Big OS Crash! Please Read

[TheTrexx]

When I turned on my computer, it said that the file "pci.sys" was missing. I tried to restart the computer using the Windows XP CD-ROM at boot, and got the message "setupdd.sys couldnt be loaded" Press any key to exit setup". Since I didn't have too much important information on the computer, I wiped the entire drive, thinking that it would be able to start the CD-ROM from boot. However, the same problem appeared.

Can anyone please help me? This problem just appeared and I never saw it appear ever before.


System specs:

Windows XP: Professional
GeForce2 32MB video card
764 SDRAM MMB RAM
40 GB HArd drive MAXTOR
40 GB Hard drive Seagate
CD-RW, DVD-ROM drives

[bailey]

when you boot up with the xp cd do you get a repaire option menu ?

[glc]

I'd suspect one of your ram modules first.

[TheTrexx]

1. I couldn't get anywhere after those messages appear on the setup screen, as described in my original problem.

2. How does memory modules have anything to do with the problem? Is it possible Windows has problems loading the sys file because of a defective memory chip? The memory size registers correctly in post.

[glc]

That's only telling you how much ram you have, it doesn't test it for functionality. I've seen bad ram cause all kinds of issues like this. If you have more than one module, test with one at a time.

http://www.memtest.org/

Try that for testing your ram.