BSOD-Unmountable & others

[antioch]

Win XP SP3 - currently updated. Win Live Mail, IE8.
No recently ADDED HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE - seems important.

Sorry re the length of this thread - it could have been longer. But I have
tried to keep it short and with the latest situation -
For the last 24 hours I have had a series of BSODs - not all the same.
The 2 today have been Unmountable_Boot_Volume and having got through that,
more recently the Kernal_Stack_Inpage errors.

This morning I could not start/boot the computer at first, but eventually,
more I think by luck than judgment, I got it to start and all seemed fine.
I went out and came back some hours later, having left the computer on, only
to find a BSOD with C0000218 Unknown hard error.
Did a restart and got the computer up and running.
Did a restart all OK.
Switched off then on and got a BSOD, the Kernal - well at least it was anew
one.

Following troubleshooting in MS help and this newsgroup, I have tried
various methods and got the computer running again.
First tried the recovery console method but the press 'R' did not activate
and respond - had not previously either - last known etc did not work
previously either.
Did a restart - let it run all the way through - got to the little blue
train running through the tunnel - spent a couple of minutes at least
watching this, then got BSOD Unmountable again.
Restarted again, F8 and got the select boot device - inserted my OEM XP
disc - selected the hard drive hit enter and at last the chkdsk started - it
went through all phases, then it suddenly disappeared and the computer went
through the normal start sequence - I allowed it to start with NORMAL XP -
up came the welcome screen and all OK - and so far I have been using the
computer without any particular side effects.

Since then I have done another dskchk from start/run - went through all
three phases until it got to 'verifying usn journal' - seemed to hang there
for a while then the window disappeared.
I have also run a scan for errors on C: via My Comp/Prop/Tools[is this the
same as chkdsk] - result was 'unable to complete' in the third phase - no
reason given - backed up all personal files, email, favourites, address book
etc.

Currently I am scanning for any 'nasties' and I have a laptop with which to
keep in contact with the newsgroups.

I will of course not know if I still have a BSOD problem until I switch off
later tonight. A restart was again OK.

Reading other posts/threads/forums etc I have a feeling that the HD may have
a problem, seeing that I have had a variety of BSODs in the last 24 hours.
So I am collating the best advice for a clean install.

When I get some time, I will read through James Eshelman's bit on 'stop'
messages.

Rgds
Antioch

 

[Jose]

Win XP SP3 - currently updated.  Win Live Mail, IE8.
No recently ADDED HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE - seems important.

Sorry re the length of this thread - it could have been longer.  But I have
tried to keep it short and with the latest situation -
For the last 24 hours I have had a series of BSODs - not all the same.
The 2 today have been Unmountable_Boot_Volume and having got through that,
more recently the Kernal_Stack_Inpage errors.

This morning I could not start/boot the computer at first, but eventually,
more I think by luck than judgment, I got it to start and all seemed fine..
I went out and came back some hours later, having left the computer on, only
to find a BSOD with C0000218 Unknown hard error.
Did a restart and got the computer up and running.
Did a restart all OK.
Switched off then on and got a BSOD, the Kernal - well at least it was anew
one.

Following troubleshooting in MS help and this newsgroup, I have tried
various methods and got the computer running again.
First tried the recovery console method but the press 'R' did not activate
and respond - had not previously either - last known etc did not work
previously either.
Did a restart - let it run all the way through - got to the little blue
train running through the tunnel - spent a couple of minutes at least
watching this, then got BSOD Unmountable again.
Restarted again, F8 and got the select boot device - inserted my OEM XP
disc - selected the hard drive hit enter and at last the chkdsk started -it
went through all phases, then it suddenly disappeared and the computer went
through the normal start sequence - I allowed it to start with NORMAL XP -
up came the welcome screen and all OK - and so far I have been using the
computer without any particular side effects.

Since then I have done another dskchk from start/run - went through all
three phases until it got to 'verifying usn journal' - seemed to hang there
for a while then the window disappeared.
I have also run a scan for errors on C: via My Comp/Prop/Tools[is this the
same as chkdsk] - result was 'unable to complete' in the third phase - no
reason given - backed up all personal files, email, favourites, address book
etc.

Currently I am scanning for any 'nasties' and I have a laptop with which to
keep in contact with the newsgroups.

I will of course not know if I still have a BSOD problem until I switch off
later tonight.  A restart was again OK.

Reading other posts/threads/forums etc I have a feeling that the HD may have
a problem, seeing that I have had a variety of BSODs in the last 24 hours..
So I am collating the best advice for a clean install.

When I get some time, I will read through James Eshelman's bit on 'stop'
messages.

Rgds
Antioch

If your message said "kernal" and not "kernel" your computer is
infected.

You should scan for nasties with these:

Perform some scans for malicious software, then fix any remaining
issues:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

If your system runs chkdsk when you reboot the results are in the
Event Log:

Look in the Application log for an event sourced by Winlogon,
something like:

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Winlogon
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Description:
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.

If you are not sure what chkdsk is doing or it is not completing, you
should run it from the Recovery Console, then you can see what it is
doing.

The HDD has to be in a "static state" to get reliable results from
chkdsk. You can achieve a static state in only two ways:

1. Before XP finishes loading (when you select to run chkdsk on a
restart).
2. From the Recovery Console

Booting and running something like chkdsk is not chkdsk. You can read
about it here (when you have time):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/187941

You can create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD when no XP media is
available: This is not the same as any Recovery or System CDs that
may have come with a store bought system. I would not recommend using
any tools that "are the same as chkdsk" or something that is "the same
as a Recovery Console".

Here is how to make an XP bootable Recovery Console CD if you are not
sure what you have:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic276527.html

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

Select the installation you want to access (usually 1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder. This is the same as the C:
\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

RC allows basic file commands - copy, rename, replace, delete, cd,
chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive
where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the
afflicted drive.

Running chkdsk is fine to run even if it doesn't find any problems.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take
a long time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the
HDD light is
still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on the percentage
amount to be sure it is still making progress. It may even appear to
go backwards sometimes.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the
CD will not be present.

If you still have a BSOD, you can figure them out and fix them without
guessing or trying things, but first get the obvious stuff done, then
work on your BSOD.

With your system in a known state, this is the time to resolve any
remaining issues

If you want to share your last few BSOD information for commentary
while you are running MBAM, SAS and chkdsk/r, do this:

Download BlueScreenView from here:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

Unzip and run it and let it finish scanning all your dump files.
Select the most recent dump files by clicking them and holding down
the Ctrl key to select multiples files. Try to select just the most
recent ones that relate to your issue.

Click File, Save Selected Items and save the information from the
dumps to a text file on your desktop called BSOD.txt. Open BSOD.txt
with a text editor, copy all the text and paste it into your next
reply.

 

[antioch]

Hi Jose
My replies are intertwined.

If your message said "kernal" and not "kernel" your computer is
infected.
---Typo

You should scan for nasties with these:

Perform some scans for malicious software, then fix any remaining
issues:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

---I had already done as above - use MBAM/SAS as a matter of course - also
did online Symantec plus onboard MS Security Essentials - all found nothing,
but of course does not mean system is clean.

If your system runs chkdsk when you reboot the results are in the
Event Log:

---I had run 3 chkdsks - event viewer reported no bad bits.

Look in the Application log for an event sourced by Winlogon,
something like:

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Winlogon
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Description:
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.

If you are not sure what chkdsk is doing or it is not completing, you
should run it from the Recovery Console, then you can see what it is
doing.

---Cannot get Recovery C to perform properly - all I kept getting was 'type
exit to quit and restart computer'

The HDD has to be in a "static state" to get reliable results from
chkdsk. You can achieve a static state in only two ways:

---I have since done this with the XP disc after the type exit as above
because it is a choice that can be typed instead of exit - again nothing
reported as corrupt etc.

1. Before XP finishes loading (when you select to run chkdsk on a
restart).
2. From the Recovery Console

Booting and running something like chkdsk is not chkdsk. You can read
about it here (when you have time):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/187941

You can create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD when no XP media is
available: This is not the same as any Recovery or System CDs that
may have come with a store bought system. I would not recommend using
any tools that "are the same as chkdsk" or something that is "the same
as a Recovery Console".

Here is how to make an XP bootable Recovery Console CD if you are not
sure what you have:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic276527.html

---I have an OEM WIN XP DISC. I will add here that the computer functioned
OK all last night with no trouble at all. Restarts caused no problems.
This morning however, I switched on and it seemed to start OK but the
'little train' went on for a long time until the screen went blank and then
up popped 'NTLDR is missing etc etc.
Since then I have been trying to get into Rec Con and copy the two relevent
files from the XP disc but each time I get 'cannot be copied.'
I have as you will see, been through your methods already + plus other
little bits from various posts I had saved - more than one way to skin a
xxx.

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

---Its here that I loose any choice - as explained above - only get the
option to exit.

Select the installation you want to access (usually 1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

---Password - hope not - I have no idea what it might be unless its my login
one.
However I never get this far/choice most times.

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder. This is the same as the C:
\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

RC allows basic file commands - copy, rename, replace, delete, cd,
chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

---These are the ones mentioned above - chkdsk is about the only one that
worked.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive
where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the
afflicted drive.

Running chkdsk is fine to run even if it doesn't find any problems.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

---the above command does not work. Just typing chkdsk does.

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take
a long time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the
HDD light is
still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on the percentage
amount to be sure it is still making progress. It may even appear to
go backwards sometimes.

I have run this tree times this evening and each time it does report that
there were one or more errors on the volume.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer.

---the disc cannot be removed first - however at the last go it all rebooted
back into windows and for the last hour or so has appeared stable.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the
CD will not be present.

If you still have a BSOD, you can figure them out and fix them without
guessing or trying things, but first get the obvious stuff done, then
work on your BSOD.

With your system in a known state, this is the time to resolve any
remaining issues

If you want to share your last few BSOD information for commentary
while you are running MBAM, SAS and chkdsk/r, do this:

Download BlueScreenView from here:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

Unzip and run it and let it finish scanning all your dump files.
Select the most recent dump files by clicking them and holding down
the Ctrl key to select multiples files. Try to select just the most
recent ones that relate to your issue.

Click File, Save Selected Items and save the information from the
dumps to a text file on your desktop called BSOD.txt. Open BSOD.txt
with a text editor, copy all the text and paste it into your next
reply.

---So most of the above is now in the past earlier today.
But I have a feeling that when I turn off......................?
but while I have the chance, I will go the HDD maker's site and get their
scan tool and run it.

Many thanks for your detailed help/advice etc and in particular the last
four/five paras - for the next time.
At the time I got the first BSOD I was about to troubleshoot a System
Restore filled with that bloody Software Distribution Service - cannot use
restore points at all. I have three months of them.

Rgds
Antioch

 

[Daave]

(cross-posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)

Win XP SP3 - currently updated. Win Live Mail, IE8.
No recently ADDED HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE - seems important.

Sorry re the length of this thread - it could have been longer. But
I have tried to keep it short and with the latest situation -
For the last 24 hours I have had a series of BSODs - not all the same.
The 2 today have been Unmountable_Boot_Volume and having got through
that, more recently the Kernal_Stack_Inpage errors.

This morning I could not start/boot the computer at first, but
eventually, more I think by luck than judgment, I got it to start and
all seemed fine. I went out and came back some hours later, having
left the computer on, only to find a BSOD with C0000218 Unknown hard
error. Did a restart and got the computer up and running.
Did a restart all OK.
Switched off then on and got a BSOD, the Kernal - well at least it
was anew one.

Following troubleshooting in MS help and this newsgroup, I have tried
various methods and got the computer running again.
First tried the recovery console method but the press 'R' did not
activate and respond - had not previously either - last known etc did
not work previously either.
Did a restart - let it run all the way through - got to the little
blue train running through the tunnel - spent a couple of minutes at
least watching this, then got BSOD Unmountable again.
Restarted again, F8 and got the select boot device - inserted my OEM
XP disc - selected the hard drive hit enter and at last the chkdsk
started - it went through all phases, then it suddenly disappeared
and the computer went through the normal start sequence - I allowed
it to start with NORMAL XP - up came the welcome screen and all OK -
and so far I have been using the computer without any particular side
effects.
Since then I have done another dskchk from start/run - went through
all three phases until it got to 'verifying usn journal' - seemed to
hang there for a while then the window disappeared.
I have also run a scan for errors on C: via My Comp/Prop/Tools[is
this the same as chkdsk] - result was 'unable to complete' in the
third phase - no reason given - backed up all personal files, email,
favourites, address book etc.

Currently I am scanning for any 'nasties' and I have a laptop with
which to keep in contact with the newsgroups.

I will of course not know if I still have a BSOD problem until I
switch off later tonight. A restart was again OK.

Reading other posts/threads/forums etc I have a feeling that the HD
may have a problem, seeing that I have had a variety of BSODs in the
last 24 hours. So I am collating the best advice for a clean install.

I'm sure you need to replace the hard drive.

You can verify this by running the appropriate utility depending on the
make and model of the drive. You would need a working PC to build a
bootable floppy or CD.

 

[Antioch]

(cross-posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)

CLIPPED


I'm sure you need to replace the hard drive.

You can verify this by running the appropriate utility depending on the
make and model of the drive. You would need a working PC to build a
bootable floppy or CD.

Hi Daave
I also think the HDD is gone
I am waiting a reply from the Maxtor forum for advice on that - could not
find anything on the Seagate/Maxtor site - well nothing that indicated what
I needed/could use for a scan etc.
I have the Windows XP CD+SP3+all updates on disc since SP3+backup which I
keep updated as and when the computer is running.

Thanks for the Xpost to hardware.

Antioch

 

[Jose]

Hi Jose
My replies are intertwined.








---I had already done as above - use MBAM/SAS as a matter of course - also
did online Symantec plus onboard MS Security Essentials - all found nothing,
but of course does not mean system is clean.


---I had run 3 chkdsks - event viewer reported no bad bits.






---Cannot get Recovery C to perform properly - all I kept getting was 'type
exit to quit and restart computer'


---I have since done this with the XP disc after the type exit as above
because it is a choice that can be typed instead of exit - again nothing
reported as corrupt etc.









---I have an OEM WIN XP DISC.  I will add here that the computer functioned
OK all last night with no trouble at all.  Restarts caused no problems.
This morning however, I switched on and it seemed to start OK but the
'little train' went on for a long time until the screen went blank and then
up popped 'NTLDR is missing etc etc.
Since then I have been trying to get into Rec Con and copy the two relevent
files from the XP disc but each time I get 'cannot be copied.'
I have as you will see, been through your methods already + plus other
little bits from various posts I had saved - more than one way to skin a
xxx.





---Its here that I loose any choice - as explained above - only get the
option to exit.



---Password - hope not - I have no idea what it might be unless its my login
one.
However I never get this far/choice most times.



---These are the ones mentioned above - chkdsk is about the only one that
worked.







---the above command does not work.  Just typing chkdsk does.


I have run this tree times this evening and each time it does report that
there were one or more errors on the volume.


---the disc cannot be removed first - however at the last go it all rebooted
back into windows and for the last hour or so has appeared stable.











---So most of the above is now in the past earlier today.
But I have a feeling that when I turn off......................?
but while I have the chance, I will go the HDD maker's site and get their
scan tool and run it.

Many thanks for your detailed help/advice etc and in particular the last
four/five paras - for the next time.
At the time I got the first BSOD I was about to troubleshoot a System
Restore filled with that bloody Software Distribution Service - cannot use
restore points at all.  I have three months of them.

Rgds
Antioch

I guess I do not understand why you do not make a Recovery Console CD
and follow the directions that work so well for so many people and
insist on doing things your own way. I do not make these instructions
up on the fly just for your problem.

I did not say boot on your OEM XP CD and have no idea what CD you
have. Some people think they have an XP CD and they do not. If you
make the one I suggest there will be no question about it or how it
works. If you are not using the CD I told you about, you are could be
using the wrong CD which is why some things do not work. If you make
the CD I suggested, there will be no questions.

Running chkdsk without the /r option will fix nothing. It will report
errors but not fix anything. If you boot RC like I said, chkdsk /r
work - or it will do something (hopefully something good), then you
type 'exit' to reboot. That is how it has worked hundreds and
hundreds and hundreds of times.

I know my instructions work from the Recovery Console CD I talk
about.

I guess I will leave you in the hands of others so you can keep trying
things that might work maybe and perhaps you will get lucky. I am not
big on trying things..

Rotsa ruck!

 

[Daave]

Hi Daave
I also think the HDD is gone
I am waiting a reply from the Maxtor forum for advice on that - could
not find anything on the Seagate/Maxtor site - well nothing that
indicated what I needed/could use for a scan etc.
I have the Windows XP CD+SP3+all updates on disc since SP3+backup
which I keep updated as and when the computer is running.

Thanks for the Xpost to hardware.

YW. Chances are that SeaTools for DOS will be your ticket:

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

 

[antioch]

YW. Chances are that SeaTools for DOS will be your ticket:

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

I will see what they offer when I get reply - thanks for the link.

Rgds
Antioch

 

[antioch]

YW. Chances are that SeaTools for DOS will be your ticket:

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Hi Daave
I have at last been able to run the diag for Windows and the DOS one - both
'passed' all checks/scans - no repair work done.
I have also managed to get the computer up and running after - that was
yesterday and reboot after reboot was OK. But today, the wretched thing
will not reboot - in fact I cannot even boot with the XP disc loaded and
during the Rec. Console performance, I can no longer perform a CHKDSK - KEEP
GETTING 'PATH FILE NOT RECOGNISED/VALID' - in fact, nothing entered into the
command line works where it has done before.
So am no nearer finding out if the HDD is the problem or it is something
else. For the moment I am not in mind to do a complete reinstall of
Windows - if the HDD is the problem, then I am still stuck where I am now.
I still have had no reply from my post in the Maxtor/Seagate forums.

I have also been trying to find what is meant by 'A devise enclosed in
parenthesis[brackets] has been disabled in the corresponding type menu',
which appears in the Bios Setup Utility boot devise priority. I have read
at least 30 Google links and nowhere does it explain what it means - it does
appear though that this info is particular to ASUS MBs. But I can find no
way to get rid of the brackets. Perhaps this is why I can no longer boot
up.

I have two columns -

1st Boot Device [PM-ATPI iHAP322 9]
2nd Boot Device [1st Floppy Drive]
3rd Boot Device [3M-Maxtor 6L160MO]


Thanks for the link - it directed me to both pieces of diag software.

Antioch

 

[Daave]

YW. Chances are that SeaTools for DOS will be your ticket:

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Hi Daave
I have at last been able to run the diag for Windows and the DOS one
- both 'passed' all checks/scans - no repair work done.
I have also managed to get the computer up and running after - that
was yesterday and reboot after reboot was OK. But today, the
wretched thing will not reboot - in fact I cannot even boot with the
XP disc loaded and during the Rec. Console performance, I can no
longer perform a CHKDSK - KEEP GETTING 'PATH FILE NOT
RECOGNISED/VALID' - in fact, nothing entered into the command line
works where it has done before. So am no nearer finding out if the HDD
is the problem or it is
something else. For the moment I am not in mind to do a complete
reinstall of Windows - if the HDD is the problem, then I am still
stuck where I am now. I still have had no reply from my post in the
Maxtor/Seagate forums.
I have also been trying to find what is meant by 'A devise enclosed in
parenthesis[brackets] has been disabled in the corresponding type
menu', which appears in the Bios Setup Utility boot devise priority. I
have read at least 30 Google links and nowhere does it explain what
it means - it does appear though that this info is particular to ASUS
MBs. But I can find no way to get rid of the brackets. Perhaps this
is why I can no longer boot up.

I have two columns -

1st Boot Device [PM-ATPI iHAP322 9]
2nd Boot Device [1st Floppy Drive]
3rd Boot Device [3M-Maxtor 6L160MO]


Thanks for the link - it directed me to both pieces of diag software.

[Please start with my last paragraph!]

Assuming your disk is healthy (and that is a safe assumption if running
SeaTools on the bootable floppy you made gave it a clean bill of
health), you may very well need to do what Jose advised. Don't feel that
you wasted your time. Best practice dictates that you check the health
of your drive first. You now have the knowledge it is healthy. Of
course, if nothing works, then you will need to perform a Clean Install.
Hopefully, either chkdsk or a repair install will work. You could also
perform what is popularly known as a manual system restore (going back
to the time before you experienced these BSODs):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

When you do the above or the chkdsk and require the Recovery Console, it
is imperative you configure your BIOS to boot off the CD rather than the
usual hard drive. I see in one of your replies to Jose that you were
having problems with the Recovery Console. Is it possible you has
installed it on your hard drive and were using *that* version of it? Is
it possible you didn't boot off the CD? If you have a genuine Windows XP
installation CD, it comes with RC. If there is something wrong with the
CD, you can certainly make your own bootable RC disk (Jose told you
about that already).

I suspect you are doing it incorrectly. There are two ways to perform
chkdsk: One way is using the function from your XP installation
currently on your hard drive. The other way is to us RC from the correct
bootable CD (and making sure you are indeed booting off the CD!). You
said you tried the command Jose gave you (chkdsk C: /R) and it didn't
work. This indicates you did not boot off the RC CD. Keep in mind that
if your present installation CD doesn't work, the bootable RC CD you can
create should work.

Speaking of...

In your one post, you stated:

"I have an OEM WIN XP DISC."

What does that mean? What is the make and model of this PC? Please
describe this CD *in detail*!

I just re-read your post. The BIOS setup message is disturbing to say
the least! Check all your connections; perhaps something came loose.
Since this has been cross-posted to the hardware newsgroup, perhaps
someone else can chime in with useful information. Otherwise, post to an
ASUS motherboard Web forum. A Clean Install won't help if you have
motherboard issues! Maybe all you did was inadvertantly temporarily
disable one of your bootable devices.

 

[antioch]

Hi Daave
Many thanks - I will read your reply with care and come back to you.

Antioch

Antioch wrote:
(cross-posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)

antioch wrote:
Win XP SP3 - currently updated. Win Live Mail, IE8.
No recently ADDED HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE - seems important.

Sorry re the length of this thread - it could have been longer. But I
have tried to keep it short and with the latest situation -
For the last 24 hours I have had a series of BSODs - not all the
same. The 2 today have been Unmountable_Boot_Volume and having got
through that, more recently the Kernel_Stack_Inpage errors.

CLIPPED

Reading other posts/threads/forums etc I have a feeling that the
HD may have a problem, seeing that I have had a variety of BSODs
in the last 24 hours. So I am collating the best advice for a
clean install.

I'm sure you need to replace the hard drive.

You can verify this by running the appropriate utility depending on
the make and model of the drive. You would need a working PC to
build a bootable floppy or CD.

Hi Daave
I also think the HDD is gone
I am waiting a reply from the Maxtor forum for advice on that -
could not find anything on the Seagate/Maxtor site - well nothing
that indicated what I needed/could use for a scan etc.
I have the Windows XP CD+SP3+all updates on disc since SP3+backup
which I keep updated as and when the computer is running.

Thanks for the Xpost to hardware.

YW. Chances are that SeaTools for DOS will be your ticket:

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Hi Daave
I have at last been able to run the diag for Windows and the DOS one
- both 'passed' all checks/scans - no repair work done.
I have also managed to get the computer up and running after - that
was yesterday and reboot after reboot was OK. But today, the
wretched thing will not reboot - in fact I cannot even boot with the
XP disc loaded and during the Rec. Console performance, I can no
longer perform a CHKDSK - KEEP GETTING 'PATH FILE NOT
RECOGNISED/VALID' - in fact, nothing entered into the command line
works where it has done before. So am no nearer finding out if the HDD is
the problem or it is
something else. For the moment I am not in mind to do a complete
reinstall of Windows - if the HDD is the problem, then I am still
stuck where I am now. I still have had no reply from my post in the
Maxtor/Seagate forums.
I have also been trying to find what is meant by 'A devise enclosed in
parenthesis[brackets] has been disabled in the corresponding type
menu', which appears in the Bios Setup Utility boot devise priority. I
have read at least 30 Google links and nowhere does it explain what
it means - it does appear though that this info is particular to ASUS
MBs. But I can find no way to get rid of the brackets. Perhaps this
is why I can no longer boot up.

I have two columns -

1st Boot Device [PM-ATPI iHAP322 9]
2nd Boot Device [1st Floppy Drive]
3rd Boot Device [3M-Maxtor 6L160MO]


Thanks for the link - it directed me to both pieces of diag software.

[Please start with my last paragraph!]

Assuming your disk is healthy (and that is a safe assumption if running
SeaTools on the bootable floppy you made gave it a clean bill of health),
you may very well need to do what Jose advised. Don't feel that you wasted
your time. Best practice dictates that you check the health of your drive
first. You now have the knowledge it is healthy. Of course, if nothing
works, then you will need to perform a Clean Install. Hopefully, either
chkdsk or a repair install will work. You could also perform what is
popularly known as a manual system restore (going back to the time before
you experienced these BSODs):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

When you do the above or the chkdsk and require the Recovery Console, it
is imperative you configure your BIOS to boot off the CD rather than the
usual hard drive. I see in one of your replies to Jose that you were
having problems with the Recovery Console. Is it possible you has
installed it on your hard drive and were using *that* version of it? Is it
possible you didn't boot off the CD? If you have a genuine Windows XP
installation CD, it comes with RC. If there is something wrong with the
CD, you can certainly make your own bootable RC disk (Jose told you about
that already).

I suspect you are doing it incorrectly. There are two ways to perform
chkdsk: One way is using the function from your XP installation currently
on your hard drive. The other way is to us RC from the correct bootable CD
(and making sure you are indeed booting off the CD!). You said you tried
the command Jose gave you (chkdsk C: /R) and it didn't work. This
indicates you did not boot off the RC CD. Keep in mind that if your
present installation CD doesn't work, the bootable RC CD you can create
should work.

Speaking of...

In your one post, you stated:

"I have an OEM WIN XP DISC."

What does that mean? What is the make and model of this PC? Please
describe this CD *in detail*!

I just re-read your post. The BIOS setup message is disturbing to say the
least! Check all your connections; perhaps something came loose. Since
this has been cross-posted to the hardware newsgroup, perhaps someone else
can chime in with useful information. Otherwise, post to an ASUS
motherboard Web forum. A Clean Install won't help if you have motherboard
issues! Maybe all you did was inadvertantly temporarily disable one of
your bootable devices.

 

[antioch]

Hi Daave
Many thanks - I will read your reply with care and come back to you.

Antioch

I forgot to add that I have a genuine Microsoft Windows XP SP2 disc. with
key code.
It is not a bootable OEM from the computer builder.
I have been able to get into R.C. and have performed recovery.

At startup I have an immediate choice after tapping F8 to boot from CD -
this has been working OK hence my ability to do chkdsk - but alas not at the
moment.

Antioch

 

[Daave]

I forgot to add that I have a genuine Microsoft Windows XP SP2 disc.
with key code.
It is not a bootable OEM from the computer builder.
I have been able to get into R.C. and have performed recovery.

At startup I have an immediate choice after tapping F8 to boot from
CD - this has been working OK hence my ability to do chkdsk - but
alas not at the moment.

Are you sure you don't mean F1 or F2? Or Esc? Or Del? Those are the keys
most commonly used to enter Setup (to configure your BIOS to boot from
the CD). More info:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

F8 is used to enter the Windows menu for options such as Safe Mode and
Last Known Good Configuration.

Certain PCs allow you to choose a boot device without needing to enter
Setup. For instance, many Dells allow you to press F12 to get such a
menu.

 

[antioch]

I forgot to add that I have a genuine Microsoft Windows XP SP2 disc. with
key code.
It is not a bootable OEM from the computer builder.
I have been able to get into R.C. and have performed recovery.

At startup I have an immediate choice after tapping F8 to boot from CD -
this has been working OK hence my ability to do chkdsk - but alas not at
the moment.

Antioch

Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off for 30
mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in double quick
time.
But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not start.
So while I have it running I will look through event viewer etc and see if a
chkdsk works.
I forgot to add the XP disc, it is not the retail type i.e. it is tied to my
current computer which I had built to my specs 5 years ago. The difference
between OEM and Retail genuine XP disc has been a regular topic in this
newsgroup - the main difference being with an OEM I cannot install it on
another computer - well not legally - but it is possible
So for the moment, I am going back to re-read the post from Jose and follow
the instructions there.
I see you have not yet taken that leap of faith to Windows Live Mail and
still on the OE6.
I am using WLM - I miss OE 6 but now I am used to WLM I will not be going
back.
It is a big improvement to WM.

Antioch

 

[Daave]

Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off
for 30 mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in
double quick time.
But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not
start.

What are your power settings set for? Do you use Hiberbnation or System
Standby? Which method do you use to "switch off?"

 

[antioch]

Are you sure you don't mean F1 or F2? Or Esc? Or Del? Those are the keys
most commonly used to enter Setup (to configure your BIOS to boot from the
CD). More info:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

F8 is used to enter the Windows menu for options such as Safe Mode and
Last Known Good Configuration.

Certain PCs allow you to choose a boot device without needing to enter
Setup. For instance, many Dells allow you to press F12 to get such a menu.

At the first screen - called set up I think - I have at the bottom of screen
DEL TO RUN setup - TAB to enter BIOS.
If I ignore that screen and go to the next I get the IDE scan - after that I
get a window with F8 at the bottom - when I press that I get the Advanced
Options menu which have not always allowed me a choice.
However, if I press the F8 key at the IDE scan, I get a small coloured
window with PLEASE SELECT BOOT DEVICE - 1ST FLOPPY -then PM-ATAPI[CD DRIVE]
and lastly 3M MAXTOR[HDD].
I think this is a sort of quick boot. You press arrows to select then enter
or ESC to use defaults.

This the order in which they are in the Bios.

Hope I have explained this clearly.

Antioch

 

[antioch]

Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off
for 30 mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in
double quick time.
But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not
start.

What are your power settings set for? Do you use Hiberbnation or System
Standby? Which method do you use to "switch off?"

I do not know what the power settings are - are they in Bios - if so will
get them later.
Never use Hibernation or standby - I exit via Start/Turn off.
I will be away from the computer for a while.

Antioch

 

[Daave]

Are you sure you don't mean F1 or F2? Or Esc? Or Del? Those are the
keys most commonly used to enter Setup (to configure your BIOS to
boot from the CD). More info:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

F8 is used to enter the Windows menu for options such as Safe Mode
and Last Known Good Configuration.

Certain PCs allow you to choose a boot device without needing to
enter Setup. For instance, many Dells allow you to press F12 to get
such a menu.

At the first screen - called set up I think - I have at the bottom of
screen DEL TO RUN setup - TAB to enter BIOS.
If I ignore that screen and go to the next I get the IDE scan - after
that I get a window with F8 at the bottom - when I press that I get
the Advanced Options menu which have not always allowed me a choice.
However, if I press the F8 key at the IDE scan, I get a small coloured
window with PLEASE SELECT BOOT DEVICE - 1ST FLOPPY -then PM-ATAPI[CD
DRIVE] and lastly 3M MAXTOR[HDD].
I think this is a sort of quick boot. You press arrows to select
then enter or ESC to use defaults.

This the order in which they are in the Bios.

Hope I have explained this clearly.

If your CD drive already has a higher priority than your hard drive in
the BIOS settings for boot order, then there is no need to press
*anything* when you boot up. That is, if you turn the PC on, does it
boot off the CD? If you are running off the XP installation CD, you
should see this screen:

http://www.pcxmedics.com/blog/images/clean-install-xp-1.jpg

Do you?

What is the make and model of your motherboard?

 

[antioch]

antioch wrote:
Hi Daave
Many thanks - I will read your reply with care and come back to
you. Antioch

I forgot to add that I have a genuine Microsoft Windows XP SP2 disc.
with key code.
It is not a bootable OEM from the computer builder.
I have been able to get into R.C. and have performed recovery.

At startup I have an immediate choice after tapping F8 to boot from
CD - this has been working OK hence my ability to do chkdsk - but
alas not at the moment.

Are you sure you don't mean F1 or F2? Or Esc? Or Del? Those are the
keys most commonly used to enter Setup (to configure your BIOS to
boot from the CD). More info:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

F8 is used to enter the Windows menu for options such as Safe Mode
and Last Known Good Configuration.

Certain PCs allow you to choose a boot device without needing to
enter Setup. For instance, many Dells allow you to press F12 to get
such a menu.

At the first screen - called set up I think - I have at the bottom of
screen DEL TO RUN setup - TAB to enter BIOS.
If I ignore that screen and go to the next I get the IDE scan - after
that I get a window with F8 at the bottom - when I press that I get
the Advanced Options menu which have not always allowed me a choice.
However, if I press the F8 key at the IDE scan, I get a small coloured
window with PLEASE SELECT BOOT DEVICE - 1ST FLOPPY -then PM-ATAPI[CD
DRIVE] and lastly 3M MAXTOR[HDD].
I think this is a sort of quick boot. You press arrows to select
then enter or ESC to use defaults.

This the order in which they are in the Bios.

Hope I have explained this clearly.

If your CD drive already has a higher priority than your hard drive in the
BIOS settings for boot order, then there is no need to press *anything*
when you boot up. That is, if you turn the PC on, does it boot off the CD?
If you are running off the XP installation CD, you should see this screen:

http://www.pcxmedics.com/blog/images/clean-install-xp-1.jpg

Do you?

What is the make and model of your motherboard?

Boot order in Bios is floppy, HDD then CD Rom. The order in that small
coloured window which I get with F8 at the IDE scan is in no particular
order - its just there to select.
I have put the ISO disc in and started the boot - I get no 'press any key to
boot from CD.....'
But if I pick CD from that coloured window, I do get that prompt.
I also get the same result with the WIN XP disc in the computer. The only
variance is at the end of the Rec. Con activity - as to what I can/cannot
enter in the command line.
So I would conclude that of course the CD does not have a higher priority
boot in the bios - as I believe they are the default settings as I mentioned
above.

Oh, nearly forgot - yes I can also use DEL at the first screen to enter
setup - then I go to BOOT in the menu. But I do not like going to places
where I have no idea what I am doing - bit like the registry.
To me it appears that it matters not what disc is in there - they booth
require CD boot to be selected and both behave erratically in the Rec. Con.
Hope that answers all your question.
MB is an Asus P5LD2.

FOR INFO OF JOSE - sorry to include here in my reply to Daave -

I have tried to run command prompt chkdsk C: /r - it will not accept it with
the ISO disc/nor the XP disc. - only on CHKDSK will it run..

"Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer." You can only eject the CD after you exit, not before.

"If you still have a BSOD................." When I get it, it is now only
the 'unmountable' - none as yet of the others.

"Download BlueScreenView from here:" Thanks - a very handy gadget.

The XP disc I have is for install, repair, recovery amongst other things - I
have used it many times to get small files for
repair/replace/missing/corrupt.

As I have said before, I cannot enter the chkdsk C: /r - it matters not
which disc I use. Then why is that not an option in the help command
lines????
But just to confirm I get this at the command line C:\ > - what I can type
in there is I am afraid hit and miss, and if something does take then more
often than not I get 'the path or file specified is not valid'. Perhaps I
am not typing the entry properly but I have tried many ways.
The last Rec Con I ran I was able to do CHKDSK [not with the 'r'] - refused
it.
At the end I got 'the volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable
errors.
I entered exit - rebooted and up fired windows - but then this has been
happening for no logical reason. So I do not dare to Turn Off because I
know it will not come back again on restart.

Sorry re the delay with covering all your points/questions and advice - it
has been much appreciated. I hope I have done them to the letter - sorry if
the results have been a negative.

Many thanks you you both - your time and patience is appreciated - I am NOT
looking forward to going back to those archaic/cranky web interface
discussion groups.

Rgds
Antioch

 

[Daave]

Boot order in Bios is floppy, HDD then CD Rom. The order in that
small coloured window which I get with F8 at the IDE scan is in no
particular order - its just there to select.
I have put the ISO disc in and started the boot - I get no 'press any
key to boot from CD.....'
But if I pick CD from that coloured window, I do get that prompt.
I also get the same result with the WIN XP disc in the computer. The
only variance is at the end of the Rec. Con activity - as to what I
can/cannot enter in the command line.
So I would conclude that of course the CD does not have a higher
priority boot in the bios - as I believe they are the default
settings as I mentioned above.

I think you are getting too hung up on this F8 IDE scan.

You need to simplify this process!

Just place the CD ahead of the hard drive in the boot order. If there is
no CD in the drive, then it will boot off the hard drive anyway.
Furthermore, you can always undo the change. It is simple and safe (as
long as you don't purposefully change other settings).

Oh, nearly forgot - yes I can also use DEL at the first screen to
enter setup - then I go to BOOT in the menu.

This is what you need to do! Then make the CD-ROM drive the first (or
second) priority (as long as it precedes the HDD).

But I do not like going
to places where I have no idea what I am doing - bit like the
registry.

This is basic. If it really bothers you that much, you should find a
tech to do this for you. But if you reconsider, simply jot down all the
BIOS settings. This is way you have a record of them in case you ever
need to reset them.

To me it appears that it matters not what disc is in there - they
booth require CD boot to be selected and both behave erratically in
the Rec. Con. Hope that answers all your question.

The erratic behavior should disappear once you act upon my suggestion.

MB is an Asus P5LD2.

When I have more time, I will look into this motherboard and the F8 IDE
scan you mention.

Finally, there is no such thing as an ISO disc. Perhaps you mean the
bootable RC disc you created based on an .iso file you downloaded? If
this is the case, it is imperative that you burn it the correct way with
the correct software. Many people make the common mistake of simply
burning (i.e., copying) the file onto the CD. Which method and software
did you use?