rcssj4link

Ok, I have a problem with my HDD i believe can at least be helped by running chkdsk in dos. the problem is that lately i have been getting a critical error-memory dump screen and reboot when playing any hardware hogging games i have.

so of course when it reboots it comes up with a page from microsoft support saying that the best fix is to run chkdsk, so i go into the chkdsk and have it schedule a scan when it reboots, i have it reboot and right after the windows XP screen comes up it goes blank screen the busy light comes up and blinks fora bit then hangs and doesn't go any further so i end up have to shut it down and restart it, hit F8 and then hit the "Use the last working configuration" in order to get back into windows, otherwise it will do the same thing again, get to the blank screen and lock up...

So i am wondering what could be causing this and what i can do about it.

o and i was thinking perhaps a fresh reinstall of windows XP would do some good, but my XP cd has been damaged, i remember back on win 95 and win98 there were cab files on the hdd that could be used to reinstall the os, i was wondering if XP did the same thing and how i could reinstall using them, since i cant get into any kind of dos or somthing to do it with.

crazijoe

This almost sounds like a bad memory issue. You might want to download memtest86 run it on boot up.

http://www.memtest86.com/

Be sure to run it for at least 4 hours strait.

hwm54112

fsutil should sort things and allow you to run chkdsk. See the section titled "dirty"

To stop the automatic reboot and produce an error message: Rite click My computer>properties>advanced>startup+ recovery>settings>system failure box-uncheck the "automatically restart" box. Post the error message the next time it happens.

You might have the files you need in the I386 folder on your computer. Can you at least read and compare the I386 folder from your xp cd?

rcssj4link

ok i just had a bad crash last night that made it so that i had to try SEVERAL times before i could get back into windows, it kept saying it was having a read error with the disk, i am guessing that the hdd is getting worse and worse, so i am going to need to backup my files real soon, i am going to leave the comp on in wondows for now and try not to run anything that could take up alot of the hardware resourses (I.E. games) this means that if i use this fsutil program and run chkdsk in dos, it had better work or else i may not be able to get into windows at all. also would this memory test take up alot of resourses because if it does i probably shouldn't try it, seeing as everytime i have tried anything that does it will make my computer crash and the hdd becomes even worse and im guessing next time it happens im not gonna b able to get back into my hdd at all. backup wise tho, my computer does not have a burner, and going floppy with it all is like out of the question, were talking about 15gbs of stuff i need heh. any help at all on this matter would be massively appreciated.

rcssj4link

ok, i hav found a way to back up my files, im using my network to send the files on a different computer with a burner and i am currenting burning all my needed files, after i have done that i will try the programs you have suggested and hope they work, if they do not and my computer should crash for good, then its ok because i will have all my files backed up, however i am truly hoping this is not the end of my computer for good... (laptops these days seem to be crap)

o and i was wondering, if i share the root of the hdd, can i use any programs from a different computer to test the hdd so that it will have less chance of crashing perhaps?

jnob

The problem very well could be a ram error. Fortunately memtest runs from the command prompt on reboot and is not very resource intensive. It should run fine. If the ram is fine and your problem is in fact the hdd a possible solution would be to go out and buy a replacement drive, install XP on the new drive and then hookup your old drive as a slave and copy the necessary files over. Even if the old drive gets so bad it will not boot you'll likely be able to recover your data this way.

As crazijoe suggested be sure to run memtest for a few hours, I usually recommend running it over night.

jnob

If the drive is no more than 5 or so years old you can test the harddrive with any S.M.A.R.T. capable utility such as Everest or speedfan. These programs are not resource hogs so they should run fine on your computer.

linderman

Yes you can install windows XP using the I386 folder


also I would try running a hard drive diagnostic (download for free from hard drive manufacturers website)

use the floppy disk / DOS version

on another note >>>>> you can use a buddies Win XP install CD or even stream stream and copy his thats not illegal or piracy as long as the
versions are the same and you USE your 25 character CD install key

you cant mix version of win xp though you cant use a xp home edition disk but install code from win xp pro etc

but its easy to take a matching disk and improve it while you are at it >>>> you can take a win xp same version cd and slipsteam or "add" service pack 2 to it then you will have a new bootable win xp cd disk >>>> I hope you can find YOUR 25 character install code

keep us posted on your dilemma

linderman

hey C-Joe glad to see ya back in the saddle >>>>>>>>>> we missed your presence !!

rcssj4link

ok yet again there was a crash, this time i had nothing running i was only transfering files. the hdd is making a loud clicking noise when it tries to read. i dont know how this could be a ram problem, nothing has indicated any probs with the memory, only the hdd. i ran that mem test and nothing came up, then after i had done that it took me about 50 tries to get back into windows, safe mode is not working, ive tried that a dozen times. i dont know what to do, i am going to be getting a new computer soon but i need to get the files off this one before it becomes shot. im not even sure how long this is going to last before i crash again, i am hoping som1 can give me help before that happens again, thanks for everything guys.

Now i hav started to notice a ringing noise coming from the computer as well... HELP!!

rcssj4link

I went and found a diagnostic program for the hdd called "DiskCheckup" i ran it and then had it give me a copy of the results, i will attach them here as a txt file, i hope this helps.

Attached Files

DriveInfo.txt (2.2 KB, 5 views)

rcssj4link

Well, i managed to get most of everything i needed off my comp and on to another comp, so now im willing to try anything that might give me back my laptop, i would do a format but only problem is that i dont have my windows cd anymore, it got quite damaged. i dled free dos and ima put it on a cd and see if i can boot up on it and then format the drive, but i dont really wanna pay another $50 for another windows cd if i can get the files needed to reinstall off some where else. as ussual any help would be awesome thx.

linderman

you can use anybodys ( a buddy's or whatever) win XP CD as long as they are the same editions you will need to use your 25 character install code >>>> should be on side of computer


good luck >>>> also look in your hard drive saved stuff >>>> is there a folder in the C drive named I386 ????????

Ralck

Before you try to reinstall xp or anything like that, try downloading from your harddrive manufacturer a boot-up utility to check your disk. All manufacturers have their own program and you can't run another company's utility on your disk. For example, Maxtor has MaxBlast4.

Also, MemTest86 is, as others have said, a good program to check out your ram.

Finally, if all of that checks out clean, you could try a repair install instead of a reinstall. This does not ask for your CD key again (if you lost it when your disk was damaged) and leaves your programs/files intact on your drive.

One last thing, what is your case cooling like? (case fans, where they are located, and what direction they are blowing) You should have at least one fan in the bottom front of your case blowing fresh air from outside on your harddrives. If you don't have this, it could be causing your harddrive to overheat, which can cause many problems.

rcssj4link

ok this is wierd as hell, i didn't think it had any importance so i didn't put it, a couple of days before this whole problem occured i ran a registry mechanic scan and repair, after doing so a part of the registry that detects the cd-rom got messed up, i went to microsoft and they said to remove a specific key in order to see the cd-rom again, after removing that key, i could see the cd-rom and everything was fine, then a couple of days later i start having these crashes. yesterday i had another crash and since then i hav been trying to get back into windows, try after try was fail after fail, until about 20 min ago i opened the cd-rom to take the cd out of it cuz i figured the comp was now shot and ill just take my cd and probably throw the blasted POS laptop in the trash, i open the cd-rom and then restarted the comp leaving the cd-rom open and it booted up perfectly, no probs whatsoever, could registry keys for the cd-rom possibly be causing this? thanks in advance for and info u can offer.

linderman

you are learning the hard way registry cleaners are trash !

they either dont really clean or they clean out OS needed stuff too!


back up your files and do a fresh OS install >>>> in the end it will run alot faster anyway with a fresh install of xp

rcssj4link

ok, ill definetly try that as soon as i can get another copy of xp. thanx for all your help!

If i could rep u here i would lol