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  • #2153088

    Windows XP Crashing

    Locked

    by dhouse16 ·

    Hello, I have been having difficulties with one of my pc’s today. My brother was one the computer this morning, and when I came home he complained that he kept getting a blue screen whenever he ran programs, and that he would have to shut down the computer. I booted up the computer, and opened windows media player. As the media player was opening, I got a blue screen which stated,
    “A problem has been detected and windows has shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

    CRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

    If this is the first time you’ve seen this…”.

    I read the error message, and then turned off the pc. I noticed it was erasing files (or unpacking them or whatever it’s called). I turned it back on, and now windows doesn’t boot. It gets to the Windows XP screen where it rolls the bar back and forth, and then it shuts down and reboots.
    So I made a boot disk. I put the files boot.ini,ntdetect, and ntdlr onto the floppy.
    However, when i ran the floppy i got the error, “Non-system disk or disk error, replace and strike a key when ready”. I figured maybe the floppy was bad, and I got the windows operating system cd. When I run the cd, I get to the windows setup screen where it says
    “To setup windows xp now, press enter.
    To repair windows, press r,
    to exit, press f3 or something like that….”

    However, when I select one of those options, it begins to load it, and then I get that blue screen of death again. I’m not sure what to do…I think it’s either the hard drive, or a virus. I would run a virus scan, but I can’t boot. I have another computer right here, but I don’t know if I should swap the hard drives for fear of infecting the computer that I’m on.
    What do you think is wrong and what do you think I should do? I also have about 5 years of family pictures saved on there, and was wondering if there was any way I’d be able to get those back….

All Answers

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    Replies
    • #2921616

      Clarifications

      by dhouse16 ·

      In reply to Windows XP Crashing

      Clarifications

    • #2921610

      Need more information…..

      by thumbsup2 ·

      In reply to Windows XP Crashing

      According to Microsoft, CRQL_….. does not exist… Are you sure it doesn’t say IRQL_…..?

      In addition, there were some stop error codes displayed with that message. We’ll need the exact codes before we can help you track it down.

      If it makes you feel any better, the problem is recoverable as long as you don’t go messing with things before you understand what you’re doing. So, tell us the codes and we’ll go from there.

      • #2921596

        The Error message

        by dhouse16 ·

        In reply to Need more information…..

        The blue screen error message reads….
        ____________________________________________
        A problem has been detected and windows has shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

        IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

        If this is the first time you’ve seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
        Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. if this is a new installation, as your hadware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

        If problems continue, disable any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press f8 to select advanced startup options, and then select safe mode.

        Technical information:
        *** STOP: 0x0000000A (0x00530079,0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x8082B1D9)
        ______________________________________________

        I don’t think I’ve installed any new hardware or software lately. I’ve tried running safemode, but that doesn’t work either. I get this message everytime I attempt to format my pc (which I might not need to do)Everytime I attempt to run windows, whatever mode it may be, it reboots at the windows screen.

        • #2931832

          Don’t format anything if you want to save your stuff.

          by ontheropes ·

          In reply to The Error message

          I can’t tell you how to fix your computer but I do know for sure that if you format your hard drive you’ll be pretty much hosed if you want to save your data.

    • #2931912

      Check this link

      by rob miners ·

      In reply to Windows XP Crashing

      Troubleshooting a Stop 0x0000000A error in Windows XP

      http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314063

      • #2931761

        I’m stuck

        by dhouse16 ·

        In reply to Check this link

        I’ve read all of that, but I haven’t made any recent changes to the hardware or the software, so I don’t really know what I should check. I don’t really want to reformat the pc if i can help it, but I’m unable to boot the computer to windows. Maybe some hardware device went bad? I know general information about computers and how they work, but I wouldn’t call myself savy. I’m not really sure what to do. It said something about checking device drivers, but I haven’t made any changes to those recently. I tried swapping out harddrives, but I dont’ think they were compatible. I’m stuck….

        • #2931744

          Try this

          by rob miners ·

          In reply to I’m stuck

          Download and create this CD. If it boots up OK and runs smoothly it will rule out hardware.

          http://www.pclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_ionfiles&Itemid=28

        • #2931743

          Another alternative is to

          by rob miners ·

          In reply to Try this

          You can test the memory by running Windows Memory Diagnostic that can be downloaded from http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp. If memory problems are found, try re-seating the RAM. If it doesn’t work, replace the defective RAM.

          Reset your BIOS by clearing CMOS, refer to your Motherboard Manual. If that doesn’t work Flash your BIOS.

          < add a bit >

        • #2931738

          Replace the Power Supply with a Known Good one

          by oh smeg ·

          In reply to I’m stuck

          And see if it boots now.

          What you are describing is a possible Power Supply Problem where the available Current is constantly getting lower till it falls below the threshold of the ability of the system to run. BSOD Error messages are a common thing to happen in cases like this.

          If you want to recover your Data remove the HDD/s fit them to a USB Enclosure and connect them via USB to the second Computer and copy your Data off the HDD/s. As you have a running OS fully protected by it’s AV Product you can not infect the second Computers HDD with a Virus or any other nasty as the OS on that HDD isn’t running.

          After recovering your Data you can then use something like Boot & Nuke to wipe the HDD back to better than new.

          http://tinyurl.com/6hxqlw

          And then reload Windows onto the repaired computer.

          If a Known Good PS doesn’t cure the problem use the Ultimate Boot CD to diagnose possible Hardware Issues it is available to download here

          http://tinyurl.com/3jnpy

          While you have the case open give it a good clean out but if you use compressed air make sure that the Fans are prevented from spinning because they can generate electricity and damage the internal components of the computer. Also remember to follow basic Static Control Procedures so you don’t Zap the Internals of the system with a Hit of Static Electricity.

          Col

        • #2930074

          It was the RAM

          by dhouse16 ·

          In reply to Replace the Power Supply with a Known Good one

          The problem was the RAM, my the windows cd runs in my pc now.

        • #2930036

          Good to see that you have

          by rob miners ·

          In reply to It was the RAM

          sorted it out and you are now up and running.

        • #2918781

          Good to hear that you are now seeing the light at the end of the Tunnel

          by oh smeg ·

          In reply to It was the RAM

          Best of luck from here on in.

          If you need any more help just post back and we’ll see what we can do to help you.

          Col

        • #2927514

          Final Problem (hopefully)

          by dhouse16 ·

          In reply to Good to hear that you are now seeing the light at the end of the Tunnel

          I got the USB enclosure and have the hard drive running on my other computer. However, when i try to access it, it tells me that the disk structure is corrupt and unreadable…does this mean my files are all shot?

        • #2927490

          Try this

          by rob miners ·

          In reply to Final Problem (hopefully)

          Click Start and in the Run box type in cmd and press Enter. Substitute the drive letter.

          type in chkdsk f:/r and press Enter.

    • #2927472

      Results of the cmd window

      by dhouse16 ·

      In reply to Windows XP Crashing

      I tried what you said, but it said,
      “cannot open volume for direct access”

      • #2927449

        Open explorer

        by rob miners ·

        In reply to Results of the cmd window

        and right click on the drive. Select Properties, Tools, Error checking and click on Check now. Select both boxes and select Start.

        • #2927395

          Box closes

          by dhouse16 ·

          In reply to Open explorer

          When I do that, the box, “Check local disk” just disappears. It doesn’t give me an error message or do anything. It’s like I hit the red x instead of the start button.

        • #2916689

          Try this

          by rob miners ·

          In reply to Box closes

          Try rebooting the computer without any USB devices attached. Then plug in the USB drive, right click on My Computer, select manage, and then click ?Disk Management.? If the drive is not present in the Disk Management window or if you are not able to access it, then the drive may have failed. In this window you should see all of your connected physical drives, their format, if they are healthy, and the drive letter.
          Change the drive letter of the drive. Right-click on the drive in the list, and from the resulting menu select “Change Drive Letters and Paths”
          Click on Change so you can change the drive letter. Click Change.
          Select a new drive letter from the drop down list, preferably the one that is not normally used for this drive.
          Click Yes on the confirmation screen and try chkdsk again.

        • #2916671

          substituting the drive letter

          by dhouse16 ·

          In reply to Try this

          I followed your latest instructions, and everything worked up until I tried to substitute the drive letter. I typed the command C:\ >T into the run window (t is the name I chose for the hard drive). I then get a message which says, the disk structure is corrupt or unreadable.

        • #2916664

          Have you got anything

          by rob miners ·

          In reply to substituting the drive letter

          on the drive that you can’t live without. I doubt if you will be able to save anything anyway. It looks like you will have to erase it and start again.
          < rethink >

          I would put it back in the original PC and run your XP CD and open the Recovery Console you should be able to run chkdsk from there.

        • #2916447

          Something you might like to try

          by oh smeg ·

          In reply to substituting the drive letter

          Seagate has a trial of Seagate File Recovery available to download from here

          http://tinyurl.com/6alc23

          Click on the top link where it says [b]Free Download[/b] and save it to your Computer. Then install it and run it on this Drive.

          Only try this if you have Important data that you need to recover as you can do some damage to the HDD in the computer that you are using if you are not careful well the File System at least it;’s not going to kill the drive but you may corrupt the File Tables if you do the wrong thing.

          [b]Just make sure that you have a working Backup in place before proceeding as Data is expensive to replace.[/b]

          After you get your Data Off this Drive you may need to Wipe it and reload the system. While it may work OK and Boot the computer that it came out of I wouldn’t trust it myself. I’m not sure how well it works but Seagate has recommended this utility to another to fix a similar problem.

          Just one Caveat here I am only repeating what Seagate told me in relation to this software I don’t know if it will work in this case here or if it is capable of doing the job required I just haven’t used this Application previously.

          Col

        • #2918401

          Problem solved

          by dhouse16 ·

          In reply to Something you might like to try

          Last night, I had tried everything I could think of to get the information off the hard drive, and I was getting ready to take the hard drive out and send it to a tech guy I know. Our family was having a family prayer time, so I asked if they would pray about the computer. They did, and afterwards I booted up the computer to browse the web before I took the hard drive off and packed everything up for the night. When I booted up the computer, the checkdisk thing ran automatically and restored everything on the harddrive. It is now back in full working order. I had tried rebooting before, running the checkdisk thing, but nothing had worked. The checkdisk thing wouldn’t even run because the hard drive was so corrupted. Then I turned the computer on, didn’t hit one key, and it fixed itself. Wow….there was no reason it should have done what it did…I don’t know what you guys think about that, but I’m saying thank-you Jesus!

    • #2918378

      Now that is good news :)

      by rob miners ·

      In reply to Windows XP Crashing

      Just remember to make regular Backups and all will be sweet. 😉

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