System Repair Hangs looking for pcouffin.sys

I have a Dell Latitude D610 Windows XP professional and run AVG anti-virus software (paid version) each week set to scan internal HD and external HDs.

I use Acronis to back up my files and the backup files are on the two external drives.

The laptop stopped seeing two new Seagate external Hard Drives (one 500GM and 1TB).

Dell tech support #1 said to go to the Control Panel and remove DVD (?). Sorry I don't remember the exact name. He said DVD? was in conflict with AutoPlay.

Still cannot not see external drives.
Connected Seagate 1TB drive to another computer. Computer can read 1TB drive OK.
Connected Seagate 500GB drive to same computer. Cannot not read 500MB drive.

Dell Tech support #2 said to Repair XP operating system. Installed original OS disk and began repair. The repair process hangs looking for pcouffin.sys.

Using Google I have searched for this file (or driver) and cannot find it. I need the exact file, an *.exe file will not work because I cannot install or launch the file.

The Latitude laptop will *not* reboot from it's internal OS. I do not have access to another Windows computer. I'm sending this message from a Macintosh. The Macintosh cannot launch the *.exe file nor can it read the Acronis backup file.

QUESTION:
Is pcouffin.sys file available?

If the file is available, I will download it to a flash drive and see if the repair software will recognize the file on the flash drive and complete the rebuild. When the rebuild process stops, it allows me to Browse to find the file and I can see CD and flash drive.

I deeply appreciate any and all comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Judy

 

Hi ddp,
Thank you for the link. I've been to this site and it helped me understand what pcouffin.sys does.

The hard drive is stuck in recovery mode. I cannot reboot from the original OS. Therefore, I cannot download any software.

The recovery process is looking for pcouffin.sys. I can browse to the file, but not other action is permitted.

Thank you again for your input and suggestion.

Sincerely,

July

 

Hi ddp,
It continues in the recovery mode even when I remove the CD, press F12 at the Dell logo, and from the menu choose the boot from hard drive.

The Latitude experts at Dell tech support could not make it boot in safe or other mode except recovery.

I have access to another Dell Windows computer. I searched the hard drive, but could not find the pcouffin.sys file. I had hidden files in the show mode (including system files).

Thank you for whatever ideas you can offer.

Sincerely,

Judy