Thanks for this, Gordon. I believe that I saved the instructions etc. for this slipstreaming process some time ago, and it could offer an alternative way of getting the machine back to normal. Whilst typing this message, I turned on the offending laptop and I have just heard it speak! It had been standing "cold" all night, and I am wondering whether overheating is the cause of my problem, not a corrupt OS. Dust?? Douglas On 27 Apr 2008 at 18:19, Gordon Keen wrote: > For future reference you might want to google for slipstream+XP and > make yourself a rescue disc with all the service packs on it for ease > of use if it happens again. > > Cheers > > -- Douglas Harrison ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq