boot problems with XP

[RabidWeasle]

Everytime i start my computer now, a second after the XP logo comes up with the progress bar, i get a blue screen that says unknown hard error with ntdll.dll. It takes me about 15 tries to actually get the comp running because that keeps happening, i scanned ntdll.dll with a AV and it was clean, i also replaced it with one off the XP cd AND from the dll cache folder...nothing. This used to be a twice a week thing, now its every time i start my computer. Also, i get lock-ups which i posted about a while ago during games or while reading. Is it possible that a faulty power supply could cause these problems? Or maybe not enough power or a power drain from stuff running? I dled the diag tool from western digital and did the extended test and it said everything was fine. So, im really confused and desperate to get everything to work properly. Any info/comments will be appreciated greatly. OH, BTW i can boot into safe mode everytime i try with no errors but my actions are limited because of cut down drivers :/ i can get the specific code but it is Unknown Hard Error with ntdll.dll and the error code is i think C0000021. when i reboot i'll check and post.

A7V266-E MB
Xp1800+ CPU
512MB Mushkin DDR RAM
Internal CR-ROM & floppy drive
External CD-RW
80 GIG WD HD & 2.5 GIG maxtor HD
SB Live! value
Evga Ti4400 128MB Video Card
1 PCI slot Fan & 1 case fan
CodeGen 350W PS

 

[tjaisv]

Have you installed Service Pack 1? because there's also an ntdll.dll in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

When did you first start noticing this problem? Did you install any new hardware drivers at that time? According to MS's Knowledge Base article on the subject your next best bet is to reinstall XP

 

[RabidWeasle]

i dont have SP1 and ive reinstalled XP countless times. It's been doing that for about a month, but in the last few days, its been really bad.

 

[foofoo]

hi,
this symptom could also be bad ram, try testing your ram with memtest or docmemory.
http://www.memtest86.com/
http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp

good luck.

 

[RabidWeasle]

I've tested my RAM before because someone gave me the same advice and it passed with memtest86. I just dont know what to do, i would buy a new MB and CPU to see if the lock-ups stop, cause thats the last thing i can think of, but i dont want to have it do the same thing it's doing now...and waste 250 bucks. If my secondary drive which i just use to store stuff on was going bad, maybe that would cause this? especially the lock-ups, but it locks even when im not using the secong drive. maybe it can screw up by just sitting there...

 

[foofoo]

hi,
it could definitely be the second hd if it's bad and sitting there. try it with the second hd unplugged. and if you are using only the wd on that ide channel. set the wd hd to cable select.
good luck and let us know if it worked.

 

[RabidWeasle]

i'll try that next time i boot. idk if this has anything to do with stuff, or power drain prob, but when i install a game from my CD-rom everything else is amazingly slow. my mouse pointer jumps around, and if i am playing music or there is music or sound coming off the cd (soldier of fortune 2 is a good example) the sound will skip, crackle and stutter. I used to have a compaq that didnt do that and it was 3 times slower than my current comp. so i have no idea... thanks for the patience and replying to my questions so far.

 

[foofoo]

when i install a game from my CD-rom everything else is amazingly slow

this sounds like either chipset drivers are not installed correctly or else dma is not enabled. after you take the old slow 2.5gb maxtor off, check that dma is enabled for both primary and secondary ide.
good luck