Boot Record problem w/ Win XP Pro, won't start.

[weirdo100]

I have Win Xp Pro installed on a Fujitisu laptop C2111. I'm having trouble starting windows. Last time my computer was working, it started going REALLY slow (ie. 1 minute to open a new outlook email window). I decided to restart, and haven't been able to get back into windows ever since.

When I started it in safe mode, it gave the the error about ntoskrnl.exe. Pretty much the problem described at

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314477

. So, after a long time, I was finally able to get to the recovery console with a win xp pro cd. Here I did the steps outlined in Method 3 (see link above). Then, when I restarted, it hung for a little bit on the windows xp screen, then went blank for a minute, then flashed a blue screen that I couldn't read, but look kinda like the scandisk screen. Then it restarted itself.

I have tried using Norton Disk Doctor, but when it tries to analyze the drive, it finds an error on the boot record. After trying to fix it for a few hours, it says it can't fix it.

So, I'm pretty sure its a boot record problem. I tried methods 2 and 4 (from above link) but I bootcfg didn't work, and neither did CHKDSK. I'm trying to run the recovery console again to get the exact error messages to post here. When I run the recovery console, It hangs after asking me which windows installation I want to log onto, and after I press 1, Enter. I can usually get in after waiting half an hour or so.

After doing method 3, and then starting in Safe Mode, It hangs when trying to access agp440.sys (like this problem

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324764).

But when I did listsvc, nothing happened, and I don't think it let me access agp440.

I'd appreciate any help or suggestions, I've been working on this since Wednesday.

 

[weirdo100]

When I try Method 2, and type bootcfg /rebuild at the recovery console, it says: "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 canning. Use chkdsk to detect any disk errors."

When I try to run CHKDSK /r (Method 4) at the Recovery console, it says "The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems."

Also, before, I could use the dir command at the recovery console, but now it just tells me "The path or file specified is not valid".

 

[VMPhilosophy]

it seems like your drive is getting worse, it may be caused by a defective drive. Or a virus could have destroyed everthing.

"Did you ever wish a circle was a square, so when land sharks start circling the boarders you can just cut them off at the corners?" - Aesop Rock

 

[linney]

The manufacturer of your hard drive will have diagnostic software available for download. You can run this and check out the state of your hard drive.

You can check out your RAM via -

http://www.memtest86.com

This thread may offer you some other ideas to try.

ntoskrnl.exe missing or corrupt.
thread779-554646


Recovering data.

http://www.restorer2000.com

http://www.runtime.org/hints.htm

 

[weirdo100]

Thanks for the replies. I am considering trying to get a bootable Linux disk/CD to install in order to recover my files before I start over. Any suggestions for a Linux newbie? I have a friend who's experienced w/ it, but he won't be back until Monday.

 

[linney]

Wait until Monday, in the meantime these might be worth a read.

Discussion of "Linux-Inside-Windows Options" (items 1 and 2 in

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-04-14.htm

)

and especially Knoppix.

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-04-21.htm#2

 

[wolluf]

Don't know why you think involving Linux will help. You've not said if you took Linney's earlier (good) advice - manufacturer's diagnostic. The drive sounds like its dying - slave it to another machine & get data off (if you can).