My laptop began restarting all by itself every once in a while without warning, then last night it just froze up. the Windows logo comes up and it never makes it to the login screen. I tried starting in every mode possible (safe mode, debugging mode, etc.) and nothing has worked. if my only solution is to reinstall windows, i am not 100% sure i have the disc that came with the laptop. i should mention that when i attempt to start up in safe mode i get a screen that looks partially like this: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\dpti2o.sys multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\ql1080.sys multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\ql1280.sys multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\ql12160.sys multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\perc2.sys multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\perc2hib.sys multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\hpn.sys .................many more lines like this follow then for a few seconds at the bottom it says "press ESC to cancel loading sptd.sys" Any help is greatly appreciated.
This problem is associated many times with Daemon Tools. If so in your case, remove Daemon Tools with Revo Uninstaller. Clean the registry with CCleaner. Restart.
You're probably right Peshtigo cause I did install Daemon Tools at one point. The problem is that I can't access any area of my computer since Windows won't start up, so removing it is virtually impossible. I can't even get the command prompt window to come up. Maybe a hard drive problem?
I wouldn't give up on the harddrive just yet. At this point I would attempt a "repair install" of Windows (not the recovery console). That way you have a chance to at least salvage your personal documents and programs, although all Windows updates will be lost. You must have your Windows installation disc or your OEM rescue disc. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx There are dozens of help sites available online. Google "XP repair install".
If possible try and make a bartpe bootcd. (all you need is your windows installation cd). Next bootup your computer with the bartpe and from there use the command prompt to run a chkdsk c: /f. If some of your system files are corrupted the chkdsk will fix it. Whenever a computer won't boot for no apparent reason it usually is a sign of corrupted system files. A simple chkdsk will fix this problem almost everytime. It's the easiest fix you can make. All the data is safe in your hard drive, just a few corrupted files will make it look like the hard drive is bad. If chkdsk doesn't work, my next repair will be to use the free "testdisk" to rebuild the boot sector and hopefully get your computer to boot. Also "testdisk" has an addon "photorec" that can recover all the data on your hard drive.
I just checked out that Bartpe boot CD site. I'm going to make one and put it in my toolbox for a "just in case" job. Just wondering: if you have the XP installatin disc and do a "repair install" you've already repaired your files and eliminated the need to run a checkdisk. Or am I missing something else Bartpe does? Thanks for the pointer. http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ Nevermind. I just did more reading on the site and found out what the other capabilities are. The only hitch is that you need another PC to download and burn your CD. And will another PC allow a build from an OEM installation disc from a different PC manufacturer?
A bartpe once you make it will work on any PC, you can also try and run a chkdsk using the windows installation cd, but it isn't user friendly. The bartpe will get you a command prompt and also will allow you to look at the hard drive and if needed edit the registry. It's very useful. at the GO bottom open the command box and type chkdsk c: /f If the command box doesnt work do following Go/programs/a43 file management utilitys Next rightclick on the C: partition/properties/tools/error checking Right here you can run a scandisk (make sure both boxes are check to fix errors), scandisk is similar to chkdsk.
We seem to have gotten off on a tangent from the original question. I have made a bartpe disc for myself and it works just as promised. However, if neemotrax has the XP installation disc it would be easier and faster to do the repair installation and make a bartpe disc for any future problems that may arise. If that fails to resolve the problem, then I'm afraid a reformat and clean XP installation is the last resort before addressing possible hardware issues.
Thank you so much for the help. I don't make it a habit of throwing away discs so I just need to check around for my Windows installation CD. In case I don't find it, would using a different Windows CD still do the job? My brother has Windows XP Home Edition, and I believe mine was Windows XP Media Edition. Doesn't make sense that it would work just thought I'd ask as a last resort. My computer did a chkdsk when I restarted a few times before it went dead and it didn't find the problem. I will do my best to locate the installation cd today when i get home. Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions Peshtigo and Jony218, extremely appreciated.
