win xp boots to blue screen

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 15:22:54

hey,

my friend has a windows xp pc that boots to a blue screen everytime. It gets so far into the boot process and then just goes to the BSOD and shuts back down.

would you say this is a hardware fault or a OS fault ?

also, she no longers has the cd for the computer, could i make a bootable cd or usb flash drive from my I386 folder ?

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 15:25:09

It could be either or both Paul, will it boot in to 'safe' mode or 'Last known good configuration'?

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 15:26:46

This may help too http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 15:36:13

It sound a bit like the problem I had recently. Had he installed any MS updates?

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 15:36:47

last time she tried, it wouldn't boot into safe mode but i dont know if she did it correctly as she's not very good with computers, didnt try last known good config options.

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 15:37:46

If it's the same problem I had, Paul, neither safe mode not a last known good worked.

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 15:38:36

Quote from: Rik on Dec 09, 2009, 15:36:13
It sound a bit like the problem I had recently. Had he installed any MS updates?

The PC hasn't been working for over a year, but i guess she kept it upto date.

She wants to get it working again as she's giving it to her mum to use.

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 15:42:29

I had to re-install, luckily from an Acronis backup. Presumably she doesn't get time to read the blue screen message?

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 15:46:00

Quote from: Rik on Dec 09, 2009, 15:42:29
Presumably she doesn't get time to read the blue screen message?

Yeh, as soon as it appears its gone again

Do you know anywhere i can get XP from? Most require you to buy a hard drive with it if you get a OEM version.

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 15:46:56

I think it's only available OEM now.

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 15:52:08

PM me your address Paul, we have a lot of HP & Dell xp disks, I'll send you one.

Fox · Dec 09, 2009, 15:53:08

Some machines have an option in BIOS that halts the machine on the blue screen and doesnt shut it down until you press a key ( have a couple of machines that have this option and a couple that dont ), it might be worth a look to see if its in there. If the machine has more than one stick of RAM you could try removing one and trying to boot, if no joy then swap the ram over and see if it will boot on the other stick, at least you could remove the RAM as the cause of the BSOD.

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 15:53:32

Quote from: Glenn on Dec 09, 2009, 15:52:08
PM me your address Paul, we have a lot of HP & Dell xp disks, I'll send you one.

Will they work on a packard bell pc though ?

PM sent.

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 16:00:01

To try to fix it yes, to re-install maybe not.

What is the model number of the PC? Pressing and holding one of the Fx keys during startup forces it to reload the OS if it is still on the hidden partition.

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 16:04:10

Quote from: Glenn on Dec 09, 2009, 16:00:01
To try to fix it yes, to re-install maybe not.

What is the model number of the PC? Pressing and holding one of the Fx keys during startup forces it to reload the OS if it is still on the hidden partition.

No idea lol. The model number is no where on the case when i looked

I will have to go and pick the tower up before christmas so i can work on it, telling her to do things and her doing something different that what i told her to do gets very stressfull lol.

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 16:04:51

We know the feeling, Paul.

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 16:09:03

And the two things aren't necessarily the same.

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 16:16:43

Quote from: Fox on Dec 09, 2009, 15:53:08
Some machines have an option in BIOS that halts the machine on the blue screen and doesnt shut it down until you press a key ( have a couple of machines that have this option and a couple that dont ), it might be worth a look to see if its in there. If the machine has more than one stick of RAM you could try removing one and trying to boot, if no joy then swap the ram over and see if it will boot on the other stick, at least you could remove the RAM as the cause of the BSOD.

I will be running memtest86 on it but if that doesnt work or brings back errors, i have her old memory from when i upgraded it, i might just stick that in and try.

Noreen · Dec 09, 2009, 17:23:36

Would Event Viewer help, if there is one in XP?

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 17:25:37

If Paul can reach it, Noreen. I couldn't get into Windows at all if it's the same fault.

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 17:29:12

Now, if you had access to ERD Commander, it could be a different story.

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 17:39:28

Tell me more...

psp83 · Dec 09, 2009, 17:43:38

Quote from: Glenn on Dec 09, 2009, 17:29:12
Now, if you had access to nERD Commander, it could be a different story.

Rik · Dec 09, 2009, 17:44:46

How we all wish we had one of those.

Glenn · Dec 09, 2009, 17:45:12

Quote from: Rik on Dec 09, 2009, 17:39:28
Tell me more...

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21154