windows doesn't start get error message:
windows\driver\pci.sys missing or corrupted
reloaded windows xp twice and after 48 hours problem again
any ideas?
Do you mean something like:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:
System32\drivers\pci.sys
It could be that the pci.sys file really is missing or corrupt, but
usually this message indicates some other problem associated with
hardware.
What is your system manufacturer make and model?
Did it used to work okay until you changed something in the hardware
configuration and if so, what changed?
Have you added or changed any PCI devices in your system before the
message?
Do you have any PCI devices (extra cards) installed in your computer?
Does "reloaded" Windows mean you reinstalled Windows and does that
mean you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD?
If you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD, are you able to
successfully boot into the Recovery Console?
If you can boot into the Recovery Console, you should first run the
following command from the RC prompt:
chkdsk /r
The problem could also be defective or marginal RAM.
It will certainly not hurt anything to test your RAM - which you can
do by creating a bootable CD that has memtest86+ on it. Here are some
instructions to make that CD and run the RAM test:
Run a test of your RAM with memtest86+ (I know it is boring and will
cost you a CD).
The memtest will not run under Windows, so you will need to download
the ISO file and create a bootable CD, boot on that and then run the
memtest program.
The file you need and instructions are here:
http://www.memtest.org/
If someone says to run memtest86, you can inform them that you know
memtest86+ supercedes memtest86 and here's why:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memtest86