Blue Screen of Death - Desperately Seeking Help!!!

[pbl]

Tonight I got the BSOD after my antivirus software (AVG Free) detected a
virus in a file downloaded. Now I can't reboot my notebook without getting
the BSOD. This happens when attempting to reboot even to safe mode or the
dos prompt. Also tried last working configuration option. I'm wondering what
my options are here?

Will booting to the WinXP CD allow me to run AVG on the hard drive files or
somehow provide any other course of action to recover the important system
files?

Is it time to purchase a 2.5 inch HDD enclosure and transfer my important
files to another PC before doing a fresh install?

Many thanks.

 

[Rich Barry]

What does the BSOD say? Post back here

 

[Ron Martell]

Tonight I got the BSOD after my antivirus software (AVG Free) detected a
virus in a file downloaded. Now I can't reboot my notebook without getting
the BSOD. This happens when attempting to reboot even to safe mode or the
dos prompt. Also tried last working configuration option. I'm wondering what
my options are here?

Will booting to the WinXP CD allow me to run AVG on the hard drive files or
somehow provide any other course of action to recover the important system
files?

Is it time to purchase a 2.5 inch HDD enclosure and transfer my important
files to another PC before doing a fresh install?

There are tens of thousands (at least) of different error conditions
and problems that can produce a BSOS error message. The actual
content of the error message, especially the STOP code, all 4
parameters, and any file or module names mentioned, are what
distinguish the different errors. If you can provide that
information then will likely be possible to give you some constructive
suggestions as to how best to repair/recover from the error.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[~Mike Hollywood]

Hi,

I don't know nothing about the boot problem, but, if you know how to take
the drive out of the laptop, you don't have to buy an external enclosure to
get your files off the laptop's hard drive . Buy a USB IDE ADAPTER TESTER
, they go for around $20. I've been using them for years. What you do is
pull the drive and connect it to the adapter and then plug it into a usb
port. Using a file manager, I use Total Commander, you can then pull the
files and put them where ever you want to. One of mine powers 2.5" drives
from the usb bus, and the other has an external power connector. Both use
AC power converters to generate the 12Vdc power for 3.5" drives via a molex
connector. Nothing could be simpler, or easier for grabbing files off
drives. At least, I haven't found an easier way.

Mike

 

[~Mike Hollywood]

I forgot the rest of your question in my first reply, but, yes, I think
you'd be wise to backup your files before doing anything else to the
laptop's drive. Right now you don't know if its a hardware or a software
problem.
You can find out if its hardware if you have, or can download, a ubuntu cd.
It boots right from your optical drive, so if it does, and the operating
system, linux, is stable, then you pretty much know your hard drive bit the
dust or there is something wrong with it's boot record data. Sometimes an
mbr (master boot record) command will fix them.
Mike