[Grantax]

My computer had some harddrive problems about a month ago, but It worked fine, until now.
I'm not sure it has anything to do with the harddrive this time, but It might.
It might also be someone that damaged my computer (I've left my computer alone on a LAN).

When windows is just about to start, it restarts, and does it over and over again.
Starting it in Safe Mode doesn't work either.

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Windows XP logon screen does not appear and the computer continuously restarts

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, the Microsoft Windows XP startup screen appears, and then the computer may restart. The Windows XP logon screen does not appear.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the Kernel32.dll file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the Windows Recovery Console to extract a new copy of the Kernel32.dll file from the original Windows XP CD. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the Recovery Console. If you do not have the Recovery Console installed, start it from the Windows XP CD.

To do this, follow these steps:

a. Insert the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer. If you are prompted, select any options that are required to start from the CD.

b. When the text-based part of the Setup program starts, follow the instructions that appear on your screen. To select the repair or recover option, press R.

c. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the recovery console.

d. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password.

2. At the command prompt, type cd system32, and then press ENTER.

3. Type ren kernel32.dll kernel32.old, and then press ENTER.

4. Type map, and then press ENTER.

5. Note the drive letter that is assigned to the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD. It is appears in a format that is similar to the following format:

D: \Device\CdRom0


6. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

expand drive\i386\kernel32.dl_

Where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD).

For example, type:

Expand d:\i386\kernel32.dl_

Note Include the underscore character after the "L" in Kernel32.dl_.

You receive the following message: Kernel32.dll
1 file(s) expanded.


7. Type exit. The computer restarts.

8. Remove the Windows XP CD, and then start the computer as you regularly do.

APPLIES TO
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

[Retired Tech]

Windows XP logon screen does not appear and the computer continuously restarts

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, the Microsoft Windows XP startup screen appears, and then the computer may restart. The Windows XP logon screen does not appear.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the Kernel32.dll file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the Windows Recovery Console to extract a new copy of the Kernel32.dll file from the original Windows XP CD. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the Recovery Console. If you do not have the Recovery Console installed, start it from the Windows XP CD.

To do this, follow these steps:

a. Insert the Windows XP CD, and then restart the computer. If you are prompted, select any options that are required to start from the CD.

b. When the text-based part of the Setup program starts, follow the instructions that appear on your screen. To select the repair or recover option, press R.

c. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the recovery console.

d. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password.

2. At the command prompt, type cd system32, and then press ENTER.

3. Type ren kernel32.dll kernel32.old, and then press ENTER.

4. Type map, and then press ENTER.

5. Note the drive letter that is assigned to the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD. It is appears in a format that is similar to the following format:

D: \Device\CdRom0


6. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

expand drive\i386\kernel32.dl_

Where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD).

For example, type:

Expand d:\i386\kernel32.dl_

Note Include the underscore character after the "L" in Kernel32.dl_.

You receive the following message: Kernel32.dll
1 file(s) expanded.


7. Type exit. The computer restarts.

8. Remove the Windows XP CD, and then start the computer as you regularly do.

APPLIES TO
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

[Grantax]

It doesn't find system32 when I type cd system32.
I tried to type dir, but it doesn't find anything on the C:\ partition.
I tried to type dir when I was on the D:\ partition, and it found everything.
I've had some harddrive problems in the past, as I mentioned, here's the thread for more information.

Is my C:\ drive gone? (Weird that the windows loading bar shows up when I start the computer then)

If I have to format the computer, I would like to copy some files from D:\ onto a cd or something from the recovery console, is that possible? (Because if C:\ has the registry, I doubt the programs on D:\ will act normal)

Edited by Grantax, 19 February 2006 - 02:45 PM.

[Retired Tech]

You can use these to repair XP

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

XP Repair Install

Or here if you are unable to run XP Repair Install

Alternative XP Repair Install Method

Use Windows Installation CD to repair the current installation, from the list, which uses a slightly different method

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

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

Microsoft Update

[Grantax]

If C:\ is gone, then the registry is too, so I will probably format it.
But if I'm lucky, C:\ got hidden or something. (I really really doubt that)

[Retired Tech]

If you can hold off for a while, I can run it by the others

[Grantax]

Sure..
I will get my harddrive at the post office today.
Because I have waited for it for 4 weeks, and today I got a mail, telling me that the harddrive had been on the post office for 3 weeks now, and if I didn't get it, they would return it.
(I hadn't got a message from neither the post office, or the company who sent it, that it was there)

[gerryf]

"It doesn't find system32 when I type cd system32."

Just so we're clear here....what were you using when you did that? The recovery console or an old windows 98 floppy disk ?

[Grantax]

Recovery Console.

[gerryf]

so, at the recovery console you are sitting at

c:\windows\>

and typing DIR reveals nothing?

[Grantax]

No, I can't access C:\Windows\, because obviously it doesn't exist.
I'm at C:\ and typing dir shows nothing. And for every command i enter on C:\, the computer executes it very slow, on D:\, I can see everything, and it works fast.

Edit: "If you can hold off for a while"
Do you mean I should wait before repairing windows?

Edited by Grantax, 20 February 2006 - 10:34 AM.

[gerryf]

Yes, he was asking you to hold off on the repair

can you specify the harddrive issues from earlier?

Is there anything on this harddrive that you want/need?

[Grantax]

I don't think I have harddrive problems anymore, because they have only occoured ONCE on my new harddrive. (That time was a month ago)
But anyway, when I tried to start the computer, sometimes the harddrive started to tick, when windows were trying to load, but the ticking caused windows not to load while it was ticking, so I had to wait until the ticking disappeared, before windows loaded.
And sometimes, if I were unlucky, only the desktop wallpaper disappeared, and I had to restart the computer.

But I returned that harddrive to the company I bought it from, and today I got a new one, which means that the one I had before, was damaged.

[Grantax]

None of those..

Edit: If I forgot to answer you, then yes, there are some files I want from my D:\ partition.

Edit: Since I now have 400 GB (2 of the same 200 GB harddrive), I'm going to run raid1 on them. (Mirroring)
Because I don't need 400 GB, I didn't even need 200 GB, and with mirroring, I will prevent this from happening in the future.. Unless my computer is struck by lightning or something like that.

Edited by Grantax, 20 February 2006 - 11:14 AM.

[gerryf]

OK....so why not install a new installation of windows on the new drive, then attach the old drive as a slave...then recover any data, then wipe the second drive and set it up as a mirror...or am I missing something

It sounds like the first partition was damaged on other drive...since ultimately you do not care about the first drive beyond getting the data, it seems that is the way to go