Such thing as default mode? (Windows XP)

My other computer (Windows XP) has a problem with it's hard drive. No matter what i do to files (download, delete, move), it seems to go back to where it was. It's like computers at school basically...it seems to be on a default mode where nothing can be changed...is this the case? or is it some hardware damage?


Any thoughts or solutions would be helpful, thank you

There are numerous features that can reset settings:
- Group policy GPEDIT.MSC
- Local policies
- Mandatory profiles
- Windows file protection

Although this sould not affect data files other than default save locations.