HELP!! Partition/MBR Errors

[CBP]

I have had this same problem while running Windows XP
Home Edition using 3 separate hard drives. After a
couple of months of running smoothly I start getting DLL
errors (mshtml.dll, dxtrans.dll, msinm.dll, etc.).
Within a relatively short time my system reboots itself
and fails to load Windows. I have the hard drive
partitioned as a using the NTFS method. (if that's the
correct terminology).

When I use my Windows XP CD-ROM to try to reboot, the
Windows logo flashes on the screen for a split second and
then I get a black screen that says something
like "multipart(0)harddisk(0)something(0)orother(0)
C:\Windows\System32\system.com". There are probably 30
lines of this with different filenames at the end of each
line.

This screen flashes for a split second and then the
computer reboots. I can't get the silly thing to boot at
all.

My guess is that (a) the master boot record is corrupt or
erased or (b) there is some type of partition error so
the drive can't find the files it needs to load and run
Windows.

I have three questions regarding this:

(1) Is there anyway to get to the point where I can boot
to Windows so I can run Recovery (or FIXMBR or FIXBOOT;
(2) If #1 doesn't work, is there a way to correct a
partition error without having to format the hard drive
and lose all my data?; and
(3) Could the IDE controller be causing this problem? I
mean, it's happened 3 separate times and I don't have
this problem with my other computers that are running XP.

Any help/comments/suggestions will be greatly
appreciated. You can email replies to me at cliffpeavy@
{remove}yahoo.com.

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

If this is a store machine, go to the computer manufacturers web site. If
you built this machine, go to the M/B manufacturers web site. Search for,
and download/install, the latest motherboard drivers - especially the IDE
drivers. Note: really important if you are using an Asus A7N8X M/B. Use the
drivers from the Nvidia web site.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Sounds like it's still trying to boot the hard drive and not the CD. I would
recheck the boot settings in the system BIOS. Once the Recovery Console is
loaded, you can try fixboot, but more likely it is that you have a corrupt
installation requiring a repair install. If this is the case, to save your
settings and profiles, see:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

And yes, it could very well be the IDE controller cable, in particular if
you are using a 40 wire cable where you should be using an 80 wire one
(ATA66 or higher drive).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your suggestion. I booted from the Windows XP
CD-ROM and selected "enter" {to install Windows XP per
the instructions from the link you suggested}

After a couple of seconds I received the followed message
in white text on a blue screen:

"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, follow these steps: disable or uninstall any anti-
virus, disk fragmentation, or backup utilities. Check
your hard disk configuration and check for any updated
drivers. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive
corruption and then restart your computer.

TECHNICAL INFO:

*** STOP: 0x00000024 (0x001902F8, 0xF7B92818, 0xF7B92518,
0xF733C857)

*** ntfs.sys -- Address F733C857 base at F7332000,
datestamp 3b7dc5d0"

It looks like the hard drive is corrupted, but again this
is the 3rd hard drive I've used (all different brands).
Guess I need to format and reinstall.

Any suggestions on how to prevent this from occuring in
the future?

As always your comments and suggestions are greatly
appreciated.

CBP