unbootable machine

[jhnptbrg]

Just did a reload of XP from IBM product recovery cds - everything completed
successfully, I downloaded all MS updates, then reinstalled my applications
including McAfee. I used the machine for a while, went to a meeting, and when
I got back, I had an error message from McAfee saying it had a problem during
autoscan and had to shut down. Then I got a message from Windows saying it
had a severe error (or something like that) caused by McAfee. Then the system
became non-responsive, and I had to shut down and restart with the power
button.

Now, whenever I try to boot my machine, I get a message (displayed only
briefly) mentioning a problem with ntfs.sys, followed by a message offering
reboot with safe modes, last know good config, or normal - I've tried all
three and none work.

If at all possible, I'd like to repair the system, but don't have retail
cds, just a COA (I'm registered Genuine Windows), and IBM Product recovery
cds.

However, since this is an "almost" clean load, I have most of my data saved,
so if the disk can't be repaired, I need to at least "rescue" a number of new
email messages (downloaded with Outlook express) before I try to reimage the
machine again.

Please advise me re best ways to repair/access recnet Outlook msgs, thx.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Have you tried restoring to a system restore point? The installation of
McAfee should have set one and if so I would use that one.

 

[jhnptbrg]

it's unbootable!

Have you tried restoring to a system restore point? The installation of
McAfee should have set one and if so I would use that one.

 

[John Wunderlich]

Just did a reload of XP from IBM product recovery cds - everything
completed successfully, I downloaded all MS updates, then
reinstalled my applications including McAfee. I used the machine
for a while, went to a meeting, and when I got back, I had an
error message from McAfee saying it had a problem during autoscan
and had to shut down. Then I got a message from Windows saying it
had a severe error (or something like that) caused by McAfee. Then
the system became non-responsive, and I had to shut down and
restart with the power button.

Now, whenever I try to boot my machine, I get a message (displayed
only briefly) mentioning a problem with ntfs.sys, followed by a
message offering reboot with safe modes, last know good config, or
normal - I've tried all three and none work.

If at all possible, I'd like to repair the system, but don't have
retail cds, just a COA (I'm registered Genuine Windows), and IBM
Product recovery cds.

However, since this is an "almost" clean load, I have most of my
data saved, so if the disk can't be repaired, I need to at least
"rescue" a number of new email messages (downloaded with Outlook
express) before I try to reimage the machine again.

Please advise me re best ways to repair/access recnet Outlook
msgs, thx.

One way is to boot from a free Live Linux CD and use a USB drive or
network to back up your files.

<http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html>

HTH,
John

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Have you tried restoring to a system restore point? The installation of
McAfee should have set one and if so I would use that one.

it's unbootable you freakin' moron

 

[Gerry]

The F8 option below might work to get more information.

Please post a copy of the Stop Error Report.

Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should help by
allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Right click on
the My Computer icon on the Desktop and select Properties, Advanced,
Start-Up and Recovery, System Failure and uncheck box before
Automatically Restart.

Do not re-enable automatic restart on system failure until you have
resolved the problem. Check for variants of the Stop Error message.

An alternative is to keep pressing the F8 key during Start-Up and select
option - Disable automatic restart on system failure.

If you are using a wireless keyboard and the F8 key does not work
substitute a wired keyboard and mouse for this exercise only.

As your Outlook Express messages probably have not been downloaded try
getting access to them using another computer?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[jhnptbrg]

John, GREAT SUGGESTION - downloaded, burned the cd, brought up Knoppix, now
what do I do to repair the sustem? Should/can I try a system restore to an
earlier point? Can I download a version of XP repair disk from MS?

Please help me get thru the repair process, thx!

John

 

[jhnptbrg]

Gerry, thx for the suggestions, I'll try to follow up with info you requested.

Unfortunately, the OE messages I'm trying to get are ones that came in
during the session when I used the machine, before it died with the ntfs
error. See my posted reply to John Wunderlich above, re success booting from
CD with Knoppix, and if you have "next steps" re repairing the system so it
will boot from HD, I'd really appreciate them!

rgds, John

 

[Malke]

Gerry, thx for the suggestions, I'll try to follow up with info you requested.

Unfortunately, the OE messages I'm trying to get are ones that came in
during the session when I used the machine, before it died with the ntfs
error. See my posted reply to John Wunderlich above, re success booting from
CD with Knoppix, and if you have "next steps" re repairing the system so it
will boot from HD, I'd really appreciate them!

You can't repair a Windows system from a Knoppix live CD. You use the
live CD to retrieve data off the Windows system. General information
about retrieving data with Knoppix:

You will need a computer with two cd drives, one of which is a cd/dvd-rw
OR a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to hold your data OR an
external usb/firewire hard drive formatted FAT32 (not NTFS). After
you've booted with Knoppix, it will be able to see the Windows files. If
you are using the usb thumb drive or the external hard drive,
right-click on its icon (on the Desktop) to get its properties and
uncheck the box that says "Read Only". Then click on it to open it. Note
that the default mouse action in the window manager used by Knoppix
(KDE) is a single click to open instead of the traditional MS Windows'
double-click. If you want to burn CD/DVDs, use the K3b program.


Malke

 

[jhnptbrg]

got the data off, thanks! but what next?

1 - I want to try to repair rather than reload, unless that's hopeless. (It
took me 10+ hours from starting with the system recovery disk load to
finishing application load to create the system, and I'd lover to avoid going
thru that again)

2 - Also, is there any set of machine diagnostics I can download and run
from Knoppix?

3 - Lastly, how do I enable network access? THe machine has built in wifi,
and I also have a linksys g srx400 card...

 

[Gerry]

An alternative is to keep pressing the F8 key during Start-Up and select
option - Disable automatic restart on system failure.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Malke]

got the data off, thanks! but what next?

1 - I want to try to repair rather than reload, unless that's hopeless. (It
took me 10+ hours from starting with the system recovery disk load to
finishing application load to create the system, and I'd lover to avoid going
thru that again)

2 - Also, is there any set of machine diagnostics I can download and run
from Knoppix?

3 - Lastly, how do I enable network access? THe machine has built in wifi,
and I also have a linksys g srx400 card...

I would first make sure the hardware is good. All the work with Windows,
repairing the install, etc. will be futile if the errors are because the
RAM or hard drive are failing and it sounds to me from a cursory reading
of this rather long thread that bad hardware might be the case here. You
don't test hardware from within Windows, so you can do this.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

If the hardware is OK, then you can try a Repair Install. If you only
have a restore disk (a system image as opposed to a real operating
system disk), you will need a generic OEM XP disk. This must match your
installed version; i.e. XP Pro/Home/MCE. A local computer shop can do
this for you if you don't want to purchase an OEM disk just for this
purpose and don't know anyone who has a generic OEM XP disk to lend you.
Of course, the local shop isn't going to be free.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm - Repair Install
How-To

If Knoppix doesn't have drivers for your network adapters, then forget
about it. It would take some Linux skills to get drivers going and even
then, the drivers for the chipsets involved might not exist. It's too
complicated for your immediate problem and would be a waste of time.

After everything is resolved, purchase an external hard drive and an
imaging program (I like Acronis True Image) and image your perfect
setup. Store the image on the external hard drive.


Malke

 

[jhnptbrg]

Tech info:
***Stop:0x00000024 (0x001902fe,0xf7b036d4,0xf7b033d0,0xf74f1d4f)


*** ntfs.sys - Address f74f1d4f base at f74a4000, Datestamp 45cc56a7

Otherwise, includes info re disabling or uninstalling anti-virus, defrag or
backup utils, check hd config, check for updated drivers, running chkdsk /f
then restarting -

so I tried using Knoppix to follow other online instructions for repairing
ntfs.sys by renaming it and moving a copy of it from \i386 into
windows\system32\drivers, but the rename wouldn't work...

I will try to find someone with an XP cd, but would welcome any other
options, thx.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The XP cd needs to be at the same service pack level as the installed
Windows in order to perform a repair install so be sure to check that.

 

[Malke]

Tech info:
***Stop:0x00000024 (0x001902fe,0xf7b036d4,0xf7b033d0,0xf74f1d4f)


*** ntfs.sys - Address f74f1d4f base at f74a4000, Datestamp 45cc56a7

Otherwise, includes info re disabling or uninstalling anti-virus, defrag or
backup utils, check hd config, check for updated drivers, running chkdsk /f
then restarting -

so I tried using Knoppix to follow other online instructions for repairing
ntfs.sys by renaming it and moving a copy of it from \i386 into
windows\system32\drivers, but the rename wouldn't work...

I will try to find someone with an XP cd, but would welcome any other
options, thx.

From http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm

0x00000024: NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM

"A problem occurred within NTFS.SYS, the driver file that allows the
system to read and write to NTFS file system drives. There may be a
physical problem with the disk, or an Interrupt Request Packet (IRP) may
be corrupted. Other common causes include heavy hard drive
fragmentation, heavy file I/O, problems with some types of
drive-mirroring software, or some antivirus software. I suggest running
ChkDsk or ScanDisk as a first step; then disable all file system filters
such as virus scanners, firewall software, or backup utilities. Check
the file properties of NTFS.SYS to ensure it matches the current OS or
SP version. Update all disk, tape backup, CD-ROM, or removable device
drivers to the most current versions."

As I said in my last post to you, I would check the hard drive for
physical problems first. I understand that you are hoping that your hard
drive isn't bad, but wishing won't make it so. The correct next step in
systematic troubleshooting is to test the hard drive's viability. If the
drive tests good, then go ahead and find the OEM disk for a Repair Install.

As I already told you, you can't write to an NTFS partition with Knoppix
unless you use the special NTFS driver. Personally, I never suggest
writing to an NTFS partition from Linux and I won't recommend it now.
And if your hard drive is bad, you can copy ntfs.sys until the cows come
home and it will not help.

I don't really have anything else to add so this is EOT for me.


Malke

 

[Gerry]

As Malke suggests run the Drive Manufacurers Test Utility.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[John Wunderlich]

John, GREAT SUGGESTION - downloaded, burned the cd, brought up
Knoppix, now what do I do to repair the sustem? Should/can I try a
system restore to an earlier point? Can I download a version of XP
repair disk from MS?

Please help me get thru the repair process, thx!

John

Knoppix is a flavor of Linux and therefore won't do you much good in
repairing Windows... but it can read a Windows disk and allow you to
back up any of your data files either to a USB drive or over the
network to another computer. Once you have all your files backed up,
you can then re-install Windows using your Windows install disk and
not worry about losing any important data.

If you know exactly which Windows files are missing or damaged, you
might be able to replace them if you have a good copy but I find it's
better to just start over with a Windows re-install.

HTH,
John

 

[John Wunderlich]

As I already told you, you can't write to an NTFS partition with
Knoppix unless you use the special NTFS driver. Personally, I
never suggest writing to an NTFS partition from Linux and I won't
recommend it now. And if your hard drive is bad, you can copy
ntfs.sys until the cows come home and it will not help.

The latest version of Knoppix does allow writes to NTFS disks by
default. The disks do initially mount in read-only mode though, and
must be changed by right-clicking on it and make it writable. I do
share your aversion about writing to NTFS disks with Linux but at this
point what does this guy have to lose?

If hard disk problems are suspected, a full re-install of Windows with
a full reformat (not "Quick" reformat) of the hard drive would probably
reveal any significant problems with the drive.

Cheers,
John