Pc will not load/boot ??? Windows xp pro

I have an older pc – HP Pavilion 7865 running windows xp pro. It originally came with Windows ME but was updated to xp pro back in 2006 or 2007.

This is a newer hard drive (about 2 years old and rarely used). Came with an 80 gb originally and the information when I ran the 1st attempt boot fixing procedure of booting to cd and running recovery steps below states 156289020 kb total disk space; 145104068 kb available. Volume created 8/17/11 7:07pm. I also replaced the power supply a few years ago when that went bad.

I started the pc a couple of day ago to checked for any new ms updates and to let the antivirus program update its definitions (which I do once a week) and the computer was running just fine. I had even done a restart of the computer and there were no problems at all at that time. I had no issues when I went to shut down the pc either. 2 days later when I went to turn it on again to get the ms updates all I got was the HP screen; one beep and then nothing. (but I am pretty sure that the pc always did beep just once on startup). I tried shutting down pc and waiting 10 minutes and then restarted to safe mode options but it froze at the mup.sys and even after leaving it be for 2 hours nothing. I can access the bios and the safe mode options but I cannot get the computer to start. I also tried the safe mode options again and selected the last known good configuration and then all I got again was the black/grey screen (monitor).

So I ran the standard 1st attempt boot fixing procedure that I found at http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=195478)
And I followed them (I entered what the results were next to each step)


[these are standard 1st attempt boot fixing procedures] (to run these, just type them in, separately, and press enter)
If you get any prompts, select y for yes.
After you did the things in this guide, please post again.
thank you!

boot to your Windows CD.
After it gets to the blue screen with options, go to r for recovery console. then at the next prompt select 1 and press enter. Then at the next prompt, Type Administrator and press enter twice.

Run fixboot

Run fixmbr – SCREEN THEN STATED THIS COMPUTER APPEARS TO HAVE A NON STANDARD OR INVALID MASTER BOOT RECORD.
FIXMBR MAY DAMAGE YOUR PARTITION TABLES IF YOU PROCEED. If you are not having troubles accessing your drives do not continue – are you sure you want to write a new MBR - SO I SKIPPED (I ran these steps again and did select yes for this option the second time)

Run scandisk – COMMAND IS NOT RECOGNIZED
I DID FIND THIS INFORMATION --- Xp recovery console commands
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ocs/en-us/recovery_console_cmds.mspx?mfr=true
scandsk is not listed there either so I am guessing that is why the command prompt was not recognized


Run chkdsk -- VOLUME APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION AND WAS NOT CHECKED – TO CHECK VOLUME ANYWAY RUN /P which I did

At the end got the next command prompt (c:\Windows>) selected exit, removed disc and tried starting pc again with no luck – still get the HP screen and then nothing – even if I wait up to 1 hour.

I tried the recovery console steps again but selected yes for the fixmbr. Chkdsk – appears to be in good condition but ran chkdsk /p anyway (again)

None of that has helped.

I have also checked to make sure that the memory modules are seated properly as well as removing them and putting them back in and just leaving one in and starting pc (since the pc does not require 2 to run) --- all with the same results.

I am not sure what else to do or check to find out why the pc was running just fine one day and 2 days later I can’t get it to load.

I realize that it is an old pc but I have kept it up and running with the updates (just in case I need it should there be an issue with my laptop and I need to find out information I will have the desktop to access the internet)

Any suggestions would be so very much appreciated.

Thank You

 

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like you're pretty frustrated. Well, you've come to the right place - lots of uber-geeks in here to help (I'm not one of them, unfortunately). Until the cavalry gets here let me clarify a few things. You are able to boot from your Windows CD into the rescue environment, correct? It sounds like that's true but just want to make sure.

1. When you ran fixmbr, what exact command did you type in (including parameters)?
2. What message (if any) did you get from Windows once the command finished running?
3. Did you regularly run any antivirus software on your system? If so which one(s)?
4. Had you recently scanned your computer for malware?
5. Had you recently been infected by malware of any type?

Regardless, we still need to scan your system with an antivirus scanner outside of Windows. There are many antivirus companies that release to the public free rescue disks containing a specific antiviral scanner. I've had luck with Dr. Web so let's try that first. I assume you have a second computer or you are using a friend's computer to post messages here. On that computer, go to the following site and download the "rescue" disk ISO file.

http://www.freedrweb.com/livecd/?lng=en

Click on the button labeled "Dr. Web Live CD Free Download"

Once you've downloaded the *.ISO file you will need to "burn" the ISO file to a CD. I am assuming here that you have access to a computer with a CD/DVD drive. If you do not have any disk burning tools on the computer you are using, you can download a free, easy to use, burning app called CDBurnerXP from the following link:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/cdburnerxp.html

1. Install the program and run it.
2. Click the button labeled "Burn ISO Image"
3. Click "Open" button and navigate to the Dr. Web ISO file you just downloaded.
4. Highlight the ISO file and click "Open"
5. Place a blank CD or DVD into the optical drive.
6. Click the "Burn disk" button.

The ISO file will then be burned to the disk, making it bootable in the process.

Leave the disk in, and reboot your computer.
When the computer boots up it should load the Dr. Web antivirus program. It will then take some time to download the updated viral definitions. Then it will begin scanning, which may take several hours.

When finished, post the results in this thread.

Good luck and please post any questions or problems you run into about the above procedure.

 

If for some reason you have difficulties with downloading the ISO or creating a rescue disk, here are some other antiviral rescue disks that you can download and use for free:

FSecure: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/f_secure_rescue_cd.html
eScan: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/escan_rescue_disk.html
Avira: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/avira_removal_tool_for_windows.html
AVG: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/avg_rescue_cd_(for_usb_stick).html
Kaspersky: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/kaspersky_rescue_disk.html

 

Hello and Thank You so Very Much for getting back to me.

In reply to your questions (sorry I should have included some of this information)

When you ran fixmbr, what exact command did you type in (including parameters)?
at the command prompt I typed fixmbr and hit the enter key which is when it stated that "this computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot record. FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. If you are not having troubles accessing your drives do not continue. Are you sure that you want to write a new MBR? The first time I typed n at the question and then at the next command prompt I followed the rest of the directions that I found for standard first attempt at boot fixing procedures.

However when at the end I still could not access Windows I ran the steps again and typed y at that question and let it run the FIXMBR.

What message (if any) did you get from Windows once the command finished running?
All of the messages did not state that there were any issues. Just stuff to the effect that the command was run (other than the one for scandsk which stated that the command was not recognized and I found info on the ms site that scandsk is not on their list of commands either for the recovery console - that site was http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

Did you regularly run any antivirus software on your system? If so which one(s)?
Yes, I have Avast running on both this pc (my laptop running vista home) and it has always been installed on that HP Pavilion PC. I try to run the HP desktop computer weekly to get any updates for it - both anti-virus and MS updates (although it had been about a month since the last time since Mom has been back in the hospital). I also have commodo firewall installed on both pc's. After updating the antivirus program the other day when it was running I did do a restart and ran a full scan and went online and ran the ESET online scan as well. --- nothing was found by either scan

Other than going online to get the updates I really have not done anything else with that computer in over a year.

Had you recently scanned your computer for malware? Probably about 2 months ago - I ran Malware Bytes, Spybot and Super Anti-Spyware and Windows Defender. Those scans all came back clean.

Had you recently been infected by malware of any type? To date (knock on wood) I have not been infected with any type of malware on any of my computers (at least not yet and I do try to be very careful - not to say it isn't possible)

I do have ImgBurn on this laptop but will download the program that you suggested and follow your steps (especially since I can't remember the last time I even used that program and it most likely isn't even up to date).

You stated to Leave the disk in, and reboot your computer.
When the computer boots up it should load the Dr. Web antivirus program. It will then take some time to download the updated viral definitions. Then it will begin scanning, which may take several hours.
However I cannot even access the computer / windows with the computer that is having the issue to burn the disc. I can do it on my laptop. Should I burn the disc and then put the disc into the desktop and run it? Will it be able to download the updated viral definitions from that pc?

Will wait to hear back before doing the last step.

Thanks Again!

 

tried to edit that post but couldn't.

anyway,

I did install the iso / cd burning software and noticed that there is no uninstaller. It is installed in the start menu but no folder at all. Did I do something incorrectly? I did create a system restore point prior to installing the software and I do have revo uninstaller on my pc if I do need to uninstall it and reinstall it again.
Thanks

 

Uninstall CDBurnerXP using Revo and re-install it on your laptop. Does your laptop have a CD/DVD burner? If not, you may need to install the DRWeb ISO to a USB flash drive using ISO2Disc. Make sure the HP BIOS's boot order is set to have USB storage or CD/DVD ahead of the internal hard drive or it won't boot to those.

 

Hello Again!

The laptop does have a cd/dvd burner and I did burn the cd with the Dr.Web download that you gave me. I just thought that it was odd that there was no uninstaller with the program (or even a folder in the start>programs section which is why I mentioned it). The bios is set up to start with the cd drive ahead of the hard drive.

I was looking at the site for the Dr.Web software and realized that it would do what it needed to from the desktop (with the problem) so I did put the disc into the cd drive and started the pc. It started - showing the first screen that I saw on the dr.web cure it and then the message booting from cd then screen went black again - it has been that way since 7:55 am.

Lisa

 

Lisa, I apologize for not being more clear about what to do with which computer but it sounds like you sorted that out on your own. I don't know what to say about CDBurnerXP not having an uninstall entry in the Add/Remove control panel applet. I just checked mine and the entry is there. I'm at a loss as to why Dr. Web CD would not boot. You can still boot to a repair environment using your Windows CD, correct? Well, let's try one more time with a different product.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/avira_removal_tool_for_windows.html

This is the same type of rescue disk as Dr. Web but from a different company. In addition to the antivirus software, I believe Avira rescue disk also has other capabilities, such as being able to repair a faulty or infected MBR (Master Boot Record). Just do the same thing with this ISO as you did with Dr. Web. Sorry about making you download so much

1. Download the ISO
2. Burn ISO to CD
3. Put CD into CD drive of the computer that won't boot
4. Reboot computer (use the power button)

Let me know what happens. Good luck, Lisa

 

No problem at all. I am just very grateful for the help. I didn't actually check in the add/remove programs section for the CDBurnerXP to be listed there. When I went to use it I realized that it was just listed in the start>all programs section with no folder at all and thought that it was sort of odd. I have not uninstalled it as of yet. Just thought it odd to not have its own folder.

I will download this other software and burn it to another disc. Should I simply shut the computer/desktop off that is currently running the Dr.Web CD. Exactly what do you mean by "You can still boot to a repair environment using your Windows CD, correct? " If you are asking if I can insert the windows xp disc and get to the repair and install options - I could when I tried the steps for the First Attempt Boot Fixing Procedures. Have not installed the cd again since I first posted here.

Anyway, I just clicked to download the avira removal tool and it is currently downloading. Guessing that this will take a bit of time to download as well. Once it has downloaded and I created the CD I will insert that one and see what happens. In the meantime - should I simply stop the other cd and how?

Thanks Again,

Lisa

 

Okay, the download has completed but that file is not in the .iso format. Can I just use the CDBurnerXP and select "convert to iso" option and it will do what is needed so that it is in the correct format for making the iso and booting the desktop with?

Thanks Again!

 

I started reading the information for the CDBurnerXP and creating an iso but I am guessing that I also need to make it bootable and that is where I get a bit confused - especially since the page for the program with making it a bootable disc has a few options / sets of directions on what to do and I just am not sure what I need to do. Any suggestions would be more than appreciated.

Lisa

 

I tried figuring out how to make the .exe file into an .iso to burn it but I think that I messed it up.

Anyway, you had asked if I could still boot to a repair environment using your Windows CD. I did put the Windows XP Pro CD back into the drive and was able to get to the repair environment.

Since I was there and you had asked what information was given when I ran the tests I did them again and here are the results.

fixboot - Target partition is C: Are you sure that you want to write a new boot sector to the partition C? I entered y
file system on startup partition is now NTFS
fixboot now writing new boot sector
New boot sector successfully written


fixmbr - results were: new master boot record successfully written on \device\harddisk0\partition0


chkdsk /p results were nothing but the information on the kilobytes on drive.

Thanks Again!

Lisa

 

So, were you able to boot Windows after you repaired the Master Boot Record?
I apologize about Avira rescue disk download being an EXE file instead of an ISO. All you have to do is double click the EXE and it will burn the files to CD for you. No need for any burning software.

 

Hello Again (I am so sorry to be such a bother)

Anyway, there is no reason to apologize - I am just so grateful for any assistance. I didn't realize that all I had to do was to drag and drop that file when I put a disc into the drive and it ask where the file was that I wanted burned to a cd. That explains alot!

Anyway, as for being able to boot to windows after running the fix master boot I still cannot access Windows. That is why I started this thread. After running the steps for the standard 1st attempt boot fixing procedure and not being able to get windows up and running I thought it best to come here and see if I could get help since I wasn't sure what else to do.

Lisa

 

I'm sorry but I'm mixing your case up with someone else's in another thread. Do you have a Windows installation disk or Repair disk and if so can you use it to get to the WinXP Recovery Console?

 

Thanks Again, I was just about to do that (also getting dinner ready for hubby right now) but am just about to put the disc into the drive and drag that file to the screen that pops up and I will then turn the desktop back on; put the disk in and restart the pc. Will be back to let you know how things go.

Again, Thank You So Very Very Much!

Lisa

 

Yes I do.

Odd, but I am burning that disc and it seems to be stuck at the last 1 files and says 0 seconds remaining and if I use the drop down arrow it states time remaining o seconds; items remaining 1 (26 bytes). It has never done this before. I just burned a copy of a file to a disk earlier this week without any issues. (glad that I have lots of blank CDR's)

Lisa

 

OK, I read this thread from the beginning again. So far the following have occurred:

1.) You successfully entered the Windows XP Recovery Console using a Windows XP installation CD
2.) From the Recovery Console, you ran both fixmbr and fixboot and were advised that you had successfully written a new Master Boot Record.
3.) From the Recovery Console, you have run chkdsk and were informed that there was no problems (bad sectors) with your hard drive
4.) You successfully download Dr. Web ISO file and were able to create a Dr. Web Rescue Disk with it.
5.) When you attempted to boot to Dr. Web Rescue Disk, the screen went blank and nothing happened.
6.) You have successfully download the Avira Rescue Disk EXE file and have created a bootable disk
7.) So far, your computer is no better off than when you started this thread

Are all of these things true? If not, please correct me.

 

Hello Again,

Okay all but number 6. For some reason I am not able to burn that file to a disk. I have simply burned disks before with no issues and I just tried to copy some other files to a disk with no problem but when I am trying to do burn that Avira Rescue CD to a disk the thing sort of freezes with 1 file (26 bytes left). I am going to try downloading it again in case there was an issue with that download and then I will try copying it to a disc again. File is now downloading and it says that there is 1 hour left.

But other than that, yes it is all correct. The pc is still exactly where it was when I first started looking for help.

Lisa

 

Have you tried simply double clicking the Avira EXE file? Typically when one of these rescue disks is in the EXE format rather than the ISO format, it means that the CD burning software is included in that EXE that you downloaded. All you need to do is run the EXE. I am downloading it now and will see whether that is true, then advise you from there.

 

I didn't try simply double clicking on it - thought that I needed to drag and drop it for the Vista Home Premium to burn it to a disk. However, I will wait to hear back from you before I do anything else (other than to keep letting the new download continue in case there is an issue with the first download).

Again, Thanks So Very Much,

Lisa

 

OK, I just checked the page where you downloaded the EXE from and it states:

"Avira AntiVir Rescue System allows users to easily access computers that cannot be booted anymore. Thus it is possible to:

- repair a damaged system,
- rescue data,
- scan the system for virus infections.

Just double-click on the rescue system package to burn it to a CD/DVD. You can then use this CD/DVD to boot your computer."

So, go ahead and double click the EXE and see if it won't successfully burn a rescue disk.

 

will try that now and be right back as soon as I know if I can do just that.

Lisa

 

The DrWeb Live CD won't have an uninstallation feature because it runs from the CD. If you want to uninstall CDBurnerXP, Put Revo into Hunter mode and drag the desktop icon for CDBurnerXP to the icon in the upper right that looks like a radar crosshair.

At this point, I'm wondering how old the CMOS battery in the HP is and when was the last time it was replaced? It could be that the CMOS battery is dead or dying and this could be causing the boot problems.

 

Okay, I did double click on the file but for some reason when I did that it started to eat up my system resources (checked because nothing was happening and the system resources soared to 90%). Eventually it did open and then I got a screen to burn the disc and it just finalized the CD and the drawer opened back up.

Odd that the system resources soared so high since the only thing I have open is this webpage (I know that any add-ons that are on google chrome will also tend to open up separate chrome.exe entries in the taskmanager so I don't have any extras running for just that reason) and I had paused that other download as well. Not sure why the system resources soared so high but once the program opened the resources dropped back down to around 20%.

Either way, it is now on a disc. Thanks, I guess that explains why windows was sort of freaking out when I tried to do it the other way.

So I will now put that disc into the non-working desktop and be right back.


Lisa

 

Okay, I put the disk in and I got the first screen and now I have a screen saying something like it was loading (screen changed by the time I went to jot it down.) I now have a screen saying that the system does not meet the minimum system requirements in order to prevent data loss or corruption. Avira Rescue System will now shut down and a box where I am supposed to click okay.

I have not clicked on the okay. The rest of the program is behind that and I can access the different items such as Home Folder; GParted; Terminal; System Settings; Avira Rescue System and the upper right corner has a sort of wrench and from there system settings; displays; start up applications; updates available; printers; lock screen; log out; shut down

Should I click on the okay or try one of the other items?

Lisa

 

I just did a search for the system requirements for the Avira Rescue System and the minimum requirements are 1GB of RAM and the HP pavilion has 512 GB of RAM (which is the max for this pc). That is why I am getting the message that the computer does not meet the system requirements.

At least it did load!

Lisa

 

What loaded? Did Avira Rescue Disk load despite the lack of memory?
I spent the last hour going over the Avira disk that I made because I hadn't used it in a long time. It has some tools that could have been very helpful in sorting out whether this is a hardware or software problem (at this point I really don't know). It is still likely that this is being caused by malware and we should definitely do a boot-time (before Windows loads) malware scan. If it were me I would continue to download antiviral rescue disks until I found one that worked. Are you up for that?

One other thing you can do is to check and repair your Boot.ini file. To do that, insert your Windows Install Disk and boot the computer until you get to the Recovery Console. From the command prompt or run box, type the following command:

Bootcfg /rebuild

Hit Enter
Take out the boot disk and reboot the computer to see if it will boot Windows.
Let me know what the program reports to you, including error messages.

 

I just did a quick search and the escan program only requires 256mb of Ram.

There is a Comodo Rescue Disk which only requires 512mb of RAM and I found this page that has a few programs and what the system requirements are.

Perhaps one of these would work instead???

Thanks Again. Need to go and check on my parents but will try to log back in this evening if I get back home early enough.

Lisa

 

Sure, any one of them will work. I also found AVG rescue disk but you would need to put that on a USB flash drive (CD uses too much memory). Let's go with eScan. Using Comodo would require you to walk a razor's edge in terms of memory and from my experience, I know that Comodo apps use more memory than they advertise. Sounds like you have your hands full. I'll download eScan to see what's on the disk. Here's a link to the file on the MajorGeeks site. You can trust that you are downloading malware free file.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/escan_rescue_disk.html

 

Hi Lisa, I downloaded eScan Rescue Disk and burned it to CD. Load it into your CD drive then reboot. It takes several minutes before it loads the GUI which looks like an ordinary Windows application. Check the radio button for "Scan all drives" or something close to that. Also check the box/radio button for "Scan Archives". Click on the "Update" button in order to download the latest viral definition files. When it finishes downloading click on "Scan and Repair". It may take several hours to complete the scan. It will create a log that can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate button. Look over the log and write down anything interesting...... like the identification of a virus or other malware. Post your findings in this thread, even if your system turns out to be clean.

 

Hello,

Sounds like (and I skimmed all the posts) that your XP system failed after an update . . . be it virus definitions or MS updates. I've had MS update cause boot problems before.

You said in your first post you were able to access Safe Mode . . . have you tried a system restore to a day before this problem occured?

 

Hi There!

Sorry I didn't get back to you last night but my parents had some issues last night and I was exhausted when I got back home

Anyway, I am downloading that program right now and will start running it as soon as I can (hoping that I can just let it run while I go up and sit with Dad for a bit this morning - he has dementia awhile a neighbor takes mom to church). Will be back in touch around 1pm (eastern) to let you know how things are going.

Spad - I tried to access the system using Safe Mode but it keeps freezing (at least nothing else happens) once it gets to mup.sys and I even left it sit that way for over 2 hours. I even tried going into safe mode and selecting last known good configuration and then I just got the black screen again.

That .iso is downloading now and will start that asap.

Be back in touch this afternoon.

Thanks Again for EVERYTHING!

Lisa

 

forgot to mention - if I have to go with something that has to be installed onto a flash drive that is not an issue. I have multiple usb ports and a few empty flash drives that I could use. Still waiting for the escan download to complete and will try that one first.
Again, Thank You,

Lisa

 

Lisa, don't feel rushed. I know you are not doing this in a vacuum. You've got a whole life outside of this one little computer problem. I'm not working right now so I have all the time in the world. I've got lots of other little projects to keep me busy. So, again, don't feel rushed. I'm not going anywhere.

 

Okay I installed the disc and this is what is happening

Windows is loading files followed by a screen that looks like the one for command prompts that says

Administrator: X:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CMD.EXE
X:\WINDOWS\wmav>

A Box on top of that says WMAV – eScan AV AntiVirus Toolkit
INTERNAL ERROR!!! This could be because of incorrect system date setting or missing signature files or corrupt files. Please send WMAV.log file to support@escanav.com

Clicked okay and then got a box for escan toolkit and a circle going around then a blue multicolor screen and then the HP invent screen when pc first starts

Then back to the Windows is loading files screen on black screen with white bar at bottom to show progress.

Next command prompt windows says
X:\windows\system32\ wpeutil.exe
Then the screen with the toolkit loading screen

(I may have not seen this command prompt window the first time since I was jotting the information down but it does keep appearing every time I click the okay or close button for the internal error message)

Followed by the initial command prompt that I mentioned above with the box above saying internal error. This time I clicked the close box on that window and it just keeps repeating the same things over and over again. Tired 4 times to see what happens and it is just a never ending circle. I never get any other screens.

I can enter a command into the window / command prompt that says Administrator X:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe and that prompt section says x:\windows\wmav>
But I am not sure what prompt to use.

I did try entering exit at that command prompt and it just started over with the same exact steps as above


Lisa

(I hope that all makes sense)

Have to leave in about 30 minutes but will leave the disc in and this page up in the meantime (will leave the desktop running while gone)

 

Just let it start over again and this time there was some other box that popped up (like something was loading) but it was gone as fast as it appeared and we are now back to the last command prompt screen and the box about the internal error.

Lisa

 

I just did a quick search about the internal error and I Ffound some info at http://download1.mwti.net/wiki/index.php/Escan/english/Checkdisk which I found at http://download1.mwti.net/wiki/index.php/Escan/english/eScan-FAQ131 which I found through http://faqs.escanav.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=3&id=161&artlang=en

Tried entering chkdsk /f from what I found at the above link and the result was
The type of file system is NTFS
Cannot lock current drive
Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write protected

not sure it was the correct prompt to use but thought that a chkdsk prompt wouldn't hurt anything.

Lisa

 

I tried this command instead

chkdsk C: /f and got a screen saying
Chkdsk cannot run because volume is in use by another process. CHKDSK may run if this volume is disconnected first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N)

I have not entered anything - will just leave it there until I get back around 12:30 - 1PM.

(just don't have any more time this morning to do any more searching but I will be back asap)

Thanks Again for absolutely everything.

Lisa

 

Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows XP? The rescue disk apps usually mount on a virtual disk (usually X). If you dismount it you'd just end up with a blank screen. It sounds like a major incompatibility as one would see with a 32-bit vs 64-bit problem. I suggest that we just move on and try another antivirus app. This one is only 140 MB and I've run it on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems (including XP). It's called FSecure. You can download it from the following site:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/f_secure_rescue_cd.html

You know the drill by now

 

I was rereading the thread (I sustained Traumatic Brain Injury about 10 years ago and my short term memory is really bad). Anyways, I saw that I had recommended that you run bootcfg from the command line. So, before you download FSecure do that following:

1. Put your Windows XP Install disk into the broken computer's CD tray
2. Close the tray
3. Reboot Windows
4. When you see a message saying "Press any key to boot from CD" (or similar) press any key
5. From recovery console command prompt (DOS box) type the following command:

bootcfg /rebuild

Take CD out of tray
Reboot to see if XP will now load

The above command rebuilds the computers Boot.ini file which contains information used in booting the computer. If it doesn't work then go ahead and download and burn the FSecure rescue disk.

 

Hello Again,

The system is a 32 bit version of Windows XP Pro.

I did click n for the question that I left it at when I went up to my parents and now there is another screen asking if I would like to run the chkdsk scan the next time the system restarts (Y/N).

Should I click Y and let it do that or just click N and exit out of it, remove that disk and do the steps that you gave me last?

Did I run bootcfg from the command line while in the R setup of Windows disc? I don't recall doing that - just fixboot, fixmbr and chkdsk commands after booting to the windows cd.

Lisa

 

It's me again!

After your last post (and mine) regarding the command
chkdsk C: /f and I got a screen saying
Chkdsk cannot run because volume is in use by another process. CHKDSK may run if this volume is disconnected first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID. Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N)

I went with N and the next command prompt asked if I would like to run the chkdsk scan the next time the system restarts (Y/N). I clicked N and then just got the standard command prompt - X:\WINDOWS\wmav>
So I typed in exit and the whole process restarted again. How to I end this so that I can get out of this thing without messing up the pc any more --- can I just remove the disc while one of those screens are up?

Lisa

 

I ended up just opening up the tray for the cd/dvd drive and removed the disc, put the Windows XP Pro install disc in and typed exit into the command prompt from the escan window and when it restarted it started the windows installation disc = pressed any key to boot from CD and at the prompt I typed in
bootcfg /rebuild as you suggested. After doing that the screen stated

Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

Please wait, since this may take awhile….

The Windows installation scan was successful.

Note: These results are stored statically for this session
If the disk configuration changes during this session, in order to get an updated scan, you must first reboot the machine then rescan the disks.

Total identified Windows installs: 1

[1]: C:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):

So which command should I enter????

I did a bit of searching and from what I can see I should enter Yes or Y - is that correct. The info I found was at http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Boot.Ini ;
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/repairbootini.htm ; and http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/rebuild-bcd-store-windows.htm

Lisa

 

A couple more things to try:

Boot Windows XP installation CD to Recovery Console. From command prompt, type:

fixboot C:

Don't forget to add the colon at the end.
I know you did this before but you didn't specify the disk drive name C: so try it this way.

Then type in the following command:

Fixmbr DeviceHardDisk0

That's a zero at the end. This also specifies which hard drive you want to fix but specifies the disk by number rather than by letter.

When done, remove the CD and reboot to see if Window loads.

We've already tried booting into Safe Mode and the computer locked up on you while loading. If you are comfortable opening your computer's case, shut down your computer, unplug the power, and open your computer’s case. Remove and reconnect all cables. Remove and reconnect all cards inside your computer, including your computer’s memory chips. Reassemble your computer before attempting to start it again. If your computer still doesn't boot Windows, well...... we're running out of options, other than attempting to reinstall Windows from your Installation CD. Doing so would not delete any of the personal files (photos, videos, etc.) stored on your hard drive. It would just reinstall the Windows files and start you off with a new Registry. Though, it would mean losing most or all of your program configurations.

If reinstalling Windows fails, then it's likely that you have a fried motherboard or CPU. It could be that your graphics card or memory sticks have developed problems but that's less likely, given that your computer is puking and dying so early in the boot process. We would still be able to recover the data from the hard drive using cloning or disk imaging software, where we would make an exact copy of your hard drive and copy it to another disk.

 

You're NOT going to mess anything up while in this pre-boot environment. You could have chosen to rescan the hard drive using chkdsk but that would have been unnecessary. You've already scanned it once and proved that the hard drive is not the problem. So you're fine.

 

Yes, press "YES"

 

Hello Again!

Okay I did the bootcfg /rebuild command and entered y and followed the rest of the steps that I found at http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Boot.Ini (but I did not enter Windows XP Professional Edition the first time - I forgot the word edition so I did it again)

After exiting the prompts; removing the disc and restarting the pc the second time on restart there was the HP Invent screen and then there was a screen that flashed up and disappeared too quickly to jot down what it said and then I just had a grey screen. Tried restarting pc again to see that screen and I got the hp invent screen and then a screen that said select operating system and windows xp professional was highlighted but I could not see anything else that it said before it vanished and then nothing.

Restarted again but was ready to hit the down arrow when I got the screen and what it says is

Please select the operating system to start:

Windows XP Professional Edition
Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Selected / highlighted the 3rd option and pressed F8 since (at bottom of screen it also says for troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows press f8 which brought up the safe mode and start windows normally options.) left it at start Windows Normally and clicked enter but I was back to the grey/black screen after the HP Invent screen.

I am not sure but maybe I was supposed to type in Microsoft Windows XP Professional and not Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Professional Edition at the Enter Load Identifier prompt since there are now 3 options there (not like I know if there were 3 before anyway). Did I make a mistake there?

I also tried the above on another restart and selected the safe mode option and it is still just sitting at Mup.sys (but it has only been about 3 minutes now).

I will try your suggestions (I did download that other file as well but have not burned it to a disc yet).

Opening the computer case really isn't a big issue since I have already replaced the hard drive in the past as well as added memory and replaced the psu. I did try removing and reinstalling the memory sticks but will do as you suggested with everything to see if that helps.

There isn't really anything on this pc anymore since I just have it around in case I need to connect to the internet should I have an issue that I need to look up due to some problem with my laptop (knock on wood - I hope not but didn't get rid of it just in case). So reinstalling Windows is not an issue for me.

Will try as you suggested and will be back in touch shortly.

Lisa

 

okay, I restarted the pc with the disc in again and went to the recovery section again and typed in fixboot C:

results were - FIXBOOT IS WRITING A NEW BOOT SECTOR – NEW BOOT SECTOR WAS WRITTEN SUCCESSFULLY

then I entered the command Fixmbr DeviceHardDisk0
and all that happened was a command prompt

Lisa

 

just tried entering fixmbr at that command prompt and I get the screen saying

**CAUTION**
This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot record. FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. This could cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become inaccessible. If you are not having problems accessing your drive, do not continue. I entered N

back to another command prompt

(just to let you know this hard drive is not partitioned)

Lisa