Ox7E error on XP Repair

[barrowhill]

Globetrooting friend left me his Sony VAIO VGN-S4XP/B to look at.
Original problem was virus infection obtained whislt in USA

Whislt there he used an online "fixit" service (ctrlcentre ?) to help him
remove virus but in doing so this "messed" up his laptop. I don't know full
story but I received PC in condition whereby XP (Pro) would load with
various windows open (CP etc) but no touchpad mouse nor USB port
functionality.

Also had great difficulty navigatiing with Keyboard to effect any repair.

Friend had no software (recovery or otherwise) with him so bit stumped.
Decided in the end to try and repair using my own copy of XP Pro

No real issues; files deleted, files copied, configuration saved and
initialised. This part of thr repair process was completed successfully. It
was only when it came to the reboot that shortly after Windows XP screen
appeared, that I received the BSOD and 0x7e error. No other technecial info
(driver involved etc) given.

This is now permanant feature so stuck

Looked at options for this error and seem to come down to...........

1: Make sure that you have sufficient hard disk space, 2: Update the
computer BIOS, 3: Disable or update device drivers, 4: Remove unsigned
drivers, 5: Remove all third-party drivers

Don't think I can do much about 3, 4 and 5 as can't advance to do so

Don't believe it's BIOS problem (why would it be)

As for disc space, the HDD is 100GB so ??. It has 3 partitions 1) 7154
MB/1778MB free; no drive letter allocated. 2) 28616MB/9113MB free C:/ Drive
and 3) 59624MB/12509MB free D:/ Drive

Is the free space on boot Drive C:/ enough for a repair ?? (it's not
completing repair process so perhaps prime suspect) ???

I'd like to be able to repair somehow without resorting to a clean
install.

In this case I'd have to return to friend when he passes by in a weeks time
(on route from Bahamas via Portugal) so he can use Sony's recovery CD - this
will have all correct drivers for his laptop

Any help in progressing this (if it can be progressed) would be appreciated.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Decided in the end to try and repair using my own copy of XP Pro

That's where you went wrong IMHO, especially since it's a Sony Notebook
computer.

In this case I'd have to return to friend when he passes by in a weeks
time
(on route from Bahamas via Portugal) so he can use Sony's recovery CD -
this
will have all correct drivers for his laptop

I'm afraid you're friend will have to sort this out for himself, using all
of the Sony CDs (including the WinXP CD) to affect a complete Recovery
install.

 

[barrowhill]

PA Bear,

Noted. FYI, he's recently phoned to say he's purchased new laptop on route
to airport !! Obviously can't do without one. I said I'd persevere and for
him to bring with him his recovery CD's on passing thru' (on whay to Bahama's)