Bluescreen by smefs.sys 1

[gbnut]

Hello

I'm really hoping someone else has seen this before. I've built a WinXP box from scratch; it's a standard Dell Optiplex GX260. However, on boot-up, on reaching the login screen, I receive a bluescreen with SMEFS.SYS being named in the STOP code. Seeing as I cannot get in via Safe Mode, VGA Mode or Last Known Good, I've rebuilt the box but still receive the same error; the problem is not in the build as the same build works fine on other boxes.

Using Windows Debugger yields no further information on what exactly the smefs.sys driver is (the vendor didn't include any extra information), and a search through Google only shows one other instance of this error in a German forum, with no responses there (hopefully that won't be same here! )

A search through the registry does produce results: there is a key referencing that particular file, entitled LEGACY_SMEFS. The device description within that describes this files as being a legacy driver for the SME File System. A search through Google and on Microsoft's sites for SME File System produces no results.

So.....

1) Has anyone ever experienced anything similar?
2) If so, how did you fix it, seeing as a rebuild produces the same problem?
3) Does anyone know what the SME File System is and how to get rid of that driver?

Many thanks!
Cheers
Graeme

 

[linney]

Will the machine boot in to the Recovery Console?


HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

You can list the drivers and services in that with the "listsvc" command.

You can then use the "disable" command to stop any driver or service loading.

310602 - How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Starting

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310602&FR=1

Have you checked the RAM on this machine?

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Just guessing with no real knowledge on the matter, but could SME file System have anything to do with an Apple/MacIntosh file system - ????????? - probably not!

 

[gbnut]

Thanks mate,

Using the listsvc and disable commands at least enabled me to get into the OS again, and from there I was able to use the sc.exe command to delete the smefs.sys driver and that seems to have resolved the issue! I can now boot as per normal...

Thanks for your help!
Cheers
Graeme