Computer wont boot! Help!

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1609960

Well I originally thought it was malware so started a thread there but cant find any evidence of it. It started off with a few problems and now everytime the computer starts up it restarts after about 5 seconds before even reaching the windows log on part.

After research I found this page

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310396/EN-US

which seems to resemble what is happening.

I was doing scans and thought I had found some malware a few hours before this problem started.

Can anyone help me with this?

 

Right, so when I press the power button it flashes up 'VAIO' (which is normal) then goes to a page for 'windows xp media edition' or 'recovery console', which I chose windows xp (normal). Then it flashes black and restarts over and over and over.

Once pressed F8, I've tried 'last known good configuration' and all types of safe mode and it still restarts.

I've tried running kaspersky scans using the .iso file (saving as image) and running that through the F2 button at start up and choosing 'boot from optical drive'.

I then remembered I have used ubuntu in this stage before. So now I have ubuntu.iso that boots up and I can now access all my files, etc. But I dont really know what to do from here or how to diagnose whats actually wrong.

Are there any scans I can do from this point that may help?

To answer your question: I dont know how to get into the recovery console through ubuntu (or if you can at all) but when I go to system volume/etc I have RP points 108 up to about 156. I've tried taking the files DEFAULT,SAM,SECURITY,SOFFTWARE AND SYSTEM from #156 and copied them into c:/windows/system32/config and then deleted out the old versions but this didnt work. I dont know if I even did this right.

I remember deleting some files which I thought were a: useless and b: possible infections a few hours before this happened but dont know if this has anything to do with it or if there is anyway of finding out if it was?

Can anyone help?

 

Yeah, this is what I think. Before it crashed RootKit found a virus c://ksdfghk.bin.

When I clicked on c:// and viewed hidden files it wasnt there but there were a few files that were 0kb (about 3-4) and hidden that I think I deleted.

I didnt go anywhere else to delete anything.

Anyway how do I get into the recovery console if it wont let me when booting? The only way I can get into my files is through ubuntu at the moment.

When I chose recovery console after pressing F8 at start up it just reboots.

And as previously stated I dont have the original XP disc unfortunately.

Anything I can do at this stage?

 

Ok,

at boot the options are 'microsoft windows recovery console or windows xp media center edition'

Once I press on either it restarts.

A lot of my research into the matter points to a corrupted or damaged kernel32.dll file. Many saying once they fixed this the issue resolved.

Have you heard of this before?

Im pretty sure my laptop didnt come with an xp disc as Im not the sort of person to needlessly through out very important discs and I have a disc folder full of my most important ones.

As far as the sony boot, I'd really like to fix it without wiping the system clean if at all possible. I have GB's upon GB's of files I want to keep.

Thanks again for your help, greatly appreciated.

 

I'm never very hopeful on these boot loop problems. There is no definitive fix for them and most don't get resolved. I'll just try to give you any advice I can but I don't really have a clear path forward.

Do you know which service pack of XP is on the computer?

Post which model your computer is just to get an idea if recovery discs are available.

There is a downloadable version of recovery console but the only command I can think of is chkdsk which checks your file system. Your mbr and boot.ini must be working if you are getting a choice of XP or recovery console on the boot loader screen.

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When you copied over the SAM SECURITY etc. did you go back a few RP folders from the latest one? Did you have a lot of RP folders to choose from or just a few?

 

If the computer won't boot, try a downloadable bootdisk. These are good to use when you don't have a Windows disk. Here's a link. I hope it's this easy to fix your problem.

http://www.bootdisk.com/

 

My model is Sony Vaio PCG-7R2M. I dont know which SP, but its 2005 edition if that helps, I wouldnt know how to check.

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I did go a few back but I dont know if I went back far enough or if I even did it correctly. Is there a step by step in how to do this?

Thanks for your help. I know its hard on your end when Im not giving you much to go on but I do greatly appreciate your help as my laptop is one of my most valuable items so if I can fix it without having to wipe it I'll be so happy.

Thanks again.

 

Hi, Is this a spam post/virus or does this actually work?

 

Sorry for triple posting but cant find edit button.

Just downloaded recovery console.iso

Did chkdsk /p to run proper scan and after completion it says

'CHKDSK found one or more errors on the volume' b

but it doesnt actually say what ones or where? Is that normal and does this help?

 

Hi,

Try a chkdsk /r to try to recover any damaged files.

On your service pack if you are looking for a copy of kernel32.dll it would have to match your service pack. Do you keep up with Windows Updates or do you skip them? If you regularly update you would definitely be at SP3.

 

Everytime there is a windows update I always install them so I guess I'd be SP3. Can I download just a copy of kernel32.dll from the internet?

 

I guess you could try to find a copy somewhere.

I went to see what I was running on my old computer with XP and the power supply died. I've lost two older machines this month. I don't have XP running anywhere right now so I can't try and test your kernel32.dll theory. I'll take a look at the HD in an hour or two and see if I can find the SP3 kernel.dll file.

 

Thanks sach, apreciate it.

 

Ok so it took about an hour to do chkdsk /r, and completed. I then restarted the laptop but no luck. same result. So I dont know if it did anything or not.

Damn!

 

I uploaded both SP2 and SP3 kernel32.dll here.

I've never seen posts about replacing that file for the boot loop problem but it couldn't hurt to try. You want the SP3 one and you want to rename the original so you can put it back later if you choose.

 

Ok so that didnt work. As far as replacing those 5 files (SAM,SECURITY,SOFTWARE,DEFAULT, SYSTEM), I just went into system volume and there were folders ranging from 108-158 and I chose 155 I think and I literally copied the 5 and pasted into c:windows/system32/config and deleted out the old ones? Is that all that you have to do? I cant remember if there is more to it than that.

If not, is that all the options now tried? Is it now time to cry and say goodbye to years worth of files?

 

Ok guys,

Think I may have got my hands on a xp disc. What's the next steps?

Thanks