XP Pro Will NOT Load After Running DiskDefrag, PLEASE HELP
Hello,
I have spent 2 days trying to find the answer to my problem and nothing works. I dont understand what is wrong and could truly use the help of this forum please.
The problem: I tried to clean up some room on my HD and deleted some files and etc. Then I figured it was time to do a diskDefrag because it has been a long time since. The Diskdefrag finished with no problems at all and windows was working just fine. I then shutdown the laptop and the next morning when I tried to start it, is when I had the bad luck.
When I power on the laptop, it goes thru all the steps, except after the black screen with the windows logo comes on with the stats bar, it goes away and the blue screen of death comes on with the following:
** stop: C000021a {Fatal System Error} The windows Logon Process System process terminated unexpectedly with status 0xc0000135
The system has been shut down **
I have tried every option the F8 Menu...from safe mode, safe mode with networking, to Last Know Configuration...and nothing freaking works....THEN I booting off a copied Windows XP Pro CD, and clicked 'ENTER' (Which all the forums say to choose that option) BUT when I did that the next screen said the following:
** Setup did not find any Hard disk drives installed in your computer. Setup cannot continue. To quit setup press F3 **
PLEASE...Someone help me to fix this. I'm running WinXP Pro and its a tablet laptop. In the past I would have no problem just losing everything and starting over, however there is alot of very important files on it, that I need because my son is handicapped and currently have a case with the Ins company about getting approval for equipment.
Please any ideas on what I could do would be very much appreicated. Keep in mind when explaining what to do that I'm not a pro and might not know how to do certain tasks.
Just to be clear...I cant get into windows at all. When I power on, it goes thru the steps but then stops and gives me the BSOD. I tried running the Winxp pro cd, and have only done the first option 'To setup Windows 2000/XP now, press ENTER'. I have NOT tried the other option 'using Recovery Console, press R' because I was told that this will erase ALL files.
Sorry for writing so much, it just that this Ins case is very important to my son and I'm very nervous that I might have screwed things up. I'm willing to try anything, please just let me know what to do. Thanks in advance for any help.
John Silko
I have spent 2 days trying to find the answer to my problem and nothing works. I dont understand what is wrong and could truly use the help of this forum please.
The problem: I tried to clean up some room on my HD and deleted some files and etc. Then I figured it was time to do a diskDefrag because it has been a long time since. The Diskdefrag finished with no problems at all and windows was working just fine. I then shutdown the laptop and the next morning when I tried to start it, is when I had the bad luck.
When I power on the laptop, it goes thru all the steps, except after the black screen with the windows logo comes on with the stats bar, it goes away and the blue screen of death comes on with the following:
** stop: C000021a {Fatal System Error} The windows Logon Process System process terminated unexpectedly with status 0xc0000135
The system has been shut down **
I have tried every option the F8 Menu...from safe mode, safe mode with networking, to Last Know Configuration...and nothing freaking works....THEN I booting off a copied Windows XP Pro CD, and clicked 'ENTER' (Which all the forums say to choose that option) BUT when I did that the next screen said the following:
** Setup did not find any Hard disk drives installed in your computer. Setup cannot continue. To quit setup press F3 **
PLEASE...Someone help me to fix this. I'm running WinXP Pro and its a tablet laptop. In the past I would have no problem just losing everything and starting over, however there is alot of very important files on it, that I need because my son is handicapped and currently have a case with the Ins company about getting approval for equipment.
Please any ideas on what I could do would be very much appreicated. Keep in mind when explaining what to do that I'm not a pro and might not know how to do certain tasks.
Just to be clear...I cant get into windows at all. When I power on, it goes thru the steps but then stops and gives me the BSOD. I tried running the Winxp pro cd, and have only done the first option 'To setup Windows 2000/XP now, press ENTER'. I have NOT tried the other option 'using Recovery Console, press R' because I was told that this will erase ALL files.
Sorry for writing so much, it just that this Ins case is very important to my son and I'm very nervous that I might have screwed things up. I'm willing to try anything, please just let me know what to do. Thanks in advance for any help.
John Silko
0
Comments
2) What OS is it running
3) The cd you tried to use. Is it an actual windows CD or is it a recovery cd?
4) Do you have all the software cd's that this laptop came with
If this data is important before we try and repair it. I would suggest removing the harddrive, connecting it to another computer and backing up the data.
First want to say thank you for taking out the time to help me out.
I have a Gateway Tablet Laptop Model# CX2610
Running WinXP Pro
I tried using a Win XP Pro cd...however I do also have the recovery cd
Yes I believe I still have all the cd that came with it.
As for removing the HD...I dont know how it would be possible to remove it from the laptop and put into my regular pc.
Do you know of any ideas on how I might be able to start the laptop without taking out the HD...please help me on this. I know you must get alot of these help me posts...but it would really mean the world to my son and I if you could try and help us out.
John
To remove the harddrive. There should be some small symbols on the bottom of the case and one will be where the harddrive is (I tried to find a diagram but my google-fu failed me tonight). usually it'll be a on an edge with a screw that keeps it in place. You remove the screw and with gentile prying the harddrive will slide out.
Then to connect it to a second computer you would need an external usb drive enclosure. In this case your harddrive (according to the specs for that machine) is a SATA drive. So you would need an external SATA harddrive USB enclosure. Which you can pick up at most mom & pop style computer stores for around $30 - $40. Then you connect that all together hook it up to your computer and it should see the drive.
Now. Without doing any of that. This issue, is that your machine has a SATA drive in it and your laptop (don't get me started on this) won't treat it as an IDE device....Which means that the Windows XP Pro disk you tried to do the repair install with can't see it.
So to get around that problem, you'll have to go to gateway's website for your specific machine and get the SATA drivers. Which will need to go on a floppy drive. Then when you are booting up Windows XP off the cd and the first prompt, it will usually pass over says something to the effect 'Press F6 to load any other drivers' that's where you need that floppy drive. It'll load the SATA drivers for your machine. After which it should be able to see the drive and you - should - be able to do a repair install. But before that it could be a simple fix of using the repair console from the Windows XP cd and doing a fixmbr.
So (again I didn't check) what happens if your laptop doesn't have a floppy drive you may ask. Well then you have to make what is called a slipstream cd (and if that's the case we'll tackle that) which is basically a specialized XP disk but you make your own bundled version with the needed SATA drivers in it. But hopefully your laptop has a Floppy and that's a step you don't have to take.
Now your laptop likely came with Recovery Disks. These are essentially slipstreamed disks that, if you run them will reset your computer to the same configuration as the day you bought it. You will lose any data on it.
Bottom line is, and I know your burden, you are in a bit of a bind. I don't know what happened with your defrag that caused this burden. I can only guess that something didn't finish correctly in the process and your Master Boot record got messed up or your partition table possibly.
So to sum up, the reality is if the data on here is important I would urge you spend the $40 or so pull the harddrive and try and backup the data to another machine. That way you have the knowledge that whatever happens in trying to get your machine up and going your data is protected.
Next go to gateway's site, find the downloads/driver section for your laptop and get the SATA drivers. They need to go on a floppy drive.
Boot up with XP, hit f6 at the prompt and load the SATA drivers from the floppy.
Go to Recovery Console and do FIXMBR. Reboot and cross your fingers.
If that doesn't work, reboot again with the XP Disk, F6, for the Sata drivers then go through and do a repair install. To get to the repair install screen you have to start the install as if you were doing a clean install. But it should find that you have windows already installed on it and then ask you to repair them.
I truly cant begin to thank you enough for taking out the time to try and help. I'm sure your free time is hard to come by and appreicate all the writing you put into this post.
I spent the whole day, digging thru my attic looking for an external floppy drive that I could hookup...but I could not find it. So....the only option as you mentioned is for me to do a 'slipstream'
From what I understand in what you wrote...I will have to make a slipstream cd. Can you please tell me how I make one, and what should be on this cd.
I dont understand why it would not work, when I use the WinXP Pro cd. When I choose either 'Windows install, press ENTER' OR 'Recovery console press R' Why does the next screen say that it cannot find a HD installed...how is this possible?
You have been great helping me and will do whatever you tell me to try...please dont give up on me. Also if you can please try to explain what in newbie terms. I do know a few things about windows and dos but am by no means a expert and I dont want to get lost with some of your directions.
Thanks so much,
John
Alternatively you could set up an FTP server on one computer and FTP them to you. This may sound daunting but it's not all that hard.
But lets go over the other stuff first.
The reason that your windows CD isn't seeing your harddrive is because you have a SATA harddrive, that requires drivers that Windows doesn't have built into it. That's all there is to it. So we need to create a version of windows for you that has those SATA drivers built in.
First we need to get some drivers. This Link will take you to the drivers page for your laptop
The 1st driver you need is about half way down the page in the Hard Drive Downloads section.
Next is the bigger process and for that you'll have to do most of the reading and work yourself. However This Link has the most detailed instructions I know of on how to do it
The basics are you copy the windows CD to your harddrive. You use a program called nlite to make the slipstream cd and include in it any drivers and really any other software you want. You then take all that contents and make a bootable CD out of it.
Just go to that link, start with the beginners section from the menu on the left, the intermediate section covers how to put other drivers (in this case the SATA driver you downloaded) into the slipstream cd and then it follows on through to how to burn it as a bootable cd.
It does require some work, but if you follow the guide, it's quite good and straight forward. If you have any questions about the process ask away.
I would have gotten back to you sooner, but it's holiday so I've been busy.
As for the idea on using the cd Ubuntu, if this will allow me to see my HD would it be possible to then also copy the drivers over into windows somehow? Also if I use the Ubuntu cd would it allow my laptop to still connect to my network? If yes, then would it be possible to have the drivers I need saved on another computer, and then I could work my way to the folder with the saved drviers and pull them over...would this work?
Also, once I figure out how to make this slipstream cd...how will I know where to install the drivers...or does it work by simply clicking on them and they install by themselfs?
Last question, I quickly checked out the link for the drivers and the one for the HD says the following:
'Note: This is the SATA hard drive driver for the Gateway notebook computer models listed below. This driver is only needed during installation of a non-Gateway supplied operating system.'
It says 'non-gateway'...but this laptop is a gateway...so does this mean it will not work?
Also...it may take me some time to read and put together this cd and go thru the whole process...so please if it takes me some time to post back, please understand that is the reason why.
Thanks again everyone,
John
PS: Please let me know about the above questions...thanks so much again
Use the LiveCD to get your files off onto another machine on the network. Use it to burn whatever drivers you need to a CD. Reinstall Windows. When you have a desktop, use the CD you burned. Technically, all you need is probably the ethernet drivers, from there you can hop online and get the rest.
However, whilst I haven't used the Live CD solution as yet myself but assuming it does work, you could presumably backup data more easily to an external USB flash drive perhaps ? They're very cheap now even for larger capacity ones and usually you can always borrow a friend's one.
Once one's data has been pulled off, the worries will fade away and the recovery CD can be used and a fresh start made.
If you boot up with a live cd you *should* be able to see your network if you are connected to your network through a wire and not trying wirelessly.
You also *should* be able to see your harddrive but you can't just install the drivers onto your windows partition or get them off a network install during the windows installation.
The issue with the ubuntu live cd is that it may not have the right drivers for all your laptop hardware either so it may fully work, may partially work, may not even boot up. It's worth trying but it's no guarantee and if you use it to access your windows harddrive be extremely careful of what your doing. Using it to email files is ok. But don't try to edit, copy or delete any files you could truly screw it up. Linux's ability to talk to a windows partition is still experimental. The read ability is fairly accurate and more importantly generally harmless. However writing to an NTFS partition can still cause problems.
The SATA drivers are installed into the Slipstream cd as part of the installation process. Read through the link on how to make the cd and in the intermediate section there is an entire chapter that tells how to put in additional drivers and where to put them into the file structure.
No it means exactly what it says. 'This driver is only needed during the installation of a non-Gateway supplied operating system.' Which in your case is your friends Windows XP cd. Your computer may have came with windows XP, but that's a specially installed version of XP that has all the required drivers for your computer built into it. This other windows XP cd you have is just a generic windows XP (ie. non-gateway supplied) XP cd and that's why we need to do all this slipstream process to get these needed SATA drivers onto it. If you had a floppy drive on that machine then we wouldn't need to bother.
If you use your supplied cd's they are restore cd's, you won't require any drivers but it will reset your computer back to stock settings meaning you will lose all the data you have on it.
Sorry for not posting back about what has or has not worked. The reason why I have not posted is because my apartment was broken into and a few things were taken. For whatever reason, they didnt stay long and ran off...but the damage is done and have spent the time cleaning up and trying to figure what was missing.
I will be trying the methods you guys posted very very soon...it just seems my year continues to have bad things happen. Will post soon
John
In meantime I had followed up Technocrat's great idea to use the Linux software Ubuntu found here: http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download as I had a need with someone's blue screened laptop.
I had previously downloaded and easily created the boot cd when I had first seen this idea. I then added an external hard disk. The screen and prompts are a little different but a moment's viewing and you soon get the idea where everything is and I easily copied over data from the C: drive.
Sweet....
Once you take 2 minutes to get used to the Ubuntu interface it really is quite usable - I administrated an entire network off of Ubuntu for over a year, no problems.
I was told to try this prog called 'Knoppix' and was able to get it running on my laptop....I really cant believe I'm able to see my old data...I almost dropped the laptop on the floor, when it worked...I was soooo freaking shocked, that I jumped up and was able to catch it before it crashed to the floor....Aaahhhh
Anyhow...On the desktop it shows 2 HD icons...the first one had all my programs and pics and etc...the other, which is smaller...about only 4 gig in size...has a few folders...such as...'i386' 'miniNT' 'System Volume Information'.
I went back into the first HD and was able to find the data and info I had saved.
Can someone please tell me what can I do from here...what should I do from here and etc?
Now that I'm able to see my HD, can I fix it? Is there somthing I should look at, to see what is missing or is corrupt and then fix it...please tell me I might be able to fix it...please.
Sorry for all the questions....it just that after all this time I really thought it was over.
I have to be honest...with the web being such a big place to find help...I was only able to find help from people who really care and want to try and teach. I was only able to find 3 forums...one of them was this one...and some of the BEST ideas cam from here.
Please let me know what I should next
Is there any way to run some test or etc to find out what file is bad and then copy over the correct one...is this not possible.
Please let me know...thnks
No you can't fix your laptop from linux. Your file system is corrupted and windows itself can't repair it you can only backup the data you want to keep and do a clean install.
If you want to try and repair the file structure then you'll need some tools. I would suggest you go looking for a download called MiniPE off your favorite torrent sites. It's a bootable cd that contains a lot of harddrive repair tools. Depending on the problem with your drive it may have one that works.
It's been awhile because I have been trying to move over alot of my data and also use that prog miniPE.
Does anyone have suggestion as to which tools I should try to use...There are some Hard Drive tools, however when I open them up, they only see the small partitioned system drive which is about 7gig...the main one which is about 70gig...does not show up.
There is a prog called MBR-Fix...but when I click on any of the tools it says are you sure you want to do this...and I dont want to really break this thing. I looked for the help files but there are none.
The version miniPE is XT v2k5 09 03...Does anyone know if this is the right one...or if there is a better prog out there to fix the hard drive.
Any help would be great....thanks in advance.
John
If you've got your data backed up, you're good to go.
fixmbr in recovery console is fine if windows if the only OS installed.
If that doesn't work and you have your files backed up, wipe the drive and reinstall Windows.
As far as I know that's the right version, there could be a newer one out but that's the one I'm still using. As for which tools it's often a pot luck case of trying them all as they all have various advantages. Also check under system tools and the get data back tools there are ones in there that are useful as well.
Ok...I posted a while ago a problem I had with the BSOD and received some great ideas. I managed to find a way to get some of the important data off.
My question...I read somewhere that some techie...when installing xp, they create 2 partitions...one with the main xp system info and the other for the regular programs and etc. They explained the reason was, so if there was ever a problem with the computer...like a BSOD, they would just re-install xp over the 1st partition and this would not effect any of the stored data and programs on the 2nd partition....is this correct?
If yes...then can someone please tell me how I can do this, because after using 'MiniPE XT'...it showed that I have 2 partitions...the 1st parition with the xp system data, size about 6gig and the 2nd partition has ALL my programs and is 67 gig.
The only other problem I have is with the installing of XP. When I put in the windows XP cd and try to choose either option...from the 'just press enter' or 'press R to repair'...the next screen says that....** Setup did not find any Hard disk drives installed in your computer. Setup cannot continue. To quit setup press F3 **.
So if you decide that I can install on just one partition or if you decide I have to wipe clean and create 2 NEW partitions...how do I install XP...if every time I try, I get that above error message?
Please someone help...and sorry for writing so much.
John
If you want to have your documents on a separate partition in case the OS crashes, feel free to partition the disk, leaving maybe 20GB for the OS and the rest for your 'My Documents' folder. Install XP and all of your programs on to the 20GB partition, and re-map your 'My Documents' to the other partition. (right click 'My Docs')
This way, you'll automatically save all of your documents to the non-Windows XP partition, so if you decide to move to Ubuntu or Windows XP crashes, you can just re-install the 20GB partiton and your documents are sitting there waiting.
Doesn't protect you from a hard drive crash, both partitions are on the same drive, and you should still back up your work, putting it on another partition doesn't make it any safer, it just makes it more accessible if you're going to blow away the OS frequently.
I personally do this setup with my dual-boot machines, having the Ubuntu partition, the Windows XP partition and a third partition with all my documents, so I can access them from either OS. It works well.
Your hard drive was probably corrupt during the defrag or at some other stage. over 80% of the time all it needs is a Check Disk to be run and recover bad and corrupt sectors I did it last night actually with the same error.
Boot to the windows CD and press R to boot to the recovery console
select the drive that has your windows installation on it. usually 1
enter the administrator password this is usually blank unless you set it.
next you will be brought to a C:> prompt type the following command
CHKDSK /R
This will run for about an hour or more after which you just need to type exit to reboot your computer. Im willing to bet that that will fix the problem if you haven't already done to much to the hard drive like repairing the MBR and such.
BUT THE WINDOWS CD DOESNT SEE MY HARD DRIVE?
If this is the case and the recovery console can not find the hard drive all you need to do is go into the BIOS (or Setup) and look for a sata setting and turn it off, for example on my HP notebook the setting is Native SATA Support I click disable and the xp installation cd finds my hard drive. It is different for each BIOS but I would be more than happy to help if you list out some of the settings the bios offers reguarding SATA or Drives they sometimes word it differently.
The slipstream looks very hard to do and I will try again to figure it out. Now for the BIOS...this is what is says when you press F2 for the BIOS:
MAIN
Adjust just the time and date
ADVANCED
I/O Device Configuration
DMI Event Logging
Plug & Play O/S: Yes
Legacy USB Support: Enabled
Large Disk Access Mode: DOS
Quiet Boot Mode: Enabled
Execute-Disable Bit Capability Enabled
SECURITY
Set Supervisor Password: Enter
Set Main HDD Password: Enter
BOOT
Cdrom/dvd
Removable Device
Main Hard Drive
Boot to Lan
Usb Storage Stick
EXIT
Exit Saving Changes
Exit Discarding Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Discard Changes
Save Changes
***And that is it for the BIOS*** I didnt see anything for a SATA Setting. Any ideas on what I might be able to try...?
John
Also is Advanced a sub category that you can go into or is that the list of advanced options below it.
If you could post a picture of your bios, tell us the bios you are using, or google bios and find the bios that look similar to yours that would be a lot of help
EDIT:
I did a little bit of research and i believe your tablet pc uses Pheonix BIOS am I correct?
they look like this
http://www.cuug.ab.ca/branderr/mepis/Phoenix.jpg
I don't think that your laptop comes with a floppy drive so run down to the local hard drive store and pick up a USB floppy drive (don't forget floppies to go with it).
Format the floppy on another computer and do the following
Click this link to download the SATA drivers
Save the file to your desktop and run the EXE
View the read me it will tell you to go to C:\cabs\*DriverFileName*
In that folder is an EXE run it to copy the drivers to the floppy disk
Then just reboot the system with the XP CD in and pres F6 when the files are loading to add additional drivers. Use the drivers that you put on the floppy.
First I want to thank you for taking out the time and making such an effort to help me. It truly means alot to me that you would be willing to spend some of your time to try and fix this....thanks so MUCH!
As for the BIOS...it is the one you found the PIC of...you really are good at what you do. The options under I/O Device are 2...Internal LAN and Internal Modem...you can select either disabled or enabled....thats it. There is no sub in the Advance tab...there is only the info I listed under the Advance tab.
I have one question about the driver before we do that...I managed to find a cd that says...'Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, System Recovery DVD'....When I put it in...it gived me two options a 'full system restore-This option will format your hard disk and reinstall all factory shipped files. All your personal data files and applications will be lost' AND 'full system restore (with Backup)-This option will move all Hard Disk contents to the "c:\MyBackup" directory and install a new copy of windows. This option preserves your existing data files, however all applications and settings will need to be reinstalled. This options requires 4GB of free hard disk space for the new OS'
So let me ask...if I just use the disk above...would it do the same things as if I had the drivers on a floppy and installed them?
I've become a little bit confused with all this and am trying to make sense...the reason I'm putting the drivers on the floppy is so it will let me use the windows XP cd...correct? If I then use the Windows XP disk...does it give me a better chance at possibly fixing the HD...
I'm not trying to make things difficult for you at all...I just dont know now which is the best option, I dont know if one is better then the other, or if they both do the same thing.
Thanks in advance again and I look forward to reading your reply,
John