[ryanmcclure4]

Hello, my friend gave me a Compaq Presario CQ60 running Windows Vista Basic that needs to be fixed. They said they didn't know what was wrong with it, so I turned it on and after a couple minutes of trying to boot up, it gave me the BSOD with the stop code of

STOP: 0x0000007E (0xC0000005,0x8532E0AE,0x841ECBA0,0x841EC89C)

The code in the parenthesis changes each time I restart the computer. I have tried booting in multiple safe modes and it still gives me the BSOD.

I don't know what they last did to the computer, but when I researched this code I didn't get very far. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks a lot for any help!

Specs:
Compaq Presario CQ60-202US
Windows Vista Basic (32-bit I would assume)
AMD Sempron processor
nvidia graphics
I don't know anything else about the machine other than this because I can't log on...

 

[JMPC]

Does safe mode work?
Do they have a current backup of all their data?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

Try booting up the Windows repair disc or installation DVD, and performing a startup repair. A Windows 7 repair disc or installation DVD can be used if you don't have one for Vista; if you have neither, create a repair disc as shown here: System Repair Disc - Create - Windows 7 Forums

In addition, you may try a couple of hardware tests.

For hard drive: SeaTools For DOS

For RAM: Memtest86

 

[ryanmcclure4]

The computer will not boot up in any of the safe modes, or any mode at all. Each time I try turning it on, it gives me the BSOD after about a minute of trying to boot. He isn't worried about the data on the computer, he just needs it to be fixed. He did not give me any disks with the computer, so I am assuming he does not have them. However, I do have a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate that I purchased a few years back...should it work if I try booting off that disk?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Try the hardware diagnostics, as this sounds like either a hardware problem or an MBR infection.

You should be able to do a startup repair from your Vista DVD; if not, just download the Windows 7 repair disc ISO from the link I gave, and use that instead.

If you boot off your Windows Vista DVD or the repair disc, you can select "Repair your computer". Open a command prompt, and enter bootrec /fixmbr. You might run another startup repair after that.

 

[ryanmcclure4]

Alright, I'll definitely try that. I'm away on vacation at the moment so I can't work on the computer until wednesday. Thanks a lot for the suggestions! Ill let you know if I get it working.