Need Some Help/Advice

[MoeBackus]

My desktop won't boot into Windows. It turns on fine and recognizes everything, but right before the Windows XP Loading screen comes up it will BSOD and restart automatically.

Here's what I need help with - is there something (like a bootdisk) that will allow me to copy files from my hard drives onto my external hard drive? I have some stuff that I want to save before I reformat again. I suppose I could mess with the partitions.

What would you do?

Thanks

 

[irishScott]

Try the ULTIMATE BOOT CD

Get the full version though. Basic version has sh!t. It's free either way.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[MoeBackus]

anything else?

 

[MoeBackus]

what should I use on the UBCD?

 

[Slikkster]

Everyone's so quick to want to reformat. To me, that's a last ditch option. I would want to know why the crashes are occurring, particularly if its hardware related, where a reinstall wouldn't help, anyway (aka waste of time).

First thing I would do is try to boot in safe mode. Can you do that? Tap the F8 key before Windows starts loading to get to the boot menu, and choose Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, I would toggle OFF the "Automatic restart" after crash option.

How? Right click on the My Computer icon. Then, click on Properties (left click). When the System Properties box comes up, click on the Advanced tab. Click on Settings in the Startup and Recovery section of Advanced. UNCHECK "Automatically Restart" in the System Failure section. Click OK.

Now, when you get a blue screen, you'll be able to actually see what the blue screen error is, which is essential to troubleshooting.

Post the blue screen error message here. Should say somethling like "Stop 0xblahblahblah and might mention a particular file at the end of the sentence. That's essential troubleshooting information.

If this problem just started happening, while you're in Safe Mode, you might want to try System Restore to take your pc back in time before this error started occurring.

There is a boot CD called BartPE which can be used to retrieve files from your system, but again, if this is a simple fix, why throw the baby out with the bathwater, as they say?

 

[MoeBackus]

I tried booting with Safe Mode, no luck. I set it to not automatically restart on system failure and this is the BSOD I got:

"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Chec to be sure you have adequate disk space. If a drive is identified in the stop message, disable the driver or chec with the manufacturer for driver updates. Try changing video adapters.

Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000008E (0xC0000005, 0x80543F9D, 0xF7A3E05C, 0x00000000)"

 

[Slowlearner]

If your bios recognizes the hd(s) and there is no mechanical failure, I am sure a plain old chkdsk will fix the problem. But how to do it if the system wont boot even in safe mode, or if the OS has been corrupted etc. etc. What you need is Bart's PE or UBCD4WIN cd - to boot from the cd, run disk diagnostics, including chkdsk - UBCD4Win is Bart with a few additions. UBCD (non windows) is useless as its for a FAT32/DOS environment. The problem with Bart& UBCD4W is that you have to have an XP cd, download exe files from their websites and create, then burn an iso. This CD is a real useful tool for diagnostics and repair. Google BartPe etc to locate their websites and download their exe files. Just make sure you get all the tools and addons that you will need.

 

[MoeBackus]

I did a CHKDSK using Bart PE and it fixed something, but it didn't fix my problem. It still BSODs right before the Windows XP loading screen. I hooked my external hard drive up, but now I'm confused on how to copy files within Bart PE. Can someone tell me how I would go about this?

 

[Slikkster]

There should be a file manager program in the Programs list called "A43". It's similar to Windows Explorer.

 

[MoeBackus]

Thanks for the help. I found the program similar to Windows Explorer. When I begin to copy files from my hard drive over to my external hard drive, it will copy for about a minute, but then it will just blue screen on me.

This is the error message I get:

"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to be sure you have adequate disk space. If a drive is identified in the stop message, disable the driver or chec with the manufacturer for driver updates. Try changing video adapters.

Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000000A (0x00000020, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x80421A6B)"

Any ideas on what's causing this?

 

[MoeBackus]

When I try to transfer anything to any hard drive it will blue screen after about a minute. I reflashed the BIOS and it still blue screens when transferring. I unplugged everything except for my keyboard and mouse and it still blue screens when transferring. It seems like some sort of RAM problem to me. Ever since I got this RAM its been nothing but bad luck for me. I've had one stick go dead on me and now this. But I won't jump to conclusions, it may not be the RAM that's causing the problem.

 

[Slikkster]

At this point, I would suspect the RAM. If there is more than one stick, take one out and see how it runs. Switch sticks if it still blue screens and see. Sometimes just reseating will help.

If you have older RAM you can try in its stead, I would attempt that, too.

Also, reseat ALL your cables to devices in your pc. In other words, disconnect them and reconnect them and make sure the cables are snug both on the device end AND the motherboard end.

 

[MoeBackus]

I will try this later today. Again, thanks for the help.

Could it be the hard drive maybe? It seems like this sort of thing has happend before with my hard drive with Windows on it. I don't know though.