What are some options to try if XP's 'system' dll is corrupted to the degree that even getting to the desktop is impossible? Here is the situation:

1) I have a copy of XP, but the CD is not bootable, therefore reinstalling the OS would only be possible if I could get on to the desktop to run it.

2) I have (or will have) a new hard drive. This makes three - the old primary disk, a secondary disk (with no space to install an OS) and this new one with nothing on it.

3) A hard disk enclosure.

4) Chiaroscuro's laptop, which I'm sure he'll let me have use of for the purposes of sorting this out.

Go.