Have No IDEA what happened but almost all programs not working

It didn't work so I don't know what to do there's a ton of stuff I need to keep and tons of other stuff that I can just reinstall.

but I don't have another hard drive big enough to hold all 90gb of stuff.

I was gonna buy a 1tb my book essential 2 with esata but it's almost 300 I could get two 500gb sata drives and then just buy two enclosures and it wouldn't cost that much maybe about 230 at the most.

Why not try the original XP CD?

Add SP2 afterwards.

Because it's in a box somewhere in storage I thought I could just use the slipstreamed cd because I have a 200gb hard drive and sp1 doesn't see anything bigger than 127gb so I thought it would be better I've been using this one since I created it and haven't even thought of using the original cd.

and have had no problems up and until now.

A Repair Install would not be concerned with formatting.

The pre SP1 137GB limit was a formatting limit. It has nothing to do with "seeing" a larger drive.

I can only think the specificity of that Microsoft page as to the error blames the CD in question.

Anyway perhaps also the process.

What were you saying earlier about DOS? There should be noting being done in DOS.

The basic scenario is boot the CD and do not choose the first R (recovery console) but choose Setup followed by the second R (repair/upgrade installation).

Again I would physically disconnect all other hard drives during this process.

Repair Install XP
--------------------------------------------------
1) Boot with the Windows XP CD and at the Setup Screen press the Enter key

2) You will be taken to the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. After reading the agreement press F8 to proceed

3) The next screen gives you the option to do a fresh (clean) install or to "Repair the selected Windows XP installation." Press "R".

4) Windows XP will copy the necessary files to your Hard Drive to begin the installation and will then reboot. You will see the message that informs you to "Press any key to boot the CD". Do Not press any keys this time just wait a few seconds and the Windows Startup Screen will be displayed. Following this you will be greeted by the Windows XP Setup Screens.

5) When Setup has completed you should find all of your previously installed applications and settings are intact.

that's what I'm talking about when I booted from the cd the repair install went fine but when I don't press anything and it boots from the hard drive I guess it says setup is restarting.

then it says please insert windows cd E: it calls it and then click ok so I do.

Then it says the asms file is needed from the XP cd so I located the cd E:\i386\ASMS and nothing.
it's like it just stops working completely but it repaired fine with this same cd.

Using Vista I would backup the data you want off that hard drive and try a Clean Install preferably with the original CD.

Also run the manufacturers diagnostic on that hard drive.

If you are having no problems with your Vista drive the most suspect piece of hardware would be that (XP) hard drive.

I'm thinking about buying one of these what do you think?

1TB My Book Home Edition External USB/Firewire & eSATA Hard Drive

Looks good.

The price is even equal to the internal version which is rare for external drive enclosures.

Great price for the drive space. Based on cost per GB you can't beat that.

well I went to walmart they didn't have this one so I bought the 500gb so I think I'm stuck with it unless I can exchange it later for the ITB.

it doesn't have esata or anything I'm kinda disappointed with that but it seems pretty fast and theres 465gb.

alright finally finished backing up everything should I use Killdisk to wipe the drive or just go with a format?