Another "Windows wont start"

[bassman]

Hello all,
Got to the office this morning to find that our main machine was having a start up problem. It is similar to THIS (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=47030) but I can not get to desktop in any manor (Normal, Safe Mode, Last known good). No matter what I try, it comes back to the black screen telling me "Sorry for the inconvenience". I do get the XP splash screen, detecting drives screen, chatter from floppy, then "Sorry"screen.
I refered to the other thread that is currently working in hopes of creating a connection to a virus/crapware situation if one exists.
I am hoping I can save this machine from a re-install but at the moment....
I will follow the other thread for suggestions as well. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Frank

[ski]

Please post the full text of the message, and your system's specs. Thanks.

[bassman]

Thanks ski,
The full text is a bit lengthy but here is the jist of it:
Sorry for the inconvenience but Windows experienced an unexpected or improper shut down. This may be due to several different reasons. Here are some options for restarting. If you do not know why you are getting this message, try starting normaly.
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Safe Mode with Networking
Boot Sequence logging
Last known good configuration
some other way I can't remember at the moment ( ;) )
Start Normaly

There is a bit more useless info below that and a timer counting down from 30 seconds. If you do nothing, make no selection, or any other input, when the timer counts down, it trys to restart normaly.

I have tried every option and other then the options that show the boot sequence info on screen, each and every try produces the exact same result. I end up back at the Sorry screen. I have even let it go to the end of the timer several times in a row and it still goes to the Sorry screen

I am able to get into BIOS, make changes, save and exit. I can hold down F8 at boot and get to the startup options screen, which is similar to the Sorry screen, except it does not have all the verbage telling you why you may have ended up there. The startup options are the same and all produce the same result as above.

System specs:
Ibuiltit
Sempron 2.8
512 mgb PC3200
80 Gig HDD
XP Pro
Partition 1- OS, Main progs
Partition 2- Doc storage, tunes, D/L progs to install

This machine has been on the desk for over 2 years and worked flawlessly. Other then teaching an old dog new tricks (my father) there have been no OS, virus, or other problems.

[ski]

You're welcome.

Go into BIOS, make sure the CD-ROM drive is configured as the 1st boot device, insert the Windows XP CD, restart, at the Windows Setup screen press R, type the number(probably 1) for the boot partition, press Enter at the password prompt, when you get to the command prompt type chkdsk and press Enter.

If chkdsk cannot read the HD, then make sure the primary(IDE 1) controller is enabled in BIOS, and all of the HD's cables are securely connected.
If ok, then connect a different power lead to the HD.
If no luck,then install a different known working IDE cable on the HD.
If still no luck, then connect the HD to the secondary(IDE 2) channel.
If that does not work, then install the HD as Slave in another system, and run the diagnostics at the HD manuf's site.

If chkdsk sees the HD, then type fixboot at the command prompt.
If no luck, then then type fixmbr at the command prompt.
If still no luck, then restart, and press Enter at the Windows setup screen to do a repair install. (Note: All updates will have to be reinstalled. And if the XP CD is pre-SP service pak, then those will also have to be reinstalled.)

[bassman]

Thanks ski,
I will have to try all that on Monday as I am out of town and my XP cd is on my bench at home. I have tried an XP boot floppy with chkdsk on it and got no joy. Even with a: as first boot device, it goes right by that and back to the "Sorry" screen. I hear the read/write head of the floppy moving and the drive motor turning but it will not boot. I tried an XP boot disk from bootdisk.com and got an "Invalid disk. Reinsert and try again" notice. :(

[mjc]

Disconnect the hard drive and see if the boot floppy will work...

[bassman]

Thanks ski and mjc,
I finaly had to go to the level of installing this HDD as a slave on another machine. After a terribly slow process of startup, looking around a bit, updating AVG, and a reboot, chkdsk ran and found a few problems on what would be the c: of the offending HDD. The screen went away before I had a chance to really read it but it said it found problems and fixed them. After that, the test machine ran flawlessly. Put the HDD back into it's machien and all is well.
Once I get this machine back on it's desk, I will run a full set of diagnostics (AdAware, spybot S/D, and HJT).

Thanks again
Frank

[ski]

It's possible that the HD is failing. Recommend that you back up any critical files on that HD, and then run the diagnostics at the HD's manuf's site.