Dell is killing me!! need REAL help badly!

Hello, I have a Dell Laptop Latitude D505. A few days ago it just...died. After using a program called Copy Commander, I was able to run a scan disk and found out that it was covered in bad sectors. SO, I bought a new HD. (The laptop has interchangable floppy and cd-rom drives so both cannot be in the computer at the same time.)
I downloaded the set-up floppies from Microsoft so I can put my OS back on and it is showing the same error code from when the old HD crashed. CODE IS: 0x0000007B
I have contacted Dell. eek: its out of warranty so help is scarce ) And, it was bought second hand so I have NONE of the DELL disks. We have flashed the Bios, reset the Bios, changed the booting sequence,..but nothing.
What do I have to get rid of this error so I can continue to finish loading an operating system?
PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

Google to the rescue, again.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=error+code+0x0000007B&as_oq=dell+laptop&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

Hope you get something useful, and informative, from the links shown. Bazza

 

may be here too...First on googles list
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324103

 

Quite a few on the first page of the google 20 links refer to laptops, and a couple towards the bottom of the page refer to Dell laptops, specifically. That is why I didnt pick out a particular link. Thanks for the M$ one, anyhow. It all helps hopefully. Bazza

 

my problem is that when I try to install windows on the new HD....which has nothing on it....(i have to use the 6 floppies)....when it gets to the 6th floppy thats when the error comes up and I can do nothing but shut down

 

i am running a diagnostics test now because one of the links that you guys gave me scared me about maybe the ram is messed up too...im not sure yet

 

i am leaning more towards the virus in the boot sector of the motherboard??? I think is what one said...but we'll see....if there is still a virus is there a virus scanner/remover that runs in dos? I have a 98 boot disk that will allow me to get a dos prompt.

 

Maybe try FDISK from a boot floppy and reformat as there is nothing on your hard drive. Hopefully this may knock out a boot sector virus. Also check out your BIOS fairly thoroughly. After you solve your problem, there may be an option to protect your boot record in future. Keep us informed and best of luck.

There maybe a program that will nuke your hard drive that can be run from a floppy. I think there is but can't remember the program name at present. Do a google search for "nuke"and "hard drive". Anyone else please step in.
Bazza

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Im back up and running...had to use win98 and copy my xp disk to the HD...then set up from there...thanx all for the help!!! you guys rock!