Windows XP: Corrupt boot files and blue screen

pontovic

Hi

I recently was landed with a Dell Laptop (Inspiron 2200) which I was asked to fix for someone. What was happening was when the person tried to turn it on, it would complain that various files needed for bootup were missing. This happened most of the time. I was actually able to boot into it some of the time. Here is a list of the problems I encountered.

-- When boorting, the promt screen telling you windows had not started normally would come up, giving you the option to boot in safe mode, safe mode with networking support, normally etc. Chosing any of these would give rise to the following bullet point.

-- It would complain that various files needed for windows to load were missing ( I can't remember exactly what the names were, not NTLDR ). It would prompt me to insert the windows XP install media and try to do a 'repair'.

-- When I could boot into the laptop, it was generally quite unresponsive but I could work with it. I uninstalled the McAfee antivirus already there and I installed AVG antivirus. A full update and a scan revealed no virus.

-- When copying a large number of files over the wireless network I have in my home to my other computer to backup the stuff there, I revealed my first blue screen of death when the file transfer was about 80% complete. I forget the exact message on it but I was taken back to the boot menu to choose safe mode, normal mode etc. Still the same trouble getting back into windows as before but I got there eventually. I switched the thing off and came back to it later.

Once I had backed up everything from this person's laptop, I re-installed windows XP home SP1 and installed all the latest drivers got the latest updates from windowsupdate.com. I downloaded the latest drivers from dell and installed AVG antivirus. All looked good.

I started to install the basic needed apps, like firefox and openoffice. Here is where things get bad. I downloaded and installed OpenOffice.org, and once the installation had completed, I see that blue screen again and then back to square one with that safe mode prompt menu.

I have a feeling this has something to do with defective RAM. I'm not 100% sure, though, and I would like to ask a few questions and give you all the spec of the machine.

Its a Dell Inspiron 2200 that comes from the US. Its about a year old at this stage.
Pentium M 1.6Ghz CPU,
256mb DDR-sdram
Windows XP home edition, the install CD is WinXP Home SP-1
40gb HDD

-- Would I be right in assuming it may be defective memory ? The blue screen showed itself whenever a task that may require alot of memory was carried out, ie installing OpenOffice, transgerring alot of files over a wireless network.

-- What could be causing the boot files windows needs to load up to be corrupted ?

-- I would like to do a test on the memory to see if it is efective. Can anyone here reccommend any good programs I can use to test it ?

-- Anyone here have any ideas what else could be the cause of these problems ?

Thanks in advance.

zilog_jones

Sounds like a hardware problem whatever it is. Maybe the hard disk is knackered? Try looking at the SMART readings from the disk with SpeedFan - you can also use that to check the temp's of the CPU and system too, as heat could also cause crashing like this.

To check RAM, try memtest86 (get the ISO and burn onto a CD) - you'll want to run it for a good few hours though. Prime95 is also good for testing hardware integrity.

weeder

if you get the message INNACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE its time for a new hdd

gamer

Did you format drive c: before installing xp ,download spybot sd and ad aware ,free progs, to make sure there is no spyware,or malware that is corrupting the registry or winxp files.Run virus checker, avg antivirus is free from grisoft.com.RUN chkdsk c:\ and scandisk c: from safe mode dos prompt to check hd files .You can download disk diagnostic programs from hd companys, like maxtor.com ,depending on what brand hardrive you have.Sounds to me you have either malware/or a virus ,or else the hardrive is failing,losing data randomly.Get spyware blaster free download.THERE could be virus in partition d , if you have 2 partitions.Most dell pcs have symanntec restore built in ,which reinstalls winxp and apps ,automatically ,see dell.ie support for more info,copys from hidden partition on drive c