Boot issue

[blone]

Hi, I have a Dell Inspiron 9300 with a Toshiba 120 gig Toshiba HD, 512 Mb ram, running Windows XP. The computer will not boot. The hard drive was replaced once before, and the new one wasn't very old when this problem started. If I turn the computer on, it gets to the dell logo then goes the "windows did not start successfully" screen and gives the options for safe mode etc.. I have tried safe mode, and every other option on this screen, and when I select it, it gets to the windows logo screen for about a second, then for a split second I get the blue error screen, I cant even read what the blue error screen reads cause it flashes for a split second. Then it starts the whole process over again.. it will keep doing this as long as the computer is on.

Anyone know what this is caused by, and how it can be fixed?? I would like to take care of the issue without losing files, I have a ton of important photographs that I need for my business. I hope the drive Isnt bad.

Thanks, Eric

[Paul Komski]

Technically speaking the PC does begin to boot - but not far enough into Windows. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of such BSODs (Blue Screens of Death). Rogue software, bad drivers and miscellaneous hardware problems can all cause them. I would be inclined to clean reinstall Windows after having saved your data using a Utility bootable CD (http://paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1813) to get it onto something like an external hard drive or burned onto DVDs. You could use a range of Live CDs such as Knoppix as in my sig or Puppy Linux or UBCD4Win which are all outlined in the link.

The drive could be bad but bad drives usually cause slow-downs or total boot failure. It is most likely to be something software or driver related though when that is the case one can usually get in using safe mode.

[blone]

Technically speaking the PC does begin to boot - but not far enough into Windows. It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of such BSODs (Blue Screens of Death). Rogue software, bad drivers and miscellaneous hardware problems can all cause them. I would be inclined to clean reinstall Windows after having saved your data using a Utility bootable CD (http://paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1813) to get it onto something like an external hard drive or burned onto DVDs. You could use a range of Live CDs such as Knoppix as in my sig or Puppy Linux or UBCD4Win which are all outlined in the link.

The drive could be bad but bad drives usually cause slow-downs or total boot failure. It is most likely to be something software or driver related though when that is the case one can usually get in using safe mode.

I have downloaded UBCD4win program on my brother's laptop, but I don't know how to use it.

[blone]

Ok, I got knoppix working, but I cant seem to find the files I am looking for, either that, or I dont know where to look. Anyone familiar with knoppix that can help?

[Paul Komski]

If you can make and boot to the UBCD4WIN CD then you would just use its My Computer as in Windows proper. With Knoppix there are a number of options but simply opening the relevant drives on the desktop should allow you to list the options. In order to copy or write to a partition it bears repetition that the destination drive must first be set as writable. There are also some hints in the Knoppix Backup link in my sig.

[hr6677]

When at the Menu for safemode... is there an option to "Disable resart on system falure". If so select that option an hopefull it will freeze on the BSOD.

If its not there than pres "F8" just before the Loading Windows screen then it should be on the list than.

Post the error message and any error numbers that you see.

[Paul Komski]

Unfortunately "Disable resart on system falure" is a Windows startup and recovery option (http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/disautorestart.htm) from within windows and not one of the F8/SafeMode Options (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222).

[blone]

I have not been able to play with the computer to try to get the files. However I do have a different question, Would I be able to use a USB external drive connector? As in something to connect the laptop hard drive in question to a different laptop or desktop to read and copy the files?

[Paul Komski]

Would I be able to use a USB external drive connector? As in something to connect the laptop hard drive in question to a different laptop or desktop to read and copy the files?
That should be a distinct possibility. For example :- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OOXBBG/ref=s9_simz_gw_s1_p23_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0P0Z2XSK13ZPRYN1BQPC&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938131&pf_rd_i=507846

[blone]

That should be a distinct possibility. For example :- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OOXBBG/ref=s9_simz_gw_s1_p23_t3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0P0Z2XSK13ZPRYN1BQPC&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938131&pf_rd_i=507846

Cool, thanks!

I am assuming that this isn't a plug and play device? Are there drivers, or software for them? Thanks.

[Paul Komski]

USB Devices that are "Drives" (whether they contain IDE or SATA or solid state flash memory "Disks") are nearly always plug-n-play from WinME onwards and in all but ancient Linux distros. If for some obscure reason they require drivers then those should come with the devices or else the OS needs to be upgraded. In the main specific drivers are only needed for Win98-SE. Pre-Win98-SE USB support was virtually non-existent in any case - bar for some HID devices such as USB Mice and Keyboards on certain hardware.

WinXP should be ready to rumba.

[blone]

Excellent! Thanks. I'll go pick one up and see how it goes.

Side note, The computer was originally taken to a repair shop, I was not the one that actually took it in, but they told the person that took it in that the hard drive would probably have to be replaced. (I didnt have them do the work, so the computer wasnt repaired, which is why I am here) I dont know how reputable the shop is, I figured they would just replace the drive anyway without trying to fix it, or save data cause it is easier. At least that is what a friend of mine said that they usually do.

[Paul Komski]

but they told the person that took it in that the hard drive would probably have to be replacedIt's possible the hard drive is faulty but you would only get the safe mode options and the blue screen when Windows is itself at least attempting to start up from the hard drive. When Windows does that much it is unlikely that much, if any, data has been compromised; it's just a matter of accessing it.

The repair shop in question might be good or bad but they would need to have been given instructions to attempt the data recovery and in my experience (unless it is straightforward to do; like copy files from a working system) they will often charge and arm and a leg for such work.

Putting in a new hard drive and reinstalling an operating system would just be "the easy way" that the least technical of technicians would be capable of.