julieschutte
asked on
Windows Protection Error on boot
Last Wednesday I removed a virus from a pc. All was well the remainder of the week. Today, Monday, when I arrived and turned the pc on I get a blank screen with "windows protection error. Please restart your computer." Each reboot I get the same thing but it will boot into safe mode. Ran NAV with updated definitions while in safe mode and it was clean. Not sure what to do at this point.
If you want to take the time to figure out exactly what went wrong (probably not a bad idea), look through the link sunray_2003 provided.
If you want to get the system up ASAP, try this:
Boot to a 98 boot disk
then execute the following commands in sequence:
c:
cd\windows
attrib -r -s -h system.dat
ren system.dat system.bad
copy c:\system.da0 c:\windows\system.dat
reboot
When Windows is first installed it creates a backup of the Windows system registry. That's what the system.da0 file is. What I instruct you to do above is to rename the existing hardware registry (after making it visible) and replace it with the backup one. IMPORTANT NOTE: the backup registry resets your computer's hardware info to the point at which it existed right after you installed the system - even a little before setup completed. You'll likely have to reinstall any drivers for hardware you attached after setup, including printers, scanners, modems, etc. You'll also have to reinstall software which installs support for hardware - such as CD-Burning software and Antivirus software. But much of your user settings should still be there as well as all your data.
If you want to get the system up ASAP, try this:
Boot to a 98 boot disk
then execute the following commands in sequence:
c:
cd\windows
attrib -r -s -h system.dat
ren system.dat system.bad
copy c:\system.da0 c:\windows\system.dat
reboot
When Windows is first installed it creates a backup of the Windows system registry. That's what the system.da0 file is. What I instruct you to do above is to rename the existing hardware registry (after making it visible) and replace it with the backup one. IMPORTANT NOTE: the backup registry resets your computer's hardware info to the point at which it existed right after you installed the system - even a little before setup completed. You'll likely have to reinstall any drivers for hardware you attached after setup, including printers, scanners, modems, etc. You'll also have to reinstall software which installs support for hardware - such as CD-Burning software and Antivirus software. But much of your user settings should still be there as well as all your data.
ASKER
Thanks to both of you first of all. I'm working my way through the Microsoft document that Sunray offered. I've made it to Troubleshooting Protected-Mode Driver Problems and still no sucess. I don't want to risk having to reinstall drivers and such just yet but will keep leew's comment on the back burner. Any other suggestions in case I get to the end of this MS doc and no luck?
One last thing to note (and I'm not trying to push you to try my suggestion) - I have you RENAME the existing SYSTEM.DAT file. This means you can always restore the old one at a later date but reversing the procedure. (My general rule of thumb is NEVER DELETE - only RENAME - this way you can always restore things.
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ASKER
blue_zee is the winner on this one. Thanks to you all for the help. What a fantastic resource.
Do I need to do anything else to award points and close this?
Do I need to do anything else to award points and close this?
Julie,
Thank you!
The question is closed and PAQ'd (added to database).
And I really don't feel like a winner but as only one of the contributors to finding a solution for your problem.
Cheers,
Zee
How to Troubleshoot Windows Protection Error Messages
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q149962
SR