Boot Failure

[Kaynoe]

I am creating this for advice. This is going to be a long process I believe. Basically, I bought a computer about a year ago and it came in a damaged looking box. I got frustrated playing the blame game with HP Gaming (not the normal HP, these guys are out of Canada) and the shipping company. I eventually bit the bullet and took home a box that looked like it was sitting outside in the rain for a week. The computer didn't appear to be damaged at first... until I turned it on.

I got a fatal hard drive error. Honestly, I don't even remember the error message anymore. I know I did some research on it a long time ago, so it is probably around the house somewhere, but I don't know where it is at this time. It said I should replace my hard drive. This is probably the answer to my problem right here.

Having said that, I didn't replace the hard drive. I rode it hard! I stayed pretty dedicated to a MMO (FFXI) for about a year on it. I guess, all things considered, I should be grateful.

Here are my symptoms. These are the ones I posted on another forum and never got help. (probably because they have nothing to do with my actual problem). Maybe because it was on Microsoft's direct page and I mentioned that I was borrowing a friend's copy of BartPE. Who knows.


I needed to use a boot disk to log in. I used BartPE because I couldn't bootup far enough to run chkdsk. At first, I ran Bart as read only (without the F option) because I didn't want to dig the hole deeper. The results says a LOT of files are corrupted in C:

For instance, it says
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 987
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 988
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 1083
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 1095
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 1096
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 1104
Correcting error in index $I30 for file 1112
etcetcetc..

To add more info, when I boot up, I only get 1 beep
then I get the F8 menu/window option... I hit F8...

I get

Hard Disk-----
Sata 1: WDC WD1********
Sata 2: ST3320********

Network 0: Nvidia Boot Agent 231.0528
Network 1: 2-Nvidia Boot Agent 231.052

When I click on Sata 1, it takes me to a screen that says Windows failed to start (something about possible hardware/software change)... then it starts Windows automatically...

Then I get another screen back that says Status 0xc0000098" Windows failed to load because critical system driver is missing or corrupt.

fileinfo.sys :It says it is corrupted when trying to go into safe mode or diagnostics mode

I have a winternals and bartpe available to me if that helps.
I am about to download the diagnostic tool from my hard drive manufacturer to see if there is a hardware fault in the hard drive. I am also about to get the recovery disk from Msofts website. My vista disk had issues when it came with the computer. I had to call the number on the disk and it magically worked. They said the disk had been used before and they magically made it work. I am having the same issue with the disk. I want to see if I can do this without needing to buy another OS.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...#bph07 107_ts (for my own reference)

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com...specified.html (also for reference)

[Monty007]

Hi, If the OS is corrupted the only way is to try a repair. Now without a disk you are going to be in trouble. Is the Vista key on the back of the lappy? If so see if you can borrow a OS disk.
The other way is to run a recovery console but again you need the disk.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...-Windows-Vista

[Kaynoe]

/bow

For starters, I think your avatar is awesome. I'm in the Navy and I love me some pirates!

I actually have the disk. The issue isn't that the disk is missing. I think someone musta used a keygen or something and used my key. Either that or the company I bought the computer from used it and then sent it to me already burned up. It was supposed to have 3 licenses I believe. Honestly, I am not positive.

I will be working on this problem this weekend. I will post more details.
I really appreciate your help!

[Monty007]

Hi,
So you have a Vista disk, is it an original disk or burnt/copy disk? If it is a real disk it would have the key on it.

[qfisheye]

hi, You have a hp system,right? What you want to do is call hp or go to their web site and order a set of recovery disks-from HP. They will cost you $25-35, but its worth it. How you got microsoft involved -you're wasting time. Hp is your solution. Then If you have a hard drive problem, you will also have to deal with HP not the disk manufacturer, This is the deal the pc manufacturers make with the disk manufacturers. All the software and drivers come on the recovery disks. Good luck. Qfisheye

[Kaynoe]

Haha... I would rather buy a new hard drive and load Linux than deal with HP customer service ...j/k... sorta...

My GF isn't coming down this weekend. Hopefully I will have time to get on this! I will keep you guys posted.