unable to boot

[r dornfeld]

I have windowsXP, home edition, SP2. My computer reboots automatically after
getting to the windowsXP splash screen. I can get going with Safe Mode and
using VGA mode (F8 option). The problem started after the computer locked
when trying to "turn computer off."

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

you can try to fix the
boot files via the
methodology below.

boot with a winxp
setup cd.

then the first screen
will provide the option
to install windows or
repair, so select "r" for
repair.

the above will then initiate
the recovery console and
allow you to log into the
disk.

you can then run the following
commands at the prompt >:

chkdsk
fixboot
fixmbr

then "exit", remove cd
and try to boot normally.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[r dornfeld]

db

I don't have a winxp cd. My Dell has a recovery drive, but I will lose my
programs. I did a chkdsk from a C> in safe mode, but that didn't solve the
problem.

RD

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have windowsXP, home edition, SP2. My computer reboots automatically
after
getting to the windowsXP splash screen. I can get going with Safe Mode and
using VGA mode (F8 option). The problem started after the computer locked
when trying to "turn computer off."

Boot into Safe Mode, then use System Restore to set your computer back by a
few days.

 

[r dornfeld]

I've tried restoring many times from safe mode, but I get a screen on
restarting that says "restore unsuccessful" and the reboot problem persists.

When I disable automatic restart from the F8 option I get a screen at the
end of the failed boot saying that windows shut down automatically to prevent
damage. It then gives some suggestions about changing the video adapter, and
any drivers mentioned in the message. At the bottom of the screen is the
following (more or less):

STOP: X0000008E (0XC0000005,0XBF9D9180,0XF87F4424,0X00000000)
nv4_disp.dll_Address BF9D9180 bajearBF9D5000, Datestamp 3fd0f956

Any further suggestions.
Thanks for your help
RD

 

[SC Tom]

nv4_disp.dll is an nvidia display file. Try booting into safe mode and
reinstalling the driver, if it will let you. You might have to uninstall
them first.

If you want to try System Restore again, boot to Safe Mode with Command
Prompt. Type c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe and hit enter. It will
bring up the GUI to restore, but won't let you set a restore point. I've had
quite a bit of success doing it this way when normal and safe mode didn't
work.

SC Tom

 

[r dornfeld]

Nothing I do seems to work. I've copied nv4.dll from another location to
system32, not helpful. If I re-install windows xp (Ihave a disc from another
computer, since the unbootable computer has a hard disk recovery) will I
lose data, installed programs when I perform the re-install?? Is this likely
to solve my problems if I do the re-install??

Thanks all for your ideas!!!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Nothing I do seems to work. I've copied nv4.dll from another location to
system32, not helpful. If I re-install windows xp (Ihave a disc from
another
computer, since the unbootable computer has a hard disk recovery) will I
lose data, installed programs when I perform the re-install?? Is this
likely
to solve my problems if I do the re-install??

Thanks all for your ideas!!!

Before performing a re-installation, I would restore the System registry
hive by manual means, following the procedure described here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545. I have used it successfully on
several occasions.

A re-installation will solve your problems. You will have to re-install all
programs.

There is a substantial risk that you will lose your data during a
re-installation. This is why it is absolutely essential to have a current
backup of all your important data files, including your EMail files. You
have a backup, haven't you? If not then you need to review your backup
policy. You will also have to do things the hard way round. Here is how you
can backup your data files:
1. Get yourself a 2.5" disk in an external USB case.
2. Connect your PC's disk as a slave disk to some other WinXP PC.
3. Back up your files to the external USB disk.

After you have resolved the current problem you can use the USB disk as your
weekly backup medium. Make sure to keep it well away from your PC for most
of the time.

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

you are right, in that
if you use the recovery
disks, you will wipe
away your accumulated
data.

---------------------

however, based on the
other responses on your
thread,

perhaps, you can uninstall
the video board.

--------------

incidentally, any winxp
cd can give you access
to the disk prompt.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[r dornfeld]

Do you mean the video board inside the box? I have the box open to clean it,
didn't help. I have canabalized the video board from an old computer that
used win98. Can I replace it with that one, just to see if this is indeed a
hardware problem?

Thanks agian

 

[SC Tom]

I didn't mean to reinstall Windows, I meant the video driver. If you can
boot into safe mode, go to add/remove programs in control panel and
uninstall the nvidia display drivers. There may be other nvidia drivers for
the system chipset- DON'T uninstall them.
After uninstalling the video drivers, reboot and install them. If you don't
have them already, you can get them from the nvidia web site, either from
someone else copied to CD, or boot to safe mode with network support and
download them yourself.

SC Tom

 

[r dornfeld]

Thanks. I've backed a lot of stuff, pictures, doc&settings, to an external
hard drive, which I do from time to time. Where do my e-mails and and e-mail
addresses reside? How do I save my audio files in I-tunes? Where are my
favorites for internet browsing stored? I saw your link on another thread,
and will give that a try before I re-install windows (I guess that is that
last resort).


Since I don't have internet access in safe mode, I can't download the nvidia
drivers, and I've been to there website, but I don't have access to the model
# etc since the device manager does not work in safe mode either.


r dornfeld

 

[Peter Foldes]

Pegasus

I think that you hit it on the nose. Most probable scenario.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

*** See below.

Thanks. I've backed a lot of stuff, pictures, doc&settings, to an external
hard drive, which I do from time to time. Where do my e-mails and and
e-mail
addresses reside?

*** Can't tell - best to ask the appropriate EMail newsgroup.
*** Outlook? Outlook Express? Incredimail? Other?

How do I save my audio files in I-tunes?

*** I know nothing about I-Tunes. Best to ask in an I-Tunes newsgroup.

Where are my favorites for internet browsing stored?

*** Use the IE export function for favorites.

I saw your link on another thread, and will give that a try
before I re-install windows (I guess that is that ast resort).

*** What about the manual System Restore?

Since I don't have internet access in safe mode,

*** Not true. If you boot up in Safe Mode with Networking
*** then you have Internet access.

I can't download the nvidia drivers,
and I've been to there website, but I don't have access to the model
# etc since the device manager does not work in safe mode either.

*** Maybe drvback from http://sourceforge.net/projects/drvback/
*** will still work, or Aida32 from
http://www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#aida32

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

well, I wouldn't use a
win98 board.

however, your motherboard
may already have standard
video capabilities.

if so, there should be a
jack to plug the monitor
in directly to the motherboard.

maybe you can you take a
pic or two of the innards'
of your pc and attach them
here or on skydrive.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[r dornfeld]

How do I get my Outlook Express address book and e=mail?
Since your registry fix requires an administrator function, how do I get
that access? I've never set up a password for it, and when I try to log on as
an administrator the computer hangs, otherwise I'm all set to try it
manually. I don't get internet access when logging on safe mode with
networking to use the "guided help".

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

An Outlook Express newsgroup would be able to give you full details on your
OE backup. AFAIR you need to look for files ending on .dbx in a subfolder of
c:\documents and settings\rdornfeld, then back up this whole folder.

On WinXP Home machines, the Administrator's password is usually set to a
blank. If this does not work then you can reset it to a blank by booting the
machine with a boot diskette/CD from here:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html.

On all the machines I have tried up to now, I got full networking
functionality when booting into "Safe Mode with Networking".

 

[r dornfeld]

when I use the safe mode with networking option, the computer hangs on
"windows\system32\drivers\agp440.sys" Is this a problem.? A lot of the fixes
seem to depend on internet access on the computer in question.

Thanks so much, again

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I think that some Windows files were corrupted at some stage, which would
explain the multiple problems you're experiencing. You could try a "Repair
Installation" but my preferred option would be a complete re-install on a
freshly formatted disk - after backing up all important files.

 

[r dornfeld]

I bailed out, and re-installed windows from the recovery drive. It was a
painful to re-install my programs, and update windows, but the computer does
seem to run better. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? Can I get my
restore point option to work better?

Thanks for your help.