Dreamweaver has some preference settings to rewrite your code on opening but even when you uncheck all and expect to view the original content then be warned..

example:

<test>
<!--<node1>
       <node2>
        <!- - Explanation:
         this is some html comment
        - ->
       </node2>
    </node1>-->
</test>

When you want comments nested inside other comments temporary changed and set a space between the two “-” character  in Dreamweaver the xml becomes this and your xml becomes corrupt:

<!--<node1>
       <node2>
          <!- - Explanation:
          this is some html comment
         - ->
        </test>
     -->

So better change this to <!- Explanation….. ->

If you have an error in joomla 1.5 website and your provider (or in my case in my snowleopard website)

Then you can try this fix http://phpscripts4u.com/uncategorized/parameter-2-frontpage-expected-reference/. It helped me.