BSOD with Windows XP repair (from disc)

[ThePiston]

My computer suddenly would not boot up. I'd see the BSOD when Windows was starting for a half sec then it'd reboot at that same point over and over. I thought it was HD so I ran SpinRite on it and found nothing. I then pulled out a ram stick (I have 2) and checked the ram slots as well as ram themselves with MemTest - all good. I finally decided to get the XP Install disc out and do a repair install. The entire process works up until it says "starting windows" and then I get a BSOD again. the same spot - this is after the initial install of drivers and the Install process is about to begin. I had an old HD lying around with an XP install on it so I popped it in - starts just fine.

Any thoughts? Sounds like it has to be HDD, right? If so, why can't I even get the XP install to get past the BSOD?

 

[The Merg]

What is the error on the BSOD? If it is still automatically rebooting, when you first start to boot-up press the F8 key, so that you get the Windows Boot Menu. One of the options should be to Disable Automatic Reboot...

You can also set that setting while the Repair Install is being performed, but I don't remember off-hand. I know that you pull up a command prompt and then run the control panel app from there. I think you can try Command-R and then type cmd to get the Command Prompt. Once at the command prompt, follow these steps...

1. Type rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl,,0
2. Hit Enter
3. On the System Properties window click the Advanced tab
4. In the Startup and Recovery area click the Settings button
5. In the Startup and Recovery window UNcheck "Automatically Restart" (in the System Failure area)
6. Click OK and then click OK again
7. Then when the PC crashes, make note of the stop error and related information

- Merg

 

[ThePiston]

I think it's the HD - I actually SpinRited the wrong drive. I just found some errors that SpinRite is now trying to fix. This Raptor didn't last 3 years.