Windows XP crash

[MOB]

I have Windows XP on my HP laptop computer. This morning, late for an
appointment, I hurriedly turned off my laptop manually because I
couldn't get out of one or two programs--Eudora and/or WordPerfect.
They were crossed on the screen and I received several messages re
"there was a problem, do you want to send a report. . ."

When I returned two hours later and turned on the computer, it
wouldn't boot into Windows. The Windows logo and blue progress
indicator come on, but then the screen gets dark and the HP screen
comes on.

Every 5 or 10 minutes, that routine repeats. I did the F-8 Last
Configuration . . ., but nothing changed.

I've never backed up my laptop -- it's not heavily loaded. There are,
however, a few document folders that are extremely important to me, so
I'm anxious about losing them.

Any suggestions?

 

[philo]

I have Windows XP on my HP laptop computer. This morning, late for an
appointment, I hurriedly turned off my laptop manually because I
couldn't get out of one or two programs--Eudora and/or WordPerfect.
They were crossed on the screen and I received several messages re
"there was a problem, do you want to send a report. . ."

When I returned two hours later and turned on the computer, it
wouldn't boot into Windows. The Windows logo and blue progress
indicator come on, but then the screen gets dark and the HP screen
comes on.

Every 5 or 10 minutes, that routine repeats. I did the F-8 Last
Configuration . . ., but nothing changed.

I've never backed up my laptop -- it's not heavily loaded. There are,
however, a few document folders that are extremely important to me, so
I'm anxious about losing them.

Any suggestions?

If you have an XP cd you could boot to the repair console and run chkdsk /r

(but I don't know if that machine comes with a cd or not)

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I have Windows XP on my HP laptop computer. This morning, late for an
appointment, I hurriedly turned off my laptop manually because I
couldn't get out of one or two programs--Eudora and/or WordPerfect.
They were crossed on the screen and I received several messages re
"there was a problem, do you want to send a report. . ."

When I returned two hours later and turned on the computer, it
wouldn't boot into Windows. The Windows logo and blue progress
indicator come on, but then the screen gets dark and the HP screen
comes on.

Every 5 or 10 minutes, that routine repeats. I did the F-8 Last
Configuration . . ., but nothing changed.

I've never backed up my laptop -- it's not heavily loaded. There are,
however, a few document folders that are extremely important to me, so
I'm anxious about losing them.

Any suggestions?

Try booting from a "live" CD and copying the folders to a usb device.

Have a look at

BartPE ( http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ )

Ultimate Boot CD for Windows http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Knoppix http://www.knoppix.org/

 

[MOB]

If you have an XP cd you could boot to the repair console and run chkdsk /r
(but I don't know if that machine comes with a cd or not)

I have a cd that says this:

Operating System CD - Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2
Contains software and drivers already installed for software
reinstallation and repair only.

And at the bottom it says HP, so this has to be for my laptop.

 

[MOB]

Try booting from a "live" CD and copying the folders to a usb device.

What is a "live" CD? Is a "boot" CD the same thing as the Operating
System CD that I described in my last email?

My concern is, if I use this CD, will I be wiping out my documents and
other stuff and starting from scratch?

 

[philo]

I have a cd that says this:

Operating System CD - Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2
Contains software and drivers already installed for software
reinstallation and repair only.

And at the bottom it says HP, so this has to be for my laptop.

Good, then you should be able to boot up with it and run chkdsk /r from
the repair console

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

What is a "live" CD? Is a "boot" CD the same thing as the Operating
System CD that I described in my last email?

My concern is, if I use this CD, will I be wiping out my documents and
other stuff and starting from scratch?

A live CD is a bootable CD, it does not install anything to your HDD. Once
the operating system on the CD has loaded you can use the facilities there
to transfer your data to an external usb device (eg thumb drive, external
hard drive).

Some recovery disks provided by some companies just give you a destructive
restore thus returning your computer to the state it was in when you
purchased it.

Another alternative is to remove the HDD from your laptop, place it in an
external enclosure and then, attach the enclosure to a working computer and
transfer your data that way.

 

[MOB]

Good, then you should be able to boot up with it and run chkdsk /r from
the repair console http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

I can get into the Recovery Console, but I don't know what my
Adminstrator password is. I didn't know I had one.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I can get into the Recovery Console, but I don't know what my
Adminstrator password is. I didn't know I had one.

You quite possibly don't, just try a blank password by hitting Enter.

 

[philo]

I can get into the Recovery Console, but I don't know what my
Adminstrator password is. I didn't know I had one.

Try just pushing the enter key...there might not be a password...
If there is one, then you'll need to contact the vendor

 

[MOB]

Try just pushing the enter key...there might not be a password...
If there is one, then you'll need to contact the vendor

Grrrrr

C:\WINDOWS>CHKDSK /r

It's taking a very long time. Right now it's 67% completed in the
"additional checking or recovery..." cycle.

I'm wondering if it was supposed to be C:\ instead of C:\WINDOWS.

I'm reallly terrified that when this ends, my folders will be gone.

 

[philo]

Grrrrr

C:\WINDOWS>CHKDSK /r

It's taking a very long time. Right now it's 67% completed in the
"additional checking or recovery..." cycle.

I'm wondering if it was supposed to be C:\ instead of C:\WINDOWS.

I'm reallly terrified that when this ends, my folders will be gone.

You did it right I'm sure...
post back with the results.
There is a good chance it will be completely fixed

 

[MOB]

from the repair console http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

You did it right I'm sure...
post back with the results.
There is a good chance it will be completely fixed

No such luck, I think. When I exited the CHKDSK (it said it had found
and repaird one or more units ...), the Windows logo came on, and it
actually got as far as Winidowws is starting up

and that's where it's been for the past five minutes.

 

[philo]

No such luck, I think. When I exited the CHKDSK (it said it had found
and repaird one or more units ...), the Windows logo came on, and it
actually got as far as Winidowws is starting up

and that's where it's been for the past five minutes.

If there were hundreds of errors being "fixed" I would have gotten
nervous...
but with just a few errors...even if Windows does not boot...all your data
is probably just fine.

I guess now I'd hit F8 while booting and see if you can get to safe mode...
you may need to do a system restore...

If all else fails...there is a repair install

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

 

[MOB]

If there were hundreds of errors being "fixed" I would have gotten
nervous...
but with just a few errors...even if Windows does not boot...all your data
is probably just fine.

I guess now I'd hit F8 while booting and see if you can get to safe mode...
you may need to do a system restore...

I've tried this. The F8 doesn't work anymore. I've tried it three
times. Each time it fails and stops at "Windows is starting up . . ."
I have to turn the computer off manually, and it worries me that I'm
making things worse.

 

[philo]

I've tried this. The F8 doesn't work anymore. I've tried it three
times. Each time it fails and stops at "Windows is starting up . . ."
I have to turn the computer off manually, and it worries me that I'm
making things worse.

Well if you cannot even get to safe mode...
the repair installation should get it fixed.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I've tried this. The F8 doesn't work anymore. I've tried it three
times. Each time it fails and stops at "Windows is starting up . . ."
I have to turn the computer off manually, and it worries me that I'm
making things worse.

Before you try the Repair Install you may like to follow my earler
suggestion of a live CD to rescue your data (Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
http://www.ubcd4win.com/ )

 

[Svengali]

I have the same problem with my laptop. I think it is the result of a corrupt
registry. In my case I think TrendMicro Antivirus was the caus. The disk
provided by the OEM will just wipe your data an restore it to the state it
was when you bought the machine. I have been doing posts to see what is the
best way of doing a non-destructive restore. I think since you can boot from
the CD and/or can actually get to the Recovery Console, you should be able to
copy the registry from the repair folder in the System32 folder.

KB307545 Article: A How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents
Windows XP from starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Before you do that, you should be able to copy your critical data to an
external drive using the Recovery Console. There is also a warning that comes
with this procedure for OEM-installed OS. So, read it carefully and decide if
you want to risk it.

I wil post my results if I am able to restore mine. However, I am going
slowly because I don't want to screw up mine. So I don't know if this will be
of any help to you. Good luck.

 

[Svengali]

As I mentioned in my reply, I am trying to fix the same problem. I have few
questions that I hope some one can answer. I have already pulled the drive,
connected it to my desktop, and backed it up to an external USB drive using
the Windows backup utility. However, I would much rather just copying the
Document and Setting folder to the USB drive. I am not familiar with how the
back-up works and how to restore the data, etc.

When I tried to get into the Document & Settings folder, I got "Accessed
Denied". I tried to take ownership as directed in the KB, but I was
unsuccessful. Does any one know the answer to this problem? I have admin
rights on all accounts on both machines. Does my desktop have to be booted in
Safe Mode to get access to admin rights? I don't understand why this happens
since the backup utility copied the folder without any problems.

Second, if I get one of these boot CDs, and can get to the DOS prompt, will
it allow me to copy the Document and Settings folder directly from the laptop
drive over to my external USB drive? I have a Windows password on the machine
but no boot password.

Third, if I elect to repair the registry by replacing it with an older
version that I know worked or follow the KB instructions for doing a repair
using the files from the System32 repair folder, will my data stay intact?
Also, how does it affect the programs installed? For instance let’s say that
I installed a program that is not included in the old registry files.
Couldn't this lead to another crash when I restart Windows? I am being really
painstaking about this because there are some applications that I am trying
to save. Thanks.

 

[Gerry]

It would be helpful to see a 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.

Have you considered putting the hard drive in another computer as a
second drive. You might retrieve data files doing that.


--



Hope this helps.

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