer that are risky or might make your computer unstable. If something goes wrong, you select the restore point you just created and Windows XP undoes any system changes made since that time.
Create a Restore Point
1.
Open System Restore. (See step-by-step instructions above.)
2.
Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
3.
In the Restore point description box, type a name to identify this restore point as seen in Figure 1 below. System Restore automatically adds the date and time that this Restore Point is created.

Figure 1. Creating a restore point
• To finish creating this restore point, click Create.
• To cancel restore point creation and return to the Welcome to System Restore screen, click Back.
• To cancel restore point creation and exit the System Restore Wizard, click Cancel.
To view or to return to this restore point, from the Welcome to System Restore screen of the System Restore Wizard select Restore my computer to an earlier time. Then select the date you created the restore point from the calendar in the Select a Restore Point screen. All of the restore points you created and you computer created on the selected date are listed by name in the list box to the right of the calendar.
Note System Restore does not replace the process of uninstalling a program. To completely remove the files installed by a program, you must remove the program using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or the program's own uninstall program. To open Add or Remove Programs, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.