Crashed with no command prompt

[Guest]

A few days ago, our computer (HP Pavillion 523n) crashed with the error message: lsass.exe - Unable to locate lsasrv.dll. Then the computer had a nice black screen with a little white cursor on it. That's all. When we try to reboot to safe mode we get the error message and the black screen with the cursor on it with the words "safe mode" in the corners. When we try to boot to safe mode command prompt we get the same error message and black screen with the safe mode words and cursor. No C: prompt.

We tried the Last Known working configuration (same errors as above) and "non-destructive" restore. But that was unable to open many dll files, including the one that's hanging the computer.

After talking with the computer's tech support line, it turns out it's something involving an administrative password (which we never had it set up for and never used). We ordered restore discs (don't have original XP disks as it was factory installed). Those wipe the drive. We're hoping the nondestructive restore didn't wipe out the data files (pictures, documents, etc) and we might have a chance at backing them up before using the restore disks.

Is there any way to get a C: prompt or to get into the section of the drive where we can find the data files and back them up????

I'm sorry if this isn't the right forum for my questions. We don't know where else to turn.

Thanks.

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

A suggested fix that seems to work on a regular basis without reloading the
system is to use Recovery Console and run a "chkdsk /r" and hope that the
utility fixes whatever was corrupted on the drive.

More info: You Cannot Log On to Windows XP After Running the Out-of-Box
Experience http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q316134

lsasrv.dll - http://tinyurl.com/2w5dk

A few days ago, our computer (HP Pavillion 523n) crashed with the error

message: lsass.exe - Unable to locate lsasrv.dll. Then the computer had a
nice black screen with a little white cursor on it. That's all. When we
try to reboot to safe mode we get the error message and the black screen
with the cursor on it with the words "safe mode" in the corners. When we
try to boot to safe mode command prompt we get the same error message and
black screen with the safe mode words and cursor. No C: prompt.

We tried the Last Known working configuration (same errors as above) and

"non-destructive" restore. But that was unable to open many dll files,
including the one that's hanging the computer.

After talking with the computer's tech support line, it turns out it's

something involving an administrative password (which we never had it set up
for and never used). We ordered restore discs (don't have original XP disks
as it was factory installed). Those wipe the drive. We're hoping the
nondestructive restore didn't wipe out the data files (pictures, documents,
etc) and we might have a chance at backing them up before using the restore
disks.

Is there any way to get a C: prompt or to get into the section of the

drive where we can find the data files and back them up????

 

[Guest]

Recovery console isn't one of the options in the menu. How do I use it?

----- Kelly wrote: -----

Hi,

A suggested fix that seems to work on a regular basis without reloading the
system is to use Recovery Console and run a "chkdsk /r" and hope that the
utility fixes whatever was corrupted on the drive.

More info: You Cannot Log On to Windows XP After Running the Out-of-Box
Experience http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q316134

lsasrv.dll - http://tinyurl.com/2w5dk

/xp_u.htm#xp_util

A few days ago, our computer (HP Pavillion 523n) crashed with the error

message: lsass.exe - Unable to locate lsasrv.dll. Then the computer had a
nice black screen with a little white cursor on it. That's all. When we
try to reboot to safe mode we get the error message and the black screen
with the cursor on it with the words "safe mode" in the corners. When we
try to boot to safe mode command prompt we get the same error message and
black screen with the safe mode words and cursor. No C: prompt."non-destructive" restore. But that was unable to open many dll files,
including the one that's hanging the computer.something involving an administrative password (which we never had it set up
for and never used). We ordered restore discs (don't have original XP disks
as it was factory installed). Those wipe the drive. We're hoping the
nondestructive restore didn't wipe out the data files (pictures, documents,
etc) and we might have a chance at backing them up before using the restore
disks.

 

[Guest]

Ok... I used a Nortons System Works CD to get the computer to do an automatic virus scan on the hard drive. I exited out of that and got a c:\I386 prompt. Can anyone tell me what directory the user files are stored in????

If I can get into our data files, I can back them up to floppy and then use the restore disks to reformat/restore over the corrupted lsass.exe etc files.

LT <hoping beyond hope we can save our computer data>