XP Home won't boot after lightning strike

[Guest]

I'm nursing friend's Vaio laptop PCG-9L1M. A lightning strike took out
the external power supply, now replaced. At boot I get "Windows did
not start properly last time". No matter what option I select I get a
blank screen with a flashing cursor.
I can boot the XP CD and the 6-diskette XP set but after they're
loaded they sit there looking at me; nothing starts.
I used BootMaster ( http://bootmaster.filerecovery.biz/ ) to reset the
MBR; no change. BootMaster can see the whole C drive. In fact I used
it to dump the .WAB file to diskette.
I copied NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM from a good XP Home system, and
BOOT.INI from the Vaio, onto the BootMaster diskette and booted it.
Same "Windows did not…" message, but I got further.
A normal XP startup attempt, or "Last know good configuration"
attempt, both give me a cursor-less blank screen.
However, many safe mode attempts, with and without "command prompt",
give me a list of 24 drivers loaded, the last always being
atisgkaf.sys. However, on just two occasions I saw these file names:
ntoskrnl.exe
hal.dll
kdcom.sll
bootvid.dll
system

On one of these two occasions I then saw "Windows could not start
because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\system32\config\SYSTEM". BootMaster tells me it's there so it
must be corrupt.
Now I don't know what to do. Only the BootMaster diskette can see the
C drive, but it does not have the capability to let me run, for
example, SCANDISK in an attempt to clean the drive. I guess I've given
up on recovering data, but I don't have anything I can boot that will
let me reformat the drive.
Any thoughts out there? Thanks, Tom

 

[DatabaseBen]

have you tried to boot with the cd and use the repair feature?

Select new install, point to the install on the hd, then say yes to
repairing it.

If so, then have you checked out your bios settings? It seems that your hd
may not
be visible to your cmos....

Incidentally, who reinstalled the powersupply?

 

[Guest]

have you tried to boot with the cd and use the repair feature?

As I said, after booting the CD, nothing happens. After the "Starting
Windows" message, nothing. I've left it for three hours;still nothing.

Select new install, point to the install on the hd, then say yes to
repairing it. I wish I could!

If so, then have you checked out your bios settings? It seems that your hd
may not
be visible to your cmos....

Can you be more specific please? I can get into the BIOS and all seems
well... What do I look for? If BootMaster can see the hard disk, could
I have a cmos problem?

Incidentally, who reinstalled the powersupply?

It was the external power supply that blew; the black box that
supplies power from the electric wall socket. Now that the battery is
charged the PC will run(!) without its aid.

Thank you for responding, Tom

 

[DatabaseBen]

well, I'm not famaliar with bootmaster, but after checking out the website
it sounds
impressive. But I don't have any experience with the program yet, so i
don't
really know what all it has done for you. However, putting bootmaster aside:


in the cmos you need to double check that the harddisk is correct and the
ram
shows accordingly. Some cmos don't give you much information. But if these
are
correct, then we jump from the motherboard/cmos to the connected hardware.
To
ensure the ram is correct and didn't get zapped, you should download the
memory diagnostice program from microsoft.com.

Because the ps was replaced, you got to double check to see that the
connections
are secure and not loose. Then after the hardware is physically checked,
then
the next step is the booting portion of the analysis.

For whatever reason, the cd device works, but the setup is incomplete
according
to my interpretation. It is unclear why the windows cd setup would fail
because
it would at least see you harddrive and give you the option to format it and
install a
new o.s. as an option.

But if the cmos is misreporting it or your
ram is screwed up, then setup may have hung. It will also hang if special
and external hardware
is connected to the motherboard. So if you have a video card installed,
then remove it, If you have
wires connected to the pc other than kb, mouse and video, then disconnect
them.

Also, what i don't understand is the mentioning of going into safemode,
and the ability to copy files over to the hd. If you can go into safe mode,
then
can you get into recovery mode and log into your o.s.? If so, then there are

A couple of files that appears you didn't use yet is fixmbr and fixboot

These are just some of the thoughts from the top of my head to give you some
ideas..

 

[Guest]

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 15:35:40 -0500, "DatabaseBen"
Thank you for responding again.

in the cmos you need to double check that the harddisk is correct

It tells me "Primary IDE Adapter 60012MB"

and the
ram
shows accordingly. "Total Memory 448MB"
Some cmos don't give you much information. But if these
are
correct, then we jump from the motherboard/cmos to the connected hardware.
To
ensure the ram is correct and didn't get zapped, you should download the
memory diagnostice program from microsoft.com. Did that." No errors found."

Because the ps was replaced, you got to double check to see that the
connections
are secure and not loose.

When I said the power suppy was zapped and replaced I should have said
"AC Adapter"; the box that charges the battery. THIS IS A LAPTOP.

Then after the hardware is physically checked,
then
the next step is the booting portion of the analysis.

For whatever reason, the cd device works, but the setup is incomplete
according
to my interpretation. Correct.
It is unclear why the windows cd setup would fail
because
it would at least see you harddrive and give you the option to format it and
install a
new o.s. as an option.

No. After the CD has finished loading it does nothing; gives me no
options. Same after booting the six-diskette boot set.

But if the cmos is misreporting it or your
ram is screwed up, then setup may have hung. It will also hang if special
and external hardware
is connected to the motherboard. So if you have a video card installed,
then remove it, If you have
wires connected to the pc other than kb, mouse and video, then disconnect
them.

Nothing is connected to this laptop.

Also, what i don't understand is the mentioning of going into safemode,
and the ability to copy files over to the hd. If you can go into safe mode,

I cannot get into safe mode. The only copying I've been able to do is
via a BootMaster boot, which lets me see the content of the hard drive
and copy files from it onto its diskette.

then
can you get into recovery mode and log into your o.s.? If so, then there are

A couple of files that appears you didn't use yet is fixmbr and fixboot

Since the only thing I can boot is the BootMaster diskette, I don't
have access to those programs. I already used BootMasterto reset the
MBR.

These are just some of the thoughts from the top of my head to give you some
ideas..

Thank you again for responding, Tom

 

[DatabaseBen]

You need access to the harddrive. The primary clue to this problem
is that not even the windows cd can initiate the installation process.

I don't think the lightening strike had anything to do with your computer
crash
because the adaptor would have been the buffer to protect it.

Laptops, however, usually come with a hidden partition containing some vital
files to restore the primary partition.

Does your bootmaster reveal a hidden drive? Do you know if you laptop
has an Fkey assigned to boot to the hidden drive? You might want to check
this out at the website for your laptop.

Maybe, because the hidden drive is small and crashed, then the windows cd is
installing the setup files to it and then stalls.

Find another xp home computer and make emergency boot diskettes; since it
appears
you have a floppy available to you. The diskettes will get you into the c
drive.

Making an emergency boot disk occurs via formatting a diskette, that you
need to do
at another pc. Afterwards, ensure you have the four files on it that you
and i previously mentioned.
..
..
..
...
..
..

 

[Guest]

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:07:54 -0500, "DatabaseBen"

<snip>
Thank you again for helping. I'm out now for nine days but I'll be
back... Tom

 

[w_tom]

I don't see where you downloaded and executed disk drive manufacturer
comprehensive diagnostics. IOW first establish hardware works -
without Windows that may even mask or work around hardware problems.

Next step is to confirm BIOS settings - that the CMOS has correct
numbers to access that disk. Remember, there are many combinations
that could be used for that drive. But you must set the CMOS for what
that drive was formatted and previously operating with.

Responsible computer manufacturers also provide comprehensive
hardware diagnostics on another partition. Programs that operate
without loading Windows. Can you access those comprehensive
diagnostics? Other hardware problems can cause booting to fail because
those other hardware peripherals don't reply properly. Booting is not
as forgiving as Windows. Therefore you should also verify other
critical peripherals (ie sound card, video controller, etc) that can
otherwise crash windows are working properly.

First establish hardware integrity. That disk drive utility does not
perform sufficient tests to confirm hardware integrity. Once those
comprehensive diagnostics are executed, then your responses have many
less 'unknowns'; much less reason for 'try this and try that'
responses. And information that makes improves quality of future
responses.

 

[w_tom]

When I said the power suppy was zapped and replaced I should have said
"AC Adapter"; the box that charges the battery. THIS IS A LAPTOP.

If a surge damaged the power supply, then first a surge established a
complete electrical path into and out of power supply. Only after
everything in that path is conducting surge energy, does something
fail. If a surge damaged the power brick, then the surge also passed
through computer and out some other wire. What would that outgoing
path be? More symptoms to suggest comprehensive diagnostics confirm
that hardware.

Meanwhile, such a transient could also change critical CMOS
information. Comprehensive diagnostics will confirm hardware; not
detect bad CMOS settings. Worse, if the CMOS is modified, you can see
some files in directory but not access them. In this failure mode, any
writing to drive then can overwrite wrong disk drive locations - change
other files. You must confirm that CMOS is correct. Otherwise files
will appear to be there but cannot be read. In this failure mode,
massive file damage can result if you then write to the drive.

Make changes with extreme cauton until CMOS values are confirmed.
Booting from CD rom will not harm disk drive files and will perform
without access to many disk drive files - one way to slowly discover
what does and does not exist. By booting from CD-rom, you should be
able to read and confirm files such as System.ini

 

[Guest]

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:07:54 -0500, "DatabaseBen"

<snip>
Thank you again for helping. I'm out now for nine days but I'll be
back... Tom

I'm back.

F10 at power-on did not give me access to the hidden drive.
I booted an ME diskette and ran FDISK. He sees the hidden drive (30
megs out of 60!) but he won't let me delete it.
I formatted C: as FAT32. I successfully installed and ran WIN98.
I still can't run an XP CD, Home or Pro. After they load the PC dies.
Same with the Sony recovery CD and the Home 6xdiskette boot set.

 

[Guest]

Closing the loop on this one, I opened a case on the VAIO web site on
2 October. After a couple of iterations they told me:
"We have identified that your unit may need to be repaired".
Thanks to all those who responded here. Tom

 

[w_tom]

Closing the loop on this one, I opened a case on the VAIO web site on
2 October. After a couple of iterations they told me:
"We have identified that your unit may need to be repaired".
Thanks to all those who responded here. Tom

You are not yet done. Why was lightning permitted inside the
building? All computers have internal protection. Apparently the
transient was so large that protection inside the power brick was
overwhelmed. Incoming on AC electric. Outgoing through VAIO to
where? Earth ground. Because the building did not have sufficient
earthing AND a 'whole house' protector, then the transient was so large
as to overwhelm protection inside the power brick.

Fixing the computer was really fixing a symptom. Also fix the
problem. Does the building's earthing meet and exceed post 1990
National Electrical Code requirements? Does every incoming wire
inside every incoming cable make a connection to that earthing
connection? A 'whole house' protector costs about $1 per protected
appliance. Only then is that entire VAIO problem solved.

For lightning to be so massive as to harm a power brick, then
building has no protection. No earth ground means no protection.