Can't boot Windows XP, locks up, can't safe mode

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I hit a snag, it was looking for an nvenetfd.inf file. Looked like it was from the chipset of my mb, so I inserted the disc. Seems to have worked so far, still installing
 
Zeno, I wonder, after all this is done and hopefully works, do you think it makes sense to revert to a restore point when this baby last worked?
 
You can, sure. Before making any more moves with anything though, if I were you, I'd back any essential data up. Trust me, things can seem cheery at face value but they can rapidly decline into chaos. If you have anything worth saving, do it as soon as possible.

I would test the HDD with one of the diagnostic utilities in the link above. If your HDD appears to be okay, then make the call on whether or not to perform a System Restore etc. You can pull System Restore after System Restore and if your HDD is failing, it's not going to make any bit of difference.

So, to review this again:

1. Secure anything worth saving to you.

2. Make sure your HDD isn't a paper weight in the making.

3. Worry about your Windows installation.
 
I hit another snag. After the repair cycle, it rebooted and after a short time on the WindowsXp screen, it went to file checking on my c drive. It's doing a chkdsk but it's been at stage 1 of 3 and 12% for a LOOOOONG time. A solid 20 minutes and counting, no movement. I'm tempted to try a reboot, resisting the urge.
 
Freezing on a chdsk is not good, mc1. You haven't made it clear whether or not there is data on that drive which you care about, however, if there is retrieve it now and follow the outline above.
 
Oh there certainly is, but I'm fried after a long day of work and dealing with this. I SO appreciate your hanging with me to help, but I need to crash. I'm going to get at this again in the morn and if it hangs once again, well, I'm going into retrieval mode on data as per your earlier suggestion. If you have a chance to check in, I'll certainly post updates. Thanks again!!
 
a suggestion:

if i'm reading your posts correctly, you have XP running chkdsk while trying to boot itself from disk (and the state of the disk is questionable)..

You should run chkdsk /r yourself from the recovery console after booting from CD. Use the /r flag so XP will try to locate and fix any disk problems including bad sectors while running chkdsk.

/**** Edit *****/
chkdsk c: /r
 
...Frankly, I would choose one of the other utilities in the link that I provided. Chkdsk is a great utility accompanied by Windows, however, to say it's the most thorough or efficient would be a lie.
 
that's fine... but pointing out not to use chkdsk as currently described to try to fix the disk problem (or spend time trying to figure out why hanging under those conditions)
 
I'm going to try chkdsk c: /r to see if that helps stabalize the system when I get in, or uncover any other issues with the drive. In either case, I want to recover the data, so before I settle on any result, I need to get my pics, docs and fav places from that drive.

Now I did manage to login last night. I also tried to immediately install windows sp2 and do a virus scan. Well, both locked up and I had to reboot. I did see that my antivirus saw suspicous detections, so I'm wondering if I do transfer the data that I want to recover, will it infect my wife's pc?

So I'll report after I do the chkdsk, but the next step is taking out the HDD, inserting it into my wife's pc, getting the data transfered, then diagnosing to see if the HDD is usable. If not, well that's easy (though annoying and time consuming) as I just get a new one and do a fresh install. If it's good, well then I can go thru the process of trying to get everything working well again.

Once I complete the chkdsk, I'll need more help with the hooking up that hdd to my wife's pc. I'm not sure exactly what to do, so even though some steps have been posted, I could use more details. I'm not sure which cables are which and exactly where to plug what into what. For example, I'm not sure what goes where in the MB with the drive from my pc (the one with the problem) being put into my wife's pc (the one working fine).

Next, despite a list of programs that are supposed to diagnose my problem HDD, I've no idea what to do to check the drive. Do I download one on my wife's system after I've connected the problem drive to it for example?

I'm sorry again for sounding feeble :) I just REALLY need explicit details, diagrams and pics if possible, but as much detail as you can possibly give me.

Thanks!
 
Ok, I did the chkdsk, and was able to access my pc, and get some files backed up. I'm going to try to disconnect the HDD and connect it to my wife's pc and get what I couldn't back up. I did a full virus scan and it was only 3rd party adserving cookies that came up, nothing serious, so I'm not so worried about infection now. Still, my pc is messed up. I can't do a windows update or navigate to a website at all, which is wierd b/c I can access my email, and get to my home page website. Any other navigating hangs. I tried windows update and it keeps failing to load the 3.1 installer, so it goes no further. I'm just going to do a clean install after I try to get the remaining data (nothing pressing as I got the most vital stuff already. This extra step for the rest is just a convenience, but if I can do it, all the better).

I have a smaller drive that was connected to my previous rig, that I had been saving for using as a windows home server for the two pc's, xbox, etc (never got around to it, and now I regret it!). There's data on that drive, too. Barring any questions I might have for getting the data off the main drive on my pc (pc #1 is mine, pc#2 is my wife's, pc#3 is the old rig that I was going to use for the home server, for reference hence forth).

1) How to a check drive from pc #1 (the Samsung 400gb sata) so I can see if I need to replace it or not before I do a clean install? Ideally I'd like to do this prior to the setup below
2) How do I setup a two HDD system, with wiring and all (are there any detailed step by step guides, video or with pics?)? I have the drive from pc #1 and I want to add the old drive from pc #2 as a backup.
3) There's outdated data on drive from pc#3, do I need to wipe that clean, or will it be wiped clean when I do the fresh xp install. In this scenario, again, I plan to have two drives on my pc, the main one being that from pc#1, unless it needs to be replaced altogether. The backup drive (from pc#3) is going to mainly be for pics, work docs, etc, where drive #1 will be for the OS, games, other programs, but nothing perma that I can't just reinstall or that I won't care to lose if I need to do a full re-install again down the road (I hope not!!)

Thanks again!!!
 
UPDATE - Ok, I've swap'd the drive from PC1 into PC 2, and I've backed up all data I wanted to keep. Now I want to check that drive (from PC1) to see if it's viable or not, before I put it back and reinstall xp.

How do I go about that? THX
 
There are several disk utilities available tho you're probably best to start with Samsung HUTIL Drive diagnostic utility.

Please double check to verify for yourself but from what i see from your post you have a "SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD400LJ Hard Drive" and if you look at the link i provided Samsung indicates the HUTIL diagnostic is for Samsung SpinPoint T133 HD400LJ.

In addition, I recommend you look at a quality backup/recovery software tool. One which not only does file/folder backups, but can clone your disk drive so you can recover from full disk failures. In addition, one which allows you to run backup/recovery operations from a bootable recovery disk 'cause as you see when the disk goes you need to be able to boot into some form of recovery mode that provides for data backup/recovery options. Suggest you look at Acronis True Image Home (provides all i just described and more, including a 15day free trial offer)
 
mc1 - I am having almost the SAME exact problem you are however I cannot enter the BIOS anymore and rebooting with my recovery CD doesn't work. Here is a link to my post:

DENIED! *laugh* well it looks like I am not allowed to post links yet on this forum, it told me "To be able to post links or images your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 3 posts. Please remove links from your message, then you will be able to submit your post"

Oh well, just know I am having almost the same exact problem you are and you are not alone. I am stilll trying to figure out what is going on.
 
ryancc:

I pointed you here initially because (at least initially) the two problems sounded similar. but the more i hear about your (ryancc's) problem i think the cause of the problem may be very different
 
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