what would cause XP to say that any file i try to open is corrupted?
i recently put together this computer to play blizzards WoW game. when i tried to load it in. i kept getting unable to verify file contents and decompression errors. it said it could be a problem at C:\... i reinstalled got the same thing. even went and bought a new hard drive. same thing. so i installed a copy of XP sp1 and every file i tried to open windows said was corrupt... i am currently running MCE again and still get the same errors when trying to install it. and have realized all the big files i try to run it errors with corruption or cant verify errors.. can anyone help with this.. can this be caused by hardware ie: ide bridge chipset on the motherboard, or memory.. or is there a setting in XP.. .. i dont know, im at a loss.

Hello akd,

Welcome to PCHF.

The problem could be absolutely anything at this point (HDD, Memory, Motherboard or Malware even). We will need to troubleshoot this problem, however the most common causes of HDD corruption is memory.

OK..

Some steps we will need to start with:
- If you having any BSOD errors at all, follow the link on my signature and take a look at "BSOD's" and post a few dump files (logs) back here.

- Go to Start, Run and type eventvwr . Looks for any errors in both "Application" and "System" and tell me the "EventID" and "Source".

- If you have a floppy drive and a spare floppy disk, please download: http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip
- If not, please download, unzip and use nero to burn this image: http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.2.iso.zip
- Reboot with the CD/Floppy in the drive and start memtest. This will ensure there are no problems in memory.

let me start off by thanking you for your willingness to help...its greatly appreciated.
th first 3 errors in eventvwr are Source: ESENT and Events: 454 465 477
the last one is Source ASP.NET 1.0.3705.6018 Event: 1031
in system the first 4 are Source: Service control manager Event: 7000
the last 2 are Source:Workstation Event: 5727

i did download microsofts memory check, you boot off of it and it runs tests, it didnt come back with any errors. so i dont know if it would be the ram.. tho i hope it is, it would be an easy fix
scratch the hard drive as a problem (unless there are bios settings i dont know of) i get the same problem on my older ide seagate 80gb and my brand new sata2 seagate 80gb. and i set up the sata2 with a raid controller and the ide interface.. also this happens directly from a clean patition and format and os install.. so malware is also unlikley.. .. my RMA agreement with my wholesaler is pretty good, so i may return my stick of ram today just to see if it is that. tell me if those error messages tell you anything tho.... thanks a bunch

i just cleared the log file and tried to install partition magic.. wich i know comes up with that corruption error... the error in it after is Source: MsiInstaller Events: 10005 and 11335.. i try to run the game but it dont come up with any errors in eventvwr.. just its own internal error

Every single error you have there (except 5727), is all about disk/file corruption. For you to experience this level of corruption, I'm suprised Windows is still running. Do you find that after installing Windows XP, your problems gradually start happening over a period of time, or do your problems start happening immediately after?

Memtest is normally pritty reliable. If memtest completed without any errors, then it's a good bet that the RAM itself is fine, but try to make sure your not using mismatched memory. Make sure your not overclocking also.

the errors usually come up as soon as i try to load a file that needs to be decompressed.. had some problems loading drivers a few times as well... could this be a problem with a ide bridge on the motherboard or something? im going to run another test with this microsoft mem tester.. i cand get the one you recommed because i cant load in nero (crc errors) i only have 1 stick of ddr2 677 1gb.. and in the bios it is set at 677... ill also try to underclock it. perhaps i was given a 533 instead of a 677... any other suggestions?