BSOD-Unmountable & others
in [Hardware]
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From: antioch on 30 May 2010 20:20 "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message news:#X8Tgu$$KHA.1892(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > antioch wrote: >> "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message >> news:eToph45$KHA.3176(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>> antioch wrote: >>>> "Previously to this post I had already tried the below. >>>> I have gone into the Bios and have moved the CD drive to show as >>>> follows - 1st Boot Device [PM-ATAPI iHAP322 9] >>>> Rebooted and all went OK until I got to the bit where you enter >>>> chkdsk /r - got file path not valid. >>>> Tried chkdsk - went through quite quickly and reported as usual >>>> there were one or more errors. >>>> exit out - auto reboot - windows welcome did show but after the >>>> little train had passed through about 20 times, got the unmounted >>>> error. Tried a second time - this time the chksk /r worked - only >>>> the second >>>> time it has - five minutes later at 1% >>>> it reported that there were unrecoverable errors etc - on reboot it >>>> got to the start to dll XP up came disc read erro - 'ctrl-alt-delete >>>> to restart'. On restart I got a notification after XP tried to load >>>> to the welcome screen, error win root system32\hal.dll missing or >>>> corrupt. >>> >>> How is your hard drive partitioned? Is Windows on C:? >>> >>> What is the *exact* message with regard to the path not being valid? >>> Is autochk.exe referenced? >>> >> As expected, the computer did not start - got the 'unmountable' error. >> I have just the C drive - no partition - confirmed as I only get >> offered 1. C:\WINDOWS> >> and underneath I am told I can type exit >> 1st run - This morning, as soon as I type chkdsk after the 1. option, >> it tells me immediately that 'the volume appears to contain one or >> more unrecoverable problems. Nothing new there except it has told me >> this after it has done a chkdsk. >> typing in autochk produces the usual 'The command is not recognised. Type >> help for list. It is not in the list of commands. >> All the 'boot cfg' options tell me 'Failed to successfully scan disks >> for Windows Installations. This error may be caused by a corrupt >> file system, which would prevent bootcfg from scanning. Use chkdsk >> to detect any disk errors.' >> As a result I cannot add/rebuild etc. >> At the moment, if I type anything else in the command line I get 'this >> command is not recognised - type help for list' >> 2nd run - at the REC Con window the entry is slightly different - >> there is the informative bit is the same, but I then have - >> The path or file specified is not valid. >> C:\> >> If I add chkdsk I get 'The specified path is not valid or there is no >> disk in the drive' >> If I add any of the boot choices I am again told that it cannot >> perform due to corrupt system - as before. The same for autochk. >> Rgds >> Antioch > > When you had reported that SeaTools for DOS indicated your hard drive was > healthy, I assumed the hard drive was healthy. But it seems those results > were very inaccurate! You most likely will need to purchase a new drive. > Sorry that it has to be this way! > > You could always use another PC (a healthy one!) to scan the hard drive if > you want to be 100% positive. Or there are certain CDs you can use (like > UBCD4Win) that contain drive diagnostics. > > I don't believe you specifically identified the make and model of this > HDD. I will verify that you used the correct utility. > Hello Daave After my last post to you, I rebooted three times and on the third try the computer started - so I did the in-house chkdsk to start at next boot up as I had to go out. When I returned, I took the panels off just to check the cable/leads were all well fixed - I keep the box dusted regularly and always check the cables when finished. I started up - the chkdsk took over - moved this and that, deleted, loads of things. When it finished the computer fired up again as if nothing was wrong. For 6 hours it has been running well - I have done a bit of research and tried another scanner - HDDScan 3 for windows - seems very popular and accurate. A full SMART scan only popped up one problem - a yellow marker for 'UltraDMA CRC Error count' Not too sure what it means, but judging by what I have read in various forums, it aint good - most suggest a new HDD. I was surprised though to not get some 'RED' markers as others have, where they have been getting BSODs and no help with Rec Con and inability to boot. I can confirm that even in the Seagate Forums, the Seagate scanners are treated with ridicule. I did mention the make/model in another post - its a Maxtor. It is auto recognised when you run the software. There is no other utility on their site - this was the one I was told to use via email reply. They used to do one for Maxtor, but they are one company now. Would you perhaps have any suggestion as to a different make of HDD. For the moment I think I might do a full install of XP and see if there still problems booting. I have plenty of help - michael stevens, s ramesh, kb313348 for format/partition/full install, which I may consider if I get a larger HDD. Many thanks to you and all who gave me support - once again it has been much appreciated. I cannot say 'long live the newsgroups' as they will soon be R.I.P - though some seem to think that they may still carry on but a different 'body'. Using forums as I have done this past week has confirmed to some degree, my dislike for them. I have had a look at UBCD4Win and see that it is a collection of tools/software and is Beta-I try and avoid betaware - have had bad experiences in the past so tend to keep away/avoid them - but there does appear to be some nice bits in it. Rgds Antioch
From: Daave on 30 May 2010 22:21 antioch wrote: > "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message > news:#X8Tgu$$KHA.1892(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> antioch wrote: >>> "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message >>> news:eToph45$KHA.3176(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>>> antioch wrote: >>>>> "Previously to this post I had already tried the below. >>>>> I have gone into the Bios and have moved the CD drive to show as >>>>> follows - 1st Boot Device [PM-ATAPI iHAP322 9] >>>>> Rebooted and all went OK until I got to the bit where you enter >>>>> chkdsk /r - got file path not valid. >>>>> Tried chkdsk - went through quite quickly and reported as usual >>>>> there were one or more errors. >>>>> exit out - auto reboot - windows welcome did show but after the >>>>> little train had passed through about 20 times, got the unmounted >>>>> error. Tried a second time - this time the chksk /r worked - only >>>>> the second >>>>> time it has - five minutes later at 1% >>>>> it reported that there were unrecoverable errors etc - on reboot >>>>> it got to the start to dll XP up came disc read erro - >>>>> 'ctrl-alt-delete to restart'. On restart I got a notification >>>>> after XP tried to load to the welcome screen, error win root >>>>> system32\hal.dll missing or corrupt. >>>> >>>> How is your hard drive partitioned? Is Windows on C:? >>>> >>>> What is the *exact* message with regard to the path not being >>>> valid? Is autochk.exe referenced? >>>> >>> As expected, the computer did not start - got the 'unmountable' >>> error. I have just the C drive - no partition - confirmed as I only >>> get >>> offered 1. C:\WINDOWS> >>> and underneath I am told I can type exit >>> 1st run - This morning, as soon as I type chkdsk after the 1. >>> option, it tells me immediately that 'the volume appears to contain >>> one or >>> more unrecoverable problems. Nothing new there except it has told >>> me this after it has done a chkdsk. >>> typing in autochk produces the usual 'The command is not >>> recognised. Type help for list. It is not in the list of commands. >>> All the 'boot cfg' options tell me 'Failed to successfully scan >>> disks for Windows Installations. This error may be caused by a >>> corrupt file system, which would prevent bootcfg from scanning. Use >>> chkdsk >>> to detect any disk errors.' >>> As a result I cannot add/rebuild etc. >>> At the moment, if I type anything else in the command line I get >>> 'this command is not recognised - type help for list' >>> 2nd run - at the REC Con window the entry is slightly different - >>> there is the informative bit is the same, but I then have - >>> The path or file specified is not valid. >>> C:\> >>> If I add chkdsk I get 'The specified path is not valid or there is >>> no disk in the drive' >>> If I add any of the boot choices I am again told that it cannot >>> perform due to corrupt system - as before. The same for autochk. >>> Rgds >>> Antioch >> >> When you had reported that SeaTools for DOS indicated your hard >> drive was healthy, I assumed the hard drive was healthy. But it >> seems those results were very inaccurate! You most likely will need >> to purchase a new drive. Sorry that it has to be this way! >> >> You could always use another PC (a healthy one!) to scan the hard >> drive if you want to be 100% positive. Or there are certain CDs you >> can use (like UBCD4Win) that contain drive diagnostics. >> >> I don't believe you specifically identified the make and model of >> this HDD. I will verify that you used the correct utility. >> > Hello Daave > After my last post to you, I rebooted three times and on the third > try the computer started - so I did the in-house chkdsk to start at > next boot up as I had to go out. > When I returned, I took the panels off just to check the cable/leads > were all well fixed - I keep the box dusted regularly and always > check the cables when finished. > I started up - the chkdsk took over - moved this and that, deleted, > loads of things. When it finished the computer fired up again as if > nothing was wrong. > For 6 hours it has been running well - I have done a bit of research > and tried another scanner - HDDScan 3 for windows - seems very > popular and accurate. > A full SMART scan only popped up one problem - a yellow marker for > 'UltraDMA CRC Error count' > Not too sure what it means, but judging by what I have read in various > forums, it aint good - most suggest a new HDD. I was surprised > though to not get some 'RED' markers as others have, where they have > been getting BSODs and no help with Rec Con and inability to boot. > I can confirm that even in the Seagate Forums, the Seagate scanners > are treated with ridicule. > I did mention the make/model in another post - its a Maxtor. It is > auto recognised when you run the software. There is no other utility > on their site - this was the one I was told to use via email reply. > They used to do one for Maxtor, but they are one company now. > Would you perhaps have any suggestion as to a different make of HDD. > For the moment I think I might do a full install of XP and see if > there still problems booting. > I have plenty of help - michael stevens, s ramesh, kb313348 for > format/partition/full install, which I may consider if I get a larger > HDD. > Many thanks to you and all who gave me support - once again it has > been much appreciated. > I cannot say 'long live the newsgroups' as they will soon be R.I.P - > though some seem to think that they may still carry on but a > different 'body'. Using forums as I have done this past week has > confirmed to some degree, my dislike for them. > I have had a look at UBCD4Win and see that it is a collection of > tools/software and is Beta-I try and avoid betaware - have had bad > experiences in the past so tend to keep away/avoid them - but there > does appear to be some nice bits in it. > > Rgds > Antioch It sounds like your hard drive is slowly but surely on its way out. If so, a Clean Install is not indicated! As long as all your data is safegarded and if you have extra time on your hands and you'd like to do it out of curiosity, I suppose you have nothing to lose. If so and if you want the learning experience, you might want to try these first: http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp/ http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm But if I were you, I'd just pop in a new hard drive! It should could come with cloning software. You *might* be able to get away with cloning your current drive to the new one. If it works, cool. Otherwise, Clean Install! You should reconsider avoiding UBCD4Win. Beta, schmeta! It's a bootable CD, so it is as safe as milk. ;-) It's a great tool to have and can certainly help get you out of a jam (that is, if your PC is otherwise unbootable and you need at the very least to copy your data). Also, it's a great way to determine if your PC's problems are hardware-related. Good luck, Antioch!
From: Daave on 1 Jun 2010 12:09 antioch wrote: > "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message > news:uRi0$N1$KHA.5536(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> antioch wrote: >> >>> Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off >>> for 30 mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in >>> double quick time. >>> But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not >>> start. >> >> What are your power settings set for? Do you use Hiberbnation or >> System Standby? Which method do you use to "switch off?" >> > I do not know what the power settings are - are they in Bios - if so > will get them later. > Never use Hibernation or standby - I exit via Start/Turn off. > I will be away from the computer for a while. No, not the BIOS settings. I was referring to the Windows XP settings, accessible by: (right-clicking on an unused area on the desktop) Display Properties | Screen Saver | Power (and then later, the Advanced tab)
From: antioch on 2 Jun 2010 16:48 "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message news:ezTvCTaALHA.4388(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > antioch wrote: >> "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message >> news:uRi0$N1$KHA.5536(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> antioch wrote: >>> >>>> Another quick update - I did that old trick - unplug - left it off >>>> for 30 mins - came back - switched on and Windows has fired up in >>>> double quick time. >>>> But I know from previously, if I switch off[not unplug] it will not >>>> start. >>> >>> What are your power settings set for? Do you use Hiberbnation or >>> System Standby? Which method do you use to "switch off?" >>> >> I do not know what the power settings are - are they in Bios - if so >> will get them later. >> Never use Hibernation or standby - I exit via Start/Turn off. >> I will be away from the computer for a while. > > No, not the BIOS settings. I was referring to the Windows XP settings, > accessible by: > > (right-clicking on an unused area on the desktop) > > Display Properties | Screen Saver | Power > > (and then later, the Advanced tab) > Hi Daave Ah -that power settings - under Advanced tab - Options not ticked: Power Buttons is When I press the power button shut down. I have never been in there to change - must be default. Hibernate is not ticked to enable. Power Schemes - Entry is 'Never' for turn off monitor, turn off HDDs, and System Standby. The current situation is this. Having managed to almost always get into Windows, I have since scanned with HDDScan-3.2 and HDSentinaDos free. HDDScan reports just one item - UltraDMA CRC Error - Google searching has differing opinions as to a hardrive failure or missing bits of Windows. HDSentinal reports that I have a 100% functioning disc and that there are no problems elsewhere. For the moment, the jury still seem to out as to who/what is 'guilty'. I did pick up a little tip which seems to be working - once you have managed to get into Windows and the desktop, which has not been impossible with trial and error in Rec Console, before you switch/turn off the computer, set chkdsk to initiate with the command chkdsk /r. It takes a bit of time when you switch on next, or course, to open into desktop, but it is getting quicker - less and less activity is happening in the 5 stages - and it boots up every time. On the first runs there was no end of stuff/files being deleted etc. At the moment the longest stage is 4. So this is how I am running whilst I look into a suitable replacement HDD. Its nice to see that this group has not yet had the 'chop'. Thanks again for your help and interest - yes I will have a look/go with UBCD4Win. Rgds Antioch
From: antioch on 6 Jun 2010 07:23
Update The latest is that HDDScan has been running for a few days and the logs have been sent to them. They report back that there is nothing at all wrong with the disc itself. The only concern is - Quote - "However, there were data transfer errors reported because of the increasing number of "Ultra ATA CRC Error Count" attribute. You can examine its value on the S.M.A.R.T. page. Usually loose or improper SATA cable connections cause this issue. I recommend to verify both the power and the data cable connected to your drive. If you see the plugs do not fit properly, you may change the data cable to a better one" I have reseated the cable from power to HDD and from HDD to MB. The cable has been there since install. So the only other possible cause is that the OS has some faulty files etc that cannot be corrected via the RecCons but appear to be solved when chkdsk /r is performed on startup. Today's run showed no moved/deleted etc files/folders at all during the scans 1-5. I will switch off the computer without the chkdsk /r request and see what happens. Thanks again for all the help. Rgds Antioch "antioch" <antioch(a)home.com> wrote in message news:uqbwBUpALHA.1892(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message > news:ezTvCTaALHA.4388(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... |