Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

OK, I promised to stay out of this thread and I'm unsure if this applies because you are getting absolutely no power to the board but double check that the clear CMOS jumper is still in the correct position. I've had a computer not start because the jumper fell off during transit. You may have loosened it earlier in the process and vacuumed it away later.

Now, back to my armchair.

 

Thanks for the tip sach, I'll try that tonight when I get home.

Just in case I have no idea what you're talking about, where might I find this?

 

It's been a while since I've been on MG and I'm out of practice and mixing threads. You didn't move your CMOS jumper earlier in this thread. Usually a missing CMOS jumper would give you a light on the front of the computer but no POST, but it can't hurt to make sure it is still in position since you vacuumed. Depending on how old the computer is you should have a couple of pins next to the disc shaped battery on the motherboard. There should be a jumper (small plastic square connecting two pins or sitting on one pin) near the battery. Newer boards often just have a button to reset the CMOS. If you don't have a button and there is no jumper on the pins then that could be the problem.

Otherwise try unplugging the HD before booting and see if you get anything.

 

I have been googling ... psu blinking light power supply .... and it turns out to be a relatively "common" complaint.

Short answer .... defective PSU.
Replace the PSU: This is the long-term solution.

Longer answer ... short term solution.
Try the following as a temporary measure/test.
Find the 20 or 24 pin main connector plug on the motherboard (mobo), that comes from the PSU.
Disconnect it (there is a clip to depress, and then gently but firmly wriggle/pull).

Now connect power to the PSU and turn it on. Does the PSU light look good?

Right! Now, leaving the power connected and ON to the PSU with the solid light glowing .... yes, I know, this is a little unusual ... connect/push the connecting plug back into the mobo socket and seat it firmly.
PSU light still glowing? Right!
Press the ON button and your system should fire up normally .... well, it should fire up ... but perhaps "normally" is a bit much to expect.

What's the verdict?

(Warning: The problem may or may not re-occur after the computer is shut down and the power supply turned off, when you attempt to start the computer next time.)
--------------------------------

First thing I would do is get the box to a source of compressed air and blow all the crap out of it, paying particular attention to the PSU ... and the CPU/heatsink/fan. Easy to say when I have an air compressor etc. Not so easy if you don't have one! Then start the testing again ....

 

Wow! Thanks for the research!
I'll try it tonight.

I have to work late, and the Mrs. is already pretty heated about me spending so much time with the machine last night, so I'll probably have to wait untill the kids go to bed.

I'll report back here...

 

Yes! We have [temporary] Power!

Hey it's a small victory, but right now we'll take what we can get, right?!

Ok, where were we? Ah yes, BartPE!

On to the Check Disk, be right back...

*To Do List: Get new PSU...

 

Tried to run Check Disk.

It says:
Cannot open volume for direct access.

Maybe it's not getting proper power to the Hard drive?
I can't imagine it would have been wiped clean that quickly.

Well, unless there are any other suggestions I guess I'll be getting a new PSU(probably not for a week or two.)

BTW AustrAlien, are you a beer drinker?

 

I guess that ties in with being unable to expand the C: drive and view the contents, yesterday.

Download SeaTools for DOS and burn the ISO image to CD. It will be bootable.
Boot to the CD and run short test .... if that passes, then run the "long/extended" test (this will repair if necessary/if possible).
This is the final test on the hard drive for now.

SeaTools for DOS
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools

Click on the "Learn more" &/or the "See the tutorial" links for more information.
-----------------------------

If this fails to repair the file system .... it's then time to try to retrieve your important data by some means, if it is possible.
> DATA/FILE RECOVERY ... and that is a subject that calls for more assistance or more research on our part.
If somebody does not come to your assistance shortly, then I would advise you to start another thread ... again in the XP Software Forum ... with a more appropriate subject line such as ..

Dead hard drive: data file recovery advice needed

 

If data retrieval becomes your next project, you may wish to purchase another hard drive (along with a PSU) to re-install your operating system again, and perform the retrieval using that system, at your leisure.

 

+1 to that, get a stable system then tackle the data recovery issue.

Testdisk may enable some insight into the situation with the disk.

 

Thank you both for the help.

I'm going to try SeaTools right now.

Just a thought, it almost seems like the problem now is talking to the HD, not necessarily the HD itself (Although that may have been the initial problem). If that's the case, there might be a problem testing the HD.

I dunno, just thinking out loud, let's see how it does.

 

hard drive = hdd or HDD (hard disk drive)

Yes, the problem we have faced to date is "talking to the hdd" ... using the established file system (ntfs). The testing tools (SeaTools and Testdisk) will not use that file system .... and therefore will actually be able to test the hdd in their own fashion.

No, I do not anticipate there being any problem at all with the hdd ... though I may be wrong? Eventually, when you have recovered your data, you will be able to wipe it clean with something like dban (Darik's Boot and Nuke) or Killdisk, and then partition and format (ntfs) it again and use it as a backup/system drive.

Hopefully SeaTools will be successful .... we can only hope also that it might even recover the file system enough to boot again. But, then, reading about Testdisk .... that may do the trick if SeaTools fails ....

However, I would do as satrow and I have suggested if at all possible.

 

I've looked through both of these so forgive me if I missed it, but my mouse and keyboard are not responding once SeaTools loads up.

I can turn on and off the Num Lock and Caps Lock keys, and the light goes on and off, but I can't even get past the EULA.

Is there something else I should be doing to make sure these work?

 

You are using a USB keyboard/mouse.

Two options:
1. Use a wired PS2 (small round plug) connection from keyboard/mouse ... if you have such items available to use, or a USB - PS2 adapter works also.
2. Into the BIOS Setup Menu ....
page 2 or 3 ... ?
Look for something like ... Legacy USB, USB keyboard/mouse
and ENABLE it.

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned before that I am using PS2 mouse and keyboard.

USB Legacy Mode Support and PS/2 Mouse were both set to Auto.

 

That blows me out of the water!

Give me details of exactly what you are doing and where exactly you are up to, and in the meantime I will boot to SeaTools CD and see if I can help you that way ... ?

 

"I accept"

Press the e key!!!
----------------

Press S for Basic Tests
then either of ...
Press H for Short Test
Press G for Long Test

 

Already tried that. Tried Alt-E too.

So here's what I'm doing:

CD is in, BIOS set to boot from CD.

Turn it on

First screen comes up (with option to go into boot setup etc.)

Then the screen reads, after the copyright info:
-InitDiskError reading partition table drive 00 sector0
Error reading partition table drive 00 sector0Error reading partition table drive 00 sector0

Three times then it starts up, goes to the EULA screen but the mouse and keyboard don't work.

Until I type Ctrl-Alt-Del and brings me to a Black C: prompt screen.

So the keyboard works to escape and go into BIOS etc.
Maybe the disk is bad? Maybe I should burn a new one?

----
Edit: before the EULA there's something about Cute mouse?
Let me check it again...

 

You are the unluckiest ... I have come across in awhile!

I can't come up with a better first move .... unless you can test booting the CD in another machine.

And try it a second time .... but I guess you have done that already.

I will think about it ... I don't much like to see the error message
"-InitDiskError reading partition table drive 00 sector0
Error reading partition table drive 00 sector0Error reading partition table drive 00 sector0" .... and my first thought is that this is the problem!

 

Looking in the Knowledge base over at Seagate, this seems to be a common problem. Incompatibility with certain chipsets.

One person found a solution with an older version of SeaTools.

I'm going to try the Text version next.

I'm actually going to be away from the computer for a little bit, but I will post back here later.

 

I did not see that ... you might have to point me in that direction.
---------------------
I have reviewed your whole thread and cannot find the info that I am looking for: I did find this "Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250 Gbytes", but that doesn't help because they come in both IDE and SATA versions.

I am betting on ... your Seagate being a SATA version (the data cable is a thin one, as opposed the the IDE data cable being a wide, flat one with either 40 or 80 wires. In any case if you read the label on the hard drive it will tell you (if you are game to look at it again?).

Please confirm that the Seagate is a SATA version ... and if so, please do the following:
Enter the BIOS Setup Menu.
I want you to find the part relating to ?"Integrated Peripherals"?, page 2 or 3 ?
I want you to look for the hard drive configuration options available .... autoRAID/ATA, RAID, SATA, AHCI .... IDE, ATA .... the wording of the options will depend on your particular BIOS.
I want you to change the setting (if this is applicable of course) to autoRAID/ATA, or IDE/ATA compatible mode rather than any of the others ...
Save the changes and exit the menu.

See if that fixes the issue with:
"-InitDiskError reading partition table drive 00 sector0
Error reading partition table drive 00 sector0Error reading partition table drive 00 sector0"
and
the difficulty using SeaTools.

 

It is SATA version, the thin small data cable?

My BIOS setup has these options.
5 Tabs:
Main Advanced Power Boot Exit

Main gives me the option to select:
Time/Date, Language, Floppy (Not Installed)
Then First Channel Device 0 and 1
Then Second and third, 0 and 1

Power and Boot give limited options, so I think it's the Advanced Tab we want to look at.

Item--------------------Options
Plug and Play OS-----------Yes/No
Primary Video Adapter------PCI/PCI-E/Onboard
PS/2 Mouse----------------Disabled/Enabled/Auto Detect
Onboard 1394--------------Disabled/Enabled
SATA Adapter--------------Disabled/Enabled
USB Legacy Mode Support--Auto/Enabled/Disabled
Onboard LAN---------------Enabled/Disabled
Onboard LAN Boot ROM-----Enabled/Disabled
Local Bus IDE Adapter------Disabled/Primary/Secondary/Both
Onboard Audio-------------Auto/Disabled/Enabled

Sub Menu
I/O Device Configuration
Parallel Port---------------Enabled/Disabled
Base I/O address----------378/278/3BC
Mode---------------------Bi-Directional/EPP/ECP
Interrupt------------------IRQ5/IRQ7

----------------

So there's my BIOS! I tried to format it so it would be easy to read.
But it didn't really turn out...You see what you were looking for?

--------------------------------------

BTW, Here is where I saw the comments about the mouse/keyboard issue:
http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/c...earchOperator=0&ssdFilter_SearchKeyWord=mouse

--------------------------------------

Oh yes, in case it wasn't obvious, the bold text is what is currently selected.

 

No

Go "Advanced" tab ...

 

Whoops ... I missed it in my first look, but there it is ...

DISABLE it! Save and exit to re-start ....

 

Ok, I'm at the Advanced Tab now...

However I tried the Text version of SeaTools. It wouldn't do the short test because of an error and suggested the long test.

I started the long test and it immediately found and error.

Then another. By the time it got to 99 errors, it hadn't completed 4% of the test, and it stopped.

-------------
Edit: Disabled the SATA Adapter, and no Errors at InitDsk

Gonna try it again...

-------------

Well, now SeaTools is not finding any Hard Drives



-

 

Are you thinking that you might have better luck if you start hitting your head against a brick wall ... ?

 

You mean, I shouldn't be doing that?

I've been doing that over and over! :banghead

 

Now I am wondering if I made an incorrect interpretation ...

It would seem that perhaps the SATA Adapter might have to be Enabled in order to detect the SATA drive.

 

By the look of the above ...
Your SATA HDD would be showing as the THIRD Channel Device.
When you highlight it, (assuming it is listed as present, of course?) do you see any details/options available?

 

Yes, Third Channel Device 0

The only option is for SMART Support.

In there the options are:
SMART Status Check
SMART Short Self-Test
SMART Extended Self-Test

 

Things are not looking good at all: They are going from worse to just plain rotten!
I can't help but think we are reduced to PLAN C.
Sorry: That is not much comfort right now.

 

You were pretty close AustrAlien, on many newer motherboards there is an option to select SATA emulated as IDE or similar - but not by the look of it, on this one

Time for Testdisk or MBRWork (both on the UBCD)? It would help to look at the data from the MBR and partition tables now, it may give you a clearer picture of what you're up against.

 

Just another thought for you to consider ...

I don't like to see you attempting all this with an unreliable/perhaps defective power supply: I would much prefer that you get a good stable system operating before attempting any more work.

But ...
Although I don't see any sign of it in your BIOS Setup Menu, do you have a screen showing something like "hardware monitor", displaying the cpu temerature, fan speed, voltages etc. ?
I would be really keen to see that both the +12volt and the +5volt (these are what the hard drive uses) are up to specification.
Can you find this information?

 

Data Recovery: Welcome to DjLizard's data recovery guide.
http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Data_Recovery

 

I've only got one thing to say after reading all this.

The first thing I would have done before anything else would have been a chkdsk /r from the recovery console.

Then, read the report. It would say how many errors were fixed, and if the drive has any problems that are beyond repair. If it went well, see if it would boot. Normally, it may. If it does, then back up any valuable data.

Next, a RAM memory check to see if it is writing bad data to the HDD. MemTest is a great program.

If that checked out, an HDD diagnostic, to see if that needs to go, or just be formatted, and the OS re-installed.

Normally, you can obtain the discs from your manufacturer, for a nominal fee.

There were some good questions I didn't see.
How old is the PC? Probably about 4 or 5 years.
How long have you had issues?
Have you done a memory diagnostic?
Have you done an HDD diagnostic?



If the drive can't be recovered, and the OS booted, obtain a new one (HDD), and slave the old one.

The only hassle would be with ownership of the folders, should they be private, or password protected. Then you may not be able to access the data from another drive.

This drive may very well have ended up fried after all I've read, and slaving may not be an option.

Testing the PSU with a meter usually involves a jumper, and the multi-meter.

Just my two cents, for what they are worth. At that drive's age, failure is around the corner.

 

Quite right: It should have been my FIRST suggestion! :-o
I will try harder to get it right ... next time.

 

DjLizard's data recovery guide.

 

Sorry, start with a P and go to F if all is ok.

Cloning can be good, too.

At that drive's age, as a Seagate Generation 8, you make a valid point satrow.

Excellent Wiki Article.

Now I know what to do with that old Rambus Dell I have in the corner.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the input guys!

Looks like at this point, my best bet is to get a new PSU and HDD and get it running. Then attempt a data recovery with the old HDD as a slave?

Looks like it might be a week or so before that's gonna happen.

Does it matter what brand I get? Should it be another Seagate, or does it not matter as long as it's at least 250Gb (the size of the old one)?

Any suggestions on what to get and where?

----------------------

BTW, The system is a Compaq Presario, SR1650NX and Yes it's about 5-6 years old.

 

Yes, that's about the best I can suggest.

Compaq Presario SR1650NX
Motherboard Specifications, A8AE-LE (AmberineM)
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...6280/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=1127352

According to the above info, you do have 2 SATA ports available, so you are are able to buy and fit another SATA HDD.

Prices for SATA HDD have come down, and size has gone up.
I am using 500GB size as my "default"/"normal" size now. They do still come smaller (and of course, bigger).
I buy and use exclusively Seagate hard drives. Why? They are as good as any other. I get to use SeaTools and Seagate's DiscWizard on all my drives/computers without any compatibility issues. DiscWizard? Yes, it comes with Acronis imaging software for cloning and imaging hard drives (free to use if you have a Seagate hdd).
------------------------

PSU .... Corsair VX450 is GOOD! (I have two: Just bought the second, because I liked the look of the first one so much! Quality, quality quality ... )
If you need more power the 550 is available.

You will get as many different recommendations as there are replies, so take your pick.