Windows XP Crash

My Windows XP PC doesn't start up, I just get a black screen that says

"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem"

I am able to access the BIOS or the System Recovery Console.

I have Ubuntu on a CD and would like to install that, but I presume I cannot do so until I am able to boot the machine first?

Your advice is greatly appreciated/

 

I think it may be a problem with the boot.ini file. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

So you can get into Windows Recovery Console and get a prompt like C:\Windows\system32?

 

I can get into the Windows Recovery Console, and can access the C:\Windows,

but have no idea what to do from there..

 

I can access the Windows Recovery console, but have no idea what to do there..

I enter the admin password and C:\Windows comes up..

 

Type the following bolded commands and hit <enter> after each
cd ..
Prompt should change to C:\ The command above is cd(space)periodperiod
type boot.ini

Does the result look something like this? Pay attention to the Default line where the section "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS" should match exactly to that part of the first line under Operating Systems (0 and 1's should match up particularly for partition entry).

 

Here is what I get:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi<0>disk<0>rdisk<0>partition<2>\WINDOWS
[operating systems ]
multi<0>disk<0>rdisk<0>partition<2>\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition"
/fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

 

I downloaded ie09 and it ask me to install sp02. It crashed. It gave me the blue screen of death. 0000c1fs and now 0000c1f5. If you get any help I need some also. Wish you good fortune.

 

That looks OK. You probably have recovery partition from the PC manufacturer on partition 1, so partition 2 would be correct.

Try the command dir c:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe and hit <enter> see if it says it found 1 file. I don't need the size of the file, just want to make sure it is there.

If it easier you can do it using a few commands each followed by enter:

cd windows
cd system32
dir ntoskrnl.exe

 

Here's what I get:

The volume in drive C is Presario
The volume Serial Number is XXXX-XXXX

Directory of C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ntoskrnl.exe

02/06/09 12.08p -a------ 2189056 ntoskrnl.exe

1 file(s) 2189056 bytes
48981934080 bytes free

 

Yes, it found one file..

 

Ok, only two options left on that list to try.

If you are not at the C:\ prompt use cd .. commands to get back to it. Then you want to copy the current boot.ini to boot.old for safety. Then let me know if the bootcfg /scan command finds a Windows installation.

cd ..
cd ..
copy boot.ini boot.old
bootcfg /scan

 

Here's what I get:



Error: Failed to successfully scan disks for Windows installations. This error may be caused by a corrupt file system, which would prevent Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to detect any disk errors.

Note: This operation must complete successfully in order for the /add or /rebuild commands to be utilized.

 

That was going to be option 4 (not sure why they have it as last since it would have been my first choice).

chkdsk /r
and hit <enter> will check for errors. When it completes go ahead and try to boot.

 

If it takes more than an hour that is not so good. Stage 4 is the long one. Note if it finds any errors or has any number in the bad sectors listing.

 

Here is what I get:

 

If you are still in recovery console you can try bootcfg /scan again to see if it picks up the Windows installation. Or just reboot and see if any change in the error if you haven't already.

 

After bootcfg /scan I get the following:

I tried rebooting and there is no difference in the error message.

 

After bootcfg /scan I get the following:

I tried rebooting and there is no difference in the error message.

 

I'll have to look think about this for a bit. See if I can find some information. That you can run recovery console from HD and navigate through most of the file system seems to indicate that you don't have any major problem. It must be something simple that that article doesn't address.

Which make/model PC is it? Perhaps it is something specific to that model?

I would go ahead and do another chkdsk to rule that out. I think a chkdsk /f which is much quicker should be sufficient. Then try the bootcfg /scan again.

 

Here's what I get:

The PC is a Compaq Presario S0000

 

I guess the /f isn't available from recovery console.

You can do another chkdsk /r to make sure that chkdsk has done all it can do. (It depends on how long it took the first time whether or not you want to do that. If several hours you may want to opt out.) Normal is under an hour.

I want to make sure I am not taking you away from your goal. You probably have a recovery partition that could take you back to factory defaults, so out of the box fresh install of XP. Or if you wanted to install Ubuntu you could do that from CD without getting XP running. I'm uncertain if installing Ubuntu would destroy your recovery partition which is why I wanted to get XP fixed which I thought would be simpler.

You can also run Ubuntu off of CD without installing to copy any files you may want to save from XP to a USB stick before deciding on installing.

Booting the computer with the CD in the tray should start from the CD and give you an option to Try or Install. Trying just runs off the CD without making changes to your HD. You do not have to have XP working before trying Ubuntu.

http://www.ubuntu.com/sites/www.ubuntu.com/files/active/try-intsall.jpg

 

1. I don't have a Windows XP CD.

2. I cannot access XP to save any files that are on the machine. If possible I would like to retrieve those files, but I am not too concerned about them. It's an old machine, I can't even remember what's on it anymore.

3. I am willing to go ahead and install ubuntu, I left the CD in the tray when starting up, but I get the same error as when I try to load Windows XP.

4. I ran chkdsk /r again and got the same result.

5. Thanks for your help thus far.

 

If it is possible to retrieve the files that would be great.

I was so resigned to losing them that I let them go emotionally. But if we can get them back I would like to try for that...

 

I'm not sure why the PC won't boot from Ubuntu. I can't find instructions for entering your BIOS to set the boot order.

Your manual says to hit F10 to enter recovery. If you don't want to lose your files you don't want to actually perform a recovery but you do want to get into BIOS. See what your options are when you hit F10 during the HP screen. You sre looking for System Setup or BIOS rather than recovery. Or does the HP screen list options such as F1 to enter Setup...

 

I am able to enter the BIOS by pressing F1.

What do I do there?

 

You want to look for Boot Order. And then check that CDROM is above Hard drive in the list. (The PC tries to boot from the listed devices in order. So it tries to boot from the first item and if it can find boot files it goes to the next item. You want it to try booting from CD before going to the HD.)

If CD isn't above HD then you want to move it up, probably using the arrow keys.

When finished hitting ESC should give you a prompt asking whether or not to save changes. If you made the change then hit the appropriate key to Save. Otherwise Exit without saving.

 

Ok, that will allow me to boot the Ubuntu CD.

But what about retrieving the files?

 

Remember you don't want to install Ubuntu but just try it.

If you have a USB flash drive you can just drag and drop to that. Select Copy when prompted.

That really is the best way. Otherwise you would need a way to hook up the HD to another PC either internally or by a USB cable. Or if you have a second CD/DVD drive that writes discs in that computer you could use that to write the files to a blank disc.

I can't think of any other ways to copy the files.

 

I have an external hard drive.

But how can I copy the files? From the system recovery?

 

I want to make sure we are on the same page.

With the external plugged in, you would boot from the Ubuntu CD and choose to Try it. That should take you to the Ubuntu desktop. From there you would open the file browser to find your HD and the files you wanted. When found you would open another file browser window to your external HD. Then drag and drop the files between windows selecting copy when prompted.

I can't give you exact instructions on file browsing in Ubuntu right now but I could take a look at it later. You might try booting to Ubuntu and see if that goes OK. I find Ubuntu can be picky on some machines.

 

Oh I thought that when I would start the machine in Ubuntu, the Windows XP files would not be accessible from there.

 

You will run Ubuntu from the CD thus making no changes to the internal HD with the XP files. It will be able to read the HD and your files. It will also be able to recognize the external HD.So you can copy the files between HD.

Once those are safely copied you can decide what you want to do with the HP computer. (Attempt to use the recovery partition to get a fresh install of XP or install Ubuntu if you find it serviceable.)

The trick will be in navigating to the two HD in Ubuntu. I don't use that version of Linux but I am sure there are some online guides. I will look for something in a couple of hours but I am out for the afternoon.

Please post back with any problems or questions and I will get back to this later. Or someone with familiarity with Ubuntu may try and help you in the meantime.

Good Luck!