ATA Error at Boot

[asir]

Hello!

I have ALL ORIGINAL hardware and have done nothing consciously to change the system configuration. I left my Dell E1505 laptop (XP Home Edition ) to make lunch - when I came back I had the black screen with

PRB 4 . . . done
[XLDR] ATA Error

Ran the complete version of all the available diagnostics in BIOS set-up with no errors. Booted from a DELL OEM Windows XP Reinstallation CD. That deleted & reinstalled several files, but when it tries to start Windows, same error message.

Used the Dell CD with diagnostics & utilities without success. No problems found.

Nothing during boot-up has gone past this message. I really want to understand what this exact error message means AND save my files.

Answers, Suggestions, Advice are most appreciated.

 

[Hawkeye22]

I've seen a few reports where this has resoved the issue.

Boot from install Windows CD and run Recovery Console. In Recovery Console you should use command “fixmbr” to restore standard Windows MBR record and command “fixboot” to restore standard Windows boot sector.
Use command “exit” to exit from Recovery Console.

Other than that, it seems the drive might be failing.