Blue screen on boot up
Hi,
I am attempting to fix my friends computer which has windows XP installed on it. When it boots up it goes to the windows xp loading screen and just when you think windows is going to load you get a blue screen with some text and it re-starts. This is a constant loop and the same thing happens in all of the safe mode options. I cannot identify any of the text on the blue screen as it flashes up so quickly.
I tested the graphics card, memory, cd-rom, sound card and it is none of those so I am wondering if it is the hard drive? Any advice ... I'm guessing I should just try and re-install windows?
I am attempting to fix my friends computer which has windows XP installed on it. When it boots up it goes to the windows xp loading screen and just when you think windows is going to load you get a blue screen with some text and it re-starts. This is a constant loop and the same thing happens in all of the safe mode options. I cannot identify any of the text on the blue screen as it flashes up so quickly.
I tested the graphics card, memory, cd-rom, sound card and it is none of those so I am wondering if it is the hard drive? Any advice ... I'm guessing I should just try and re-install windows?
Houssam Ballout
try to repair it before.
ASKER
Repair it? How do you mean?
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you can also boot to safe mode, and select last known good.
look also for minidumps, they can point you to the problem
look also for minidumps, they can point you to the problem
ASKER
Last known good doesn't work, I still get the blue screen.
no minidumps?
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ASKER
@ nobus ... What is a minidump?
OK I will try that Lee ^ and what if I do disable the automatic restart on system failure, what then?
OK I will try that Lee ^ and what if I do disable the automatic restart on system failure, what then?
Then your pc will halt on that blue screen of death, and it will display a message that you can read with possibly helpful information. (Although usually the info is not very helpful.) One thing will be a hexadecimal STOP error. You can go to this page and find some general troubleshooting info on whatever STOP error is displayed:
http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm
Troubleshooting Windows STOP messages
http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm
Troubleshooting Windows STOP messages
ASKER
Thanks Lee ... very helpful, I will give it a go this evening.
ASKER
I managed to see the error and it looks like this:
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
0x000000ED (0x812CFE30, 0x00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
0x000000ED (0x812CFE30, 0x00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
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it can be your drive is dying; test it with the one you need from :
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
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ASKER
Just ran the chkdsk thing and then restart and it worked!
So what was the problem then ... can someone explain?
So what was the problem then ... can someone explain?
This MS article, referenced on the aumha.org page I linked to above gives a plausible explanation, and it also references the solution that was recommended by eXpeLLeD_4RM_heLL:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403&sd=RMVP
Stop 0x000000ED Error Message When Volume on IDE Drive with Caching Enabled Is Mounted
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403&sd=RMVP
Stop 0x000000ED Error Message When Volume on IDE Drive with Caching Enabled Is Mounted
ASKER
Thanks for all your help.