[nofx1728]

My computer crashed and it is not looking good. I'm trying to avoid reformatting it, because I have like 5,000 songs on my Itunes. Let me tell you as much as I can about what is happening:

About 2 weeks ago my sound stopped working and I started getting error messages saying I didn't have a Sound Mixer installed. Soon after I started getting a rull dll as an app error when I right clicked on My Computer (was trying to get into my device manager.) I ran sfc /scannow and scnchk, cleared my temp files, ran anti-virus, spyware software. I didn't turn the computer on for a few days because I had surgery. Went to turn on yesterday and can't get it to work.

When I boot I see the startup - scanning my memory... all that good stuff. I'm able to get into my bios and to the safemode boot menu. However, I can't get into Windows. I have 2 partitions - 1 was a small one with nothing on it, the other was Windows XP Pro. I get to the option where I can pick which partition. When I click on Windows XP i just get a Black screen, nothing happens. When I boot in safe mode I click on Windows XP and it begins to load the drivers, but only gets to about 4 of them (screen where Windows XP lists a bunch text down the entire screen) and then freezes.

I'm not sure what is going on. Does anyone know anyway I can avoid Reformatting?

Thanks,

nofx1728

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About your only choice here is to do a repair install with a XP Pro CD.

http://www.geekstogo...l?showtopic=138

SRX660

[SRX660]

About your only choice here is to do a repair install with a XP Pro CD.

http://www.geekstogo...l?showtopic=138

SRX660

[ultimateslacker2]

Before you do that, run a chkdsk first.

• Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
  Note:Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
• When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
  Note:If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
• When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
• At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following then press Enter:
  

  chkdsk /r

• Allow this to run UNDISTURBED until completed (45 min or so)
• Report any errors

[nofx1728]

hey, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately chkdsk did not solve the problem. If i reinstall windows do I lose all my files? If so should I do a complete reformat instead of just Windows?

Thanks,

nofx1728

[Retired Tech]

If you re-install Windows yes

If you repair install, no

You can use this guide to repair XP

Possibly, you will need to press the power button and keep tapping the delete key, (possibly F2) until the PC enters set up. Change the boot order to CD ROM Drive then hard drive, press F10 then press enter, load the XP CD then type Y then press enter, as it reboots, look for press any key to load from CD, press enter

You will need your XP product key to complete this

The XP Product Key is a 25 character alpha numerical code, which does not include the sequence OEM

If you have audio / video files which are subject to DRM you should check with the provider for known issues with performing an XP repair install

Click this to view the XP Repair Install Guide

Windows XP repair feature won't delete your data, installed programs, personal information, or settings. It just repairs the operating system

The XP repair install will look and run as a normal install, however, you must not see a request to format the drive

After running XP Repair you will need to install all Windows Updates

Microsoft Update

[SRX660]

You should not lose any files with a repair install as windows installs only the critical files needed by the operating system to do the repair. It may be that even a repair install will not fix the problem. Hopefully you will be able to save any files you want to keep off the computer to cd's or dvd's and then do a complete "Clean install" to tr4y correcting the problem.

There is a off chance that you are having hardware problems and the laptop will not be worth fixing but instead if you are under warranty the company may replace the laptop entirely. It is up to you to have backups of your files before you send it in to get fixed.

SRX660