XP CRASH

[Guest]

Have win xp on sisters computer. will not boot or it gets some way through
start up and then crashes ,.then starts to boot up again.
have tried to get it going through safe mode but same problem as above .
tried using origional disk to repair but get message windows has shut down
due to serious error ( no error code shown ) have also tried to start it with
no extras pluged in ,same problem>goes in to restart after crashing . this
happens at various times from power on .

 

[Rich Barry]

Darren, if you have a WinXP CD try a Repair Install. Check at Michael's
site for more info
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Guest]

MORE INFO TO ADD TO PROBLEM BELOW.
the computer gets into loop and re boots happens at diffrent stages of boot
up no set stage.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

If you've already stripped the machine to bare minimums, and it still
doesn't work, try removing all but the minimum RAM permissible (and if the
error remains, try the other stick(s).

Otherwise, presuming you stripped the machine to minimums (disconnect all
drives but the HD, pull all cards), and tried different RAM configurations,
if it still has those problems, it's either the motherboard or the power
supply.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Have win xp on sisters computer. will not boot or it gets some way through
start up and then crashes ,.then starts to boot up again.
have tried to get it going through safe mode but same problem as above .
tried using origional disk to repair but get message windows has shut down
due to serious error ( no error code shown ) have also tried to start it
with
no extras pluged in ,same problem>goes in to restart after crashing . this
happens at various times from power on .

Start with this question: How valuable is the data on this system? If it
is of any value, stop poking at the system and safeguard the data FIRST.

The easiest, fastest way to do that is to pull the drive from that system,
attach it to another, and use the free trial version of Acronis TrueImage to
create an image of the complete drive. You can then, at leisure, mount the
image and get the files off.

Once that's done, you can be much more relaxed about fixing the real
problem.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Thank for replying have tried this and it failed came up with error and then
went into boot loop.

 

[Guest]

machine has only 1 stick of 512 ram .

If you've already stripped the machine to bare minimums, and it still
doesn't work, try removing all but the minimum RAM permissible (and if the
error remains, try the other stick(s).

Otherwise, presuming you stripped the machine to minimums (disconnect all
drives but the HD, pull all cards), and tried different RAM configurations,
if it still has those problems, it's either the motherboard or the power
supply.

 

[Guest]

would it be easier to use this drive as a slave and put new xp on new drive .

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Then run a decent RAM testing app from the CD drive:
http://www.memtest86.com/download.html You want the "ISO images suitable for
creating a bootable Memtest86 CD-ROM" You also want to pull the RAM, clean
the contacts (pencil eraser does well) and reinsert it. You also want to
make sure dirt buildup isn't the problem, though yours sounds like it's
something worse. Note that the above is a bootable CD program. If that
doesn't even work, then...

Honestly, I more suspect the mobo, followed by the power supply. Just to
make sure, you've *already* stripped the system to absolute minimum
components? Removed ALL cards (except video if there's no onboard video)?
Disconnected all drives except the HD? All you want is the mobo, the RAM,
video and the HD.

 

[Guest]

Thanks gary,
as said can not get machine to boot to a stage where could use cd drive if
so i
would try this .its only option not tried .

 

[Malke]

would it be easier to use this drive as a slave and put new xp on new drive .

No, your steps to troubleshoot this are:

1. Retrieve data. See below for data retrieval suggestions. It is
completely possible to retrieve data without booting into Windows as
long as the hard drive itself is viable.

2. Do a RAM test. You do not do this from within Windows. See
instructions, as well as other hardware troubleshooting steps, at this
link - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Your description of the problem indicates hardware failure. There is no
point in wasting time on software solutions (Windows) if the hardware is
bad so you need to determine this first.

General data recovery:

1. Pull the drive and slave it in a computer running a working install
of XP. Depending on the target drive's characteristics, you may need a
drive adapter; i.e., laptop-to-IDE or a SATA controller card, etc. A
usb/firewire external drive enclosure works very well, too. Use the
working Windows Explorer to copy the data to the rescue system's hard
drive and then burn the data to cd or dvd.

2. Often XP will not boot with a slaved drive that has a damaged file
system. In that case, boot the target computer with either a Bart's PE
or a Linux live cd such as Knoppix and retrieve the data that way. Here
is general information on using Knoppix for this:

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). To get
Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast Internet connection and
third-party burning software. Download the Knoppix .iso and create your
bootable cd. Then boot with it and 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. Otherwise, use the K3b burning program to burn the files
to cd/dvd-r's.

http://www.knoppix.net
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ - Bart's PE Builder

I have no idea what level your computer skills are. If the procedures
look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your
cup of tea - have your sister take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local version of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad).


Malke

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Darren, if you have a WinXP CD try a Repair Install.

YO! MORON!

The OP clearly stated that a repair was attempted.

READING IS A SKILL

 

[Patrick Keenan]

would it be easier to use this drive as a slave and put new xp on new
drive .

That is one way of getting another system to recover the data to. If you
get a new drive, remove the old one from the system and do not put it back
in until XP is fully installed.

Then, you can begin the process of data recovery.

However, if the crashes are due to other components, for example the CPU
having baked from fan failure or dust buildup, this won't help at all.
The crashes will happen again. If that is the case, unfortunately,
actually finding the problem can be expensive enough to consider another
machine.

HTH
-pk

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

You don't need to boot to Windows to use a bootable CD. Don't even need the
HD to be attached. In fact, that might be another good test, to boot to a CD
and run a program without the HD being attached. Make sure in BIOS that the
Boot Order has the CD drive set to boot before the HD. Insert the CD (has to
be powered up to do this), then restart the machine. If the CD is bootable,
you'll get a message to press a key boot to it. (I *think* there's always a
message, that it's never automatic.) Otherwise, if the CD isn't bootable, it
will be ignored.

 

[Guest]

Darren, I had almost the exact same thing happen to me last month. I found
that being in an endless loop left me no choice but to clear the CMOS. That
at least got me the ability to f8 into Safe mode and Restore to an earlier
ckpoint than the place where the problem began.

To clear CMOS, completely remove the power cord. Just turning off the
machine is not good enough. Then, either remove the lithium battery or jump
the CMOS pins if your motherboard has them (they are usually near the
battery). If you have the manual to your sister's motherboard, look up the
manufacturer's recommendations, usually it will be as aforementioned, but it
always good to check. Wait about 30 seconds before replacing the
battery/plugging the power cord back in. You will probably hear a beep when
you do. Then power up and f8 into Safe at your first opportunity.... Go to
Safe mode and select System Restore.

 

[Guest]

Forgot to mention: When you clear CMOS, you will have to update your system
clock. Do that before you Restore so that your time will be in sync.

 

[Guest]

Have managed to do system restore back 1 month rebooted but problem still
there.

 

[Guest]

Hi .
have set boot seq to cd drive as first it did boot from xp disc but stoped
during boot up and went into loop.tried 5 times and went into loop at various
stages .no set action was taking place when happened.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Sorry to say that it sounds like either RAM, motherboard or power supply are
FUBAR. Power supply is the cheapest item to replace for testing purposes.
RAM we've already discussed, but I'll add that some RAM is dirt cheap, some
is the price of gold. Check out www.crucial.com to find out which category
yours comes under. Unfortunately, in your situation, swapping out parts is
the only diagnosis method left to you. BTDT.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Hmmm... Just to be sure, you've checked to be certain that all fans are
working and that the system isn't clogged with dirt? Heat can cause these
same symptoms.