BSOD.

I notice the date of the test being the 4th Jan. 2006:

• Does this mean that the System clock and the date in BIOS is still set to 2006.
  
• If so, enter the BIOS Setup Menu and correct the date and time.

Have you checked the SATA data cable connections?

I am puzzled by the tests passing ... when all the errors are indicating a problem with the hard drive.

Yes, I checked all connections. I'll enter the BIOS and correct the time.

I'm also puzzled.

Heard of a program called Old Timer?

I saw in another forum on here a guy showing some one how to fix the same problem I'm having. (atapi.sys)

I have not come across a program by that name.
Do you mean a forum poster/person called OldTimer?

Post a link to the topic that you are referring to, please.

Heard of a program called Old Timer?

Perhaps you are referring to OTL (OldTimer's List tool), sometimes used in the malware forums?

Yes, that's it. I think the other forum must have been closed since the problem was resolved.

MiniDumps:

http://limelinx.com/files/c62cbebe0d566ec4d043eab6b72a1100

With those specifications of my pc, do you think it's safe to do a clean install of Windows 7? And if so, how to wipe everything from my hard drive cleanly and install Windows 7?

With those specifications of my pc, do you think it's safe to do a clean install of Windows 7?

With only 512 MB of RAM, there is no way Win7 would perform satisfactorily. Without a closer look and running the necessary Win7 suitability/compatibility check, I have no way of knowing about the rest of the specs ... except the BIOS version dates from 2006 which would likely be a problem.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

... how to wipe everything from my hard drive cleanly ....

Use dban to wipe the HDD: Ensure you backup any personal files of importance before doing that.

If you wish to do a clean install of Windows ...

Download dban (Darik's Boot and Nuke):

"Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction."

If you do not already have a suitable burning program for writing .ISO images to disc ...

• Download and install ImgBurn.
  Ensure that you UN-check the box agreeing to install the Ask toolbar during the installation.
• Place a new (blank) CD disc in the drive tray.
• Choose Write image file to disc.
  
  • Under Source, click on the Browse button: Navigate to and select the .ISO file that you wish to burn.
  • Place a check-mark in the box beside Verify.
• Click
  
  When the CD has been burned and verified as successful, it will be bootable.

Boot from the CD, and with ONLY the one hard drive connected to the system ...
Warning: This will completely wipe ALL drives connected to the system!
Type autonuke at the prompt and press the <ENTER> key.
Allow to complete.
Be patient: It may take some considerable time, depending on the size of the HDD.

I suggest you check the HDD again after allowing dban to wipe it ... and then install XP again and monitor the situation. The HDD diagnostic tools are usually reliable ... so if the HDD is OK, that leaves the rest of the system as suspect when it comes to the errors we have seen being reported. I am wondering if there is some other physical/hardware issue going on that is making it look like a HDD problem?

How could we check that issue?

What's a reliable virus protection?

...and what's a good software to find missing drivers?

What's a reliable virus protection?

There is no such thing; none that can actually be relied upon to prevent/warn of malware on the system. However, as far as antivirus applications go, the free ones are as good as any of the paid ones available, and it is really down to personal preference. I use AVG Free ... simply because I always have, but I tend not to recommend it to others because of the large download size. The following are widely recommended:

• MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials)
• Avira
• avast!

Use one of the above with a healthy dose of caution and care ... and a firewall (Windows firewall is fine for most purposes) of course. Malwarebytes Antimalware and SuperAntispyware are widely recommended as malware scanners if necessary.

...and what's a good software to find missing drivers?

Ahhh .... I am definitely not a good choice to ask about that! If a driver needs updating, go to the source and download and install it: You really don't need a third party application to do the job for you. You will need to ask someone else about that if you want further advise.

How could we check that issue?

One way would be to perform a clean installation of Windows and see if the problem appears again.

• You could replace the HDD, and SATA data cable (get one with locking clips) as a precaution to start with, if you wished.
  I can't think of anything else that could produce the errors we've seen.

Alright well, so far BSOD didn't occur. Still having a problem with the random static noises coming from my pc. Any suggestions?

Alright well, so far BSOD didn't occur.

What's the situation? What have you done? Re-installed XP? Service Pack 1, 2 or 3???

Still having a problem with the random static noises coming from my pc. Any suggestions?

That's a hard one to even contemplate answering.

• Where are the "static noises" coming from?
  
• The speakers? Or elsewhere?

Wiped the hard drive using dban, then formatted and reinstalled WinXP Pro SP3.

The noise is coming from my speakers. I have a seperate interface called M-Audio Fast Track which has it's own sound card. I have the latest update for it.

My speakers are studio speakers which connect to the interface. The interface then connects to the pc through USB.

Wiped the hard drive using dban, then formatted and reinstalled WinXP Pro SP3.

Did you visit the DELL website, and locate the drivers for your DELL system?

• The drivers for your particular motherboard need to be installed to run the hardware on your system properly.
• They should be downloaded and installed.

Then visit Windows Updates to get all important Windows updates.

Let us know the situation after doing that.

Are you monitoring the Event logs for Disk errors?

• Provide me with the event logs as before.

Did you visit the DELL website, and locate the drivers for your DELL system?

• The drivers for your particular motherboard need to be installed to run the hardware on your system properly.
• They should be downloaded and installed.

I should have written visit the DELL website and check for the latest available updates for your motherboard ... realising that the DELL installation disk would have the necessary drivers for the motherboard when XP was first installed.

I think I may know the problem. My pc is missing .dll drivers. Plenty of them. Any way of fixing them?