User 32.dll error

Hey there. have a question here and hope this is the right place to post it.
I have an Emachine with an op system of Windows XP Home. It was running fine 2 nights ago. Upon starting it this morning it went through the regular windows start screen then the screen went blue with the message User32.dll file is missing, try re-installing the application. I have no back up discs for this system and have not been able to find said file anywhere to try and install. Is it possible to even do this or am I looking at a full reformat. I have a copy of xp pro that I can reformat with. Thanks in advance
Cassandra

The User32.dll problem that you are experiencing may be addressed by a Windows product update. To open Windows Update, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
Copy and paste (or type) the following command in the Run box, and then press ENTER:

wupdmgr


If the above does not work then:

Start your computer in safe mode by pressing f8, and use System Restore
If you cannot start System Restore, you can use Windows safe mode to start System Restore.
Restore from a date before the error occured

If the above does not work then:

Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. For more information about how to do this, refer to your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer. Then insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and restart your computer.

-When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

-Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.

-Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.

-Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.

Hi Mikey. Thanks for the response. Unfortunately none of the above mentioned references worked. In fact I now get a different message.
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt." \system32\hal.dll
Is it possible to link this hard drive into another comp and save the info thats on it, then just do a complete re-format? And if so then would you mind either directing me to a source with the directions to do it or walk me through it here. This stuff is all Greek to me and I'm no geek!
Thanks

You can unistall the hard drive and take it out then put it in the other computer just make sure the hard drive is the same connection type of the host system.

What Emachine Model do you have? What Model and make is the host machine?

Hi Mikey. Thanks bunches. T3418 Emachine. Thats what I did. slaved the hard drive in a different comp and pulled all the files to be saved and then just reformatted it. Running like new now.
You guys rock and I know I will be back in the future.
Thanks again
Cassandra