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Do you have your XP CD available, because you may have to do a system repair.

 

Yes I have the xp re-installation CD that came with the computer (Dell)

 

Please follow the instructions found here; http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx and make sure to select nothing other than the repair option or you can lose all information on your pc.
Hopefully the CD you have will allow a repair. Some will only take you back to when you first got the pc.

 

I performed the system repair. Should I try and run gmer.exe now?

 

Yes. You will also need to try and get Windows updates.

 

When I run gmer.exe the computer resets prior to completing running and I still get the error with the windows updates.

 

How do you feel about a complete format and fresh install of the operating system?
It is possible that you have more wrong there than a repair can fix.
If you decide to do it, you will need the motherboard driver disc and you will need to do any backups of files you need.

 

I fully backed up all data, music and video files on a USB hard drive when this issue first started to appear. Is the motherboard driver disc the same as the "reinstalltion CD" for XP?

 

No, it will be one that is specific to your motherboard. You can download the latest drivers from the motherboard manufacturers website, provided you know the make and model, which should be on the motherboard somewhere.