Recover Files in Safe Mode

[cajunslo]

History - Dell said my 8400 HD was bad, after trying to install two different new Dell supplied HD's they said mother board was bad. Also had installed new memory. I do have two new Disc supplied by Dell - XP Pro SP2, and the Driver CD.

Sent everything back to Dell except kept the CD's.

Reinstalled my HD and memory.
Started computer and ran a system drive diagnostic.  Results HD - Passed
Inserted install CD and Windows began setup, stopped during setup and gave error message that the system has a different version of Windows than the CD. Don't recall ever installing anything different.
Tried booting to original HD ( Don't remember what Dell had me do to it prior to condemning it )
computer will boot to Admin / other user Icon's once select Admin, started loading to my desktop. Once loaded all i get is my original screensaver or background picture. I don't have any ICONS on either desktop.
Booted up into Safe Mode. Selected Admin again and this time i have my desktop items. Checked All Programs and all seem to be present. All my documents items or there and i can open them. Opened up start-up menu files and nothing is in that folder.

I would like to recover MY Documents items.  I have a CD drive internal. Also have an external CD/R HP drive, but computer would not copy any files to this drive, or the other drives.

Need help recovering files and reinstalling windows.

Also when i booted in safe mode, there is a note at the top of the screen - at the end of the note is says SP 3. Still not sure how SP 3 got on my computer.

[Broni]

At Dell's logo, press CTRL+F11 and select non-destructive Windows reinstall.

[cajunslo]

Will I need the boot disk at any time when i do this.
I do believe i had a virus before this all began. I have a new Mcafee subscription, i did try and install in safe mode but it would not let me without removing Norton first. I attempted this, in the Add/Remove programs but the list was incomplete had a large blank space, once i scrolled down a ways i found Norton, but again it would not let me delete in safe mode.

If i get Windows back up normal boot.
Could you please advise on any updates i should download and
what order after windows boots up, should i download next. Like my Mcafee, etc.

Thanks for the help you have given already.

[lectrocrew]

I have a new Mcafee subscription, i did try and install in safe mode but it would not let me without removing Norton first. I attempted this, in the Add/Remove programs but the list was incomplete had a large blank space, once i scrolled down a ways i found Norton, but again it would not let me delete in safe mode.

This tool might help you get Norton uninstalled.

[Broni]

Will I need the boot disk at any time when i do this.

If your recovery partition is intact, then no.

[cajunslo]

OK, thanks again.  I will give it a try and reply back. It will be a few days though I am away from my computer.