yoshi521

the problem began when upon startup the hardware wizard installed new hardware (some kind of processor) and said that it may not function properly. i checked the device manager and could not find any problems with any devices. additionally, we would receive an error regarding lsass or isass - cannot be sure which it actually stated - and the laptop would shutdown within seconds. i ran a full virus scan in safe mode and it found nothing. everything i found in microsoft knowledge base said that it was a security vulnerability in SP1. i bought this laptop from an acquaintance used, and found that i could not upgrade to SP2 because it was not a valid version of windows! i kept putting off a clean install of SP2.

i attempted to start a new installation of windows xp and now i cannot get the laptop up in safe mode, regular mode, or anything.

do i need to take it to the computer hospital? i am not too bad at installs and software repairs, but sometimes i think i only know enough to screw things up.

any help is greatly appreciated

TriggerFinger

hi yoshi521?

just to understand better... you cannot boot up anymore on any mode (safe or normal)? do you want to revive this version of XP or are you open to installing a new one from scratch?

yoshi521

since this version cannot upgrade to sp2, i would rather scrap it. i cannot get the safe mode startup menu with f8 anymore. it simply goes to pick system- either winxp or winxp setup - i assume because i began the install - but the errors i was having with the isass or Lsass is not allowing the computer to start up completely. it begins to read and copy startup files and then just turns off - it doesn't shutdown - it just stops - lights go out and everything quits within seconds.

TriggerFinger

hmmm it starts to copy then quits (shut OFF)? do you notice any overheating or hot air coming out of the vents?

yoshi521

no nothing like that. it won't even start the recovery console

TriggerFinger

try removing the hard drive. do you have another copy of your XP installer? if not, if you can get a copy of a linux live CD (Ubuntu) and use it to boot from CD Drive. we are doing this so we will know if your hard drive is causing this or your motherboard. booting with a live CD will in a way test your motherboard and RAM if they are going kookie.

EDIT:
Linux live CD would not require you to install anything on the hard drive. Another way is BartPE. You need to download it and install it in another computer. BartPE will create some kind of XP live CD for you.

yoshi521

ok - we are already above my head. i have an oem xp pro disk - can i just do a clean install? there isn't really anything on the laptop that i can't live without.

TriggerFinger

yeah you can.. but i thought it was shutting off on you before it could even start the install process. my bad... sorry, i was focused on finding out what is causing the shut OFF. it is kinda weird if the shut off is caused by software, so i was thinking it could be a defective hardware.

ok then... give it a shot and post back what happens.

yoshi521

no you were right - i cannot start the install process now. i have made a copy of the pebuilder 3110a on cd rom.

TriggerFinger

so you have the XP live CD (BartPE)? use it to boot from the CD drive (check your BIOS settings / boot sequence: CD drive should come before HDD or do F12 during boot up to choose boot device)....

what we expect to see is a (stable) XP environment via CD drive... if it shuts OFF like before, remove the hard drive physically and try again.

yoshi521

ok - tried to use the pebuilder - got a blue screen error. says BIOS is not fully ACPI compliant. windows shutting down due to error detected. the error is STOP: 0x000000A5 (0x00000011, 0x00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

but it did not shutdown!

TriggerFinger

pardon me if i have missed it.. but what laptop is this again? anyhow so no shut OFF but error is encountered. i do not know how legit is the error because it is documented in Microsoft KB:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/831691

so instead of making pebuilder again or updating the BIOS (updating the BIOS is good but we can do that later), i suggest you get Ubuntu and try to boot from it.

EDIT:
It really skipped my mind, pls. check BIOS settings if ACPI is enabled.

yoshi521

i am creating ubuntu now..... this is a sony viao. i only got that blue screen once. i cannot choose to start in win xp pro - only xp pro setup. then setup begins to load setup files and goes to a screen with 3 options - enter to continue install "r" to repair and F3 to exit. within seconds the laptop stops - turns off completely.


wAIt - just got safe mode startup menu!!!!! how can i begin a clean install
\

TriggerFinger

what installer are you using? XP? load XP installer and see if you can install from scratch... if not, format your hard drive first with DBAN or similar apps. then install XP as normal. (d/load DBAN from here... http://dban.sourceforge.net/)

yoshi521

i tried to use my oem disk - after it copies setup files, it wants to restart - it does and then cannot get past the loading windows - i get the same three options - enter to continue, "r" to repair or F3 to exit - no time to choose - it just stops

edit: my husband smacked the bottom of the laptop (bigger hammer theory, i guess) and we have gotten a step further - setup is attempting to go thru the repair process.......

TriggerFinger

it just stops? no more shut OFF? get DBAN and format your drive. and just to be thorough, test your RAM with Memtest86+ (d/load from http://www.memtest.org).

EDIT:

yoshi521

the install process has continued in windows mode - not blue screen.

my husband is a bit primitive - but maybe something was ajar? hopefully the install process will complete. i appreciate your help - maybe i will not have to format.

thank you again

i will post update after setup has completed

TriggerFinger