windows XP startup problem

[RubenDouglas]

ok so my sister is having this computer problem.

she goes to startup her computer and is greeted by white text telling her something about a corrupt file. she cant get past that to normal startup mode. shes over 3000 miles away and im more of a hands on teacher. she has the startup discs. is that her only alternative?

the system seems crippled without the file.

is this crap normal? she said it was fine one day, and then the next, upon starting up the computer, it mentions a corrupt file.

a possibly virus or a known XP problem?

[Mavs2003champs]

Re: windows XP startup problem

what does the text say? can she boot up in safe mode?

[Holic]

Re: windows XP startup problem

First off, where did your "Soon to be ex-girlfriend" avatar go? If she's your ex now, PM me the extra large version of the pic.

And what exactly file is corrupt? Also, what kind of computer is it?

[RubenDouglas]

Re: windows XP startup problem

just found out its a hal.dll corrupt file.. looks like a HUGE MESS. one im not about to spend days trying to fix.

this is going to bestbuy to get resolved

[RubenDouglas]

Re: windows XP startup problem

hmmm. I used a windows XP install disc that came with the computer and i called tech support and followed all their instructions (deleting the C: partition etc.....) and a installing a fresh copy of windows XP, but its freezing around 48% through the clean install.

I booted in f10 and did a hard drive self test and it FAILED
#01- 7 Fail

Is this just a HD problem? easily fixable with a fresh HD and a clean XP install?

I need help. weve already wasted 180 bucks in computer tech help from various stores.

I just want to be sure that its a HD problem

[Zer0xray]

Re: windows XP startup problem

i had this problem awhile ago. what i did was i had windows installed on another hard drive and tried to install windows again on the new one i just installed (wanted to make it my primary).

check this out:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

hopefully it'll help

[shugknight]

Re: windows XP startup problem

The easiest thing to do is install a new fresh copy of XP like the tech support said.

Did you restart and boot to the cd? If you didn't, try doing that to erase your whole HD. Restart > hit F8 or F12 >boot to cd

You'd want to first DELETE the partition, basically anything thats formatted. The partition is where her original XP is isntalled in. Erasing this will ERASE EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON HER COMPUTER.

After erasing this, format the partition as an NTFS. And just install windows. After that, all you'll have to do is either check your drivers (you most likely wont have to since its the installation CD from Dell and not an actual XP CD) or fill out the registration info and all that junk.

Let me know if this helps, or if its confusing.

[fishepa]

Re: windows XP startup problem

Sounds like the hard drive is bad. Put a new hard drive in a do the XP installation. It will save you alot of bucks rather than taking it to BB.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: windows XP startup problem

The easiest thing to do is install a new fresh copy of XP like the tech support said.

Did you restart and boot to the cd? If you didn't, try doing that to erase your whole HD. Restart > hit F8 or F12 >boot to cd

You'd want to first DELETE the partition, basically anything thats formatted. The partition is where her original XP is isntalled in. Erasing this will ERASE EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON HER COMPUTER.

After erasing this, format the partition as an NTFS. And just install windows. After that, all you'll have to do is either check your drivers (you most likely wont have to since its the installation CD from Dell and not an actual XP CD) or fill out the registration info and all that junk.

Let me know if this helps, or if its confusing.

yeah i DID exactly that and its freezing around 47%.

What makes this really suck is my mom paid someone to attempt to retrieve what was on the HD before the fresh install. we get the DVD-R back and She told me to go ahead and install a fresh XP before looking on the dvd-r. After it freezes the first time, she finally looks on the disc and sees that it has nothing they want to keep. I tell them its too late to get someone else to retrieve the data.

My family confuses me quite a bit..they have a service agreement with sams club and its still valid but when she took it in,they told her to take it to bestbuy. we come to find out bestbuy has nothing to do with sams club and you should be calling their 1-800 help line. Uninformed workers.. I HATE IT. Tech support says they can fix it but itll take 3-4 weeks or more. she really needs the computer for school. i tell them i can fix it for only the price of the HD. they tell me if anyone but samsclub opens the computer, it voids the warranty. time issue vs. voiding a warranty we OBVIOUSLY WOULDNT USE because of the time issue. Arguments ensue and you get faulted for everything. lol gotta love family

Bottonline, dont help family with problems someone else can fix. youll just end up getting blamed