Windows boot up problems...HELP!!!

[paJAMbla]

I'm not sure where on the forum I should post this but thought I'd start here. Our Dell 8300 started acting up yesterday and a window comes up before it boots to the XP desktop and says something about sorry for the inconvenience but...... I'm given several options including starting in safe mode, safe mode with prompt, starting normally, etc. I've clicked "normal" startup and safe mode but when I do I get a blue screen that says the following:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time……


Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives or hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive to make sure it is properly configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK/F to check for hard drive corruption, then restart your computer.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF789E524, 0x0c0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)


Just fyi, I did recently put a new (refurbished) SATA hard drive in with no problems. Its been in there for about 2 or 3 weeks without a glitch. I just disconnected it from the motherboard and psu and went into bios and turned it "off". I'm still getting this message and can't get to the desktop.

I did get a message yesterday about a problem but then it let me finish the boot. When I got in Window told me that it had detected the problem and it was with the Sonic program and that I needed to delete it and reinstall a new version or driver or something. I deleted it and downloaded whatever I needed but it wouldn't let me install it. I think it was my virus protection warning me about whatever I was trying to install so I tried to bypass it but it wouldn't let me so it was never installed. Does anyone have any ideas??? My kid has tons of homework and all his stuff is on there. If anyone could please help us it would be greatly appreciated.

[glc]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103

[paJAMbla]

Holy crap! I have no idea what to do with all that GLC. I guess I'm going to have to get an expert to look at it? I can't get to desktop to do virus scans so now what? Would it have something to do with the new HD I put in? Was it unprotected? Is there another way to get to the desktop and, if so, should I even do that?

[glc]

Well, you can certainly boot with the XP CD, log into the console, and run CHKDSK /R.

[paJAMbla]

All I have is the Windows "Reinstallation CD Windows XP Home Edition" that came with my computer 3 years ago. I put it in and it said press any key to boot with CD....or whatever...as you know. Then it started loading all this stuff. Don't know how to go right to desktop with this CD. Is there something else I should be doing to boot up to desktop through the CD. And please tell me if this is over my head I should just take it to a tech. Of course I'd like to save the money if I can work through this with the assistance of this forum.

Thanks again

[glc]

No, you do not go to the desktop - you use the recovery console.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

[paJAMbla]

thanks for your time GLC, but I think this is over my head. I don't want to screw things up even more so I guess I'll call the Geek Squad or another local tech. shop and have them look at it.

[paJAMbla]

I've been reading through these links and I'd at least like to try and troubleshoot through the recovery console. I do not have an administrator password and I don't think I ever created one. Is there anyway around this?

Also, is it possible that I deleted a system file and if so, would a repair/ reinstall with my Dell/ Windows disk fix the issue?

[glc]

When it asks for a password just hit Enter.

You may not be able to do a repair reinstall with the Dell CD unless it already has SP2 integrated. If you try, it will complain that you have the wrong version.

[paJAMbla]

OK...thanks GLC. If I don't get anywhere with this process, would it work to reload XP on the newer SATA drive and then boot from that drive and run a virus scan and any other diagnostics once I get running? And if I have to repair/reinstall, should I just forget the original Dell/XP disk and just buy a new one from Newegg?

I do have a new XP disk that I bought from newegg when I built a friends computer. I don't know about using that in regard to Microsoft's EULA since I do have XP already on the computer and it would be just for booting, repairing, and/or reinstalling. Can I use this newer disk with SP2 and then use my original registration key?

[glc]

If you have a second drive, the best thing to do is remove all but that drive and use the Dell CD to do a fresh Windows install. Get it updated, then put the flaky drive in as a second drive and go recover your data files. It's going to be time consuming but it's the best way to do it without data loss. Of course, all software will have to be reinstalled, and you may run into access issues getting the data files, this explains how to fix that:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

[paJAMbla]

so in other words it doesn't work to use a new XP disk and put my original cd key in?

[glc]

No, you should use the Dell reinstall CD. You can't activate a generic install with the Dell key without calling M$ and pleading your case. Using the Dell CD will not require activation.

[paJAMbla]

okay....I'm trying to get into recovery console and when it asked for admin. password this came up: C:\WINDOWS>

I typed in the command CHKDSK. It gives a volume serial number then says:

"The volume appears to be in good condition and was ot checked. Use /p if you want to check the volume anyway."

Okay...I went ahead and put in the command you gave me GLC: CHKDSK /R
Its stuck on 26% completed

[glc]

That's exactly where you are supposed to be. Now type the commands. It's just like DOS. The article tells you all the commands and switches.

I'm pointing you to what you need to know - but not holding your hand. You need to read to learn. Might want to read the recovery console article in detail and try to understand what it's saying.

[paJAMbla]

I'm sorry GLC. I don't mean to come off like I want you to hold my hand. I tried to edit that last post and something happened and it wouldn't let me. What I was trying to get at was whether or not putting in the command chkdsk /r was okay even though it had told me the "volume appears to be in good condition."

[glc]

If it's stuck at 26%, you have a problem with the hard drive. It may take 2 hours to scan, but it shouldn't just sit there.

If you haven't deleted it, Dell has a diagnostic partition. You access it with F12 at startup. You might want to run the diags to check out ALL the hardware. If you don't have the diags, you can boot with the Dell Resource CD, they are also on there.

[paJAMbla]

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