no startup due to ntdsapi.dll not found 2

[malagash]

I havea a friend with a relatively new (1 yr) Dell laptop running XPP. He shut down the computer and on restart gets the message

lsass.exe
ntdsapi.dll was not found

Will a repair install fix this. Will he lose any files / data as a result of such an install?

TIA

 

[linney]

If you are able to boot into BartPE, and have a spare CD-Rom, or a copy of ntdsapi.dl_ on a floppy, you could again try using the Expand command from the DOS Command Prompt in BartPE to get that file into the System32 folder of your original install.

While you are in BartPE, one of the program it includes is ChkDsk. You could try running ChkDsk /r on the drive letter of your original install as assigned by BartPE, use ChkDsk /? for command help.

The drive manufacturer will also have free diagnostic programs (they are bootable that run from floppy) which will thoroughly check the condition of your drive.

While your at it you may as well check the condition of your RAM.

http://www.memtest86.com/

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

If your hard drive and RAM are OK, and BARTPE etc. don't help, then it is back to your original suggestion.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

If that doesn't work then you will have to save your valuable data and do a clean install after a format of the drive.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_xp_pro.htm

 

[malagash]

Thanks guys. I will got at it this evening and tomorrow morning and get back to you.

 

[linney]

See if you can adapt some of the suggestions in this MSKB, or look at the general link I have supplied.

Troubleshooting Stop 0x24 or NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM Error Messages

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q228888#appliesto

http://www.google.com/search?source...s=GGLG,GGLG:2006-36,GGLG:en&q=stop+0x24+error

 

[malagash]

I ran chkdsk /r and it repaired a number of files however, it wouldnt start.
I did a repair install and it starts but now when I log in it logs off immedialtely.
Any ideas?

 

[malagash]

I did manage to back up everything from the HD and the owner is desparrate to get going again so I am thinking that it isn't very productive trying to fix this when I can reinstall from fresh.
Unless there is a compelling reason not to I think it is the best solution.
I thank everyone for their input most sincerely

 

[al3rabi]

Malagash,

How did you manage to back up your files from the laptop?

I'm having the same problem. But, before I format my HD, I would like to get my files out of the laptop.

Thanks

 

[linney]

al3rabi,

Anything in this thread that you can try?
Cannot logon to winxp...losing lots of valuable documents
thread779-975236

 

[bcastner]

Make a boot floppy, set the BIOS Boot order settings for floppy first, and boot into Windows.

HOWTO:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q119/4/67.asp&NoWebContent=1

Users Helping Users

 

[malagash]

al3rabi - I was able to open My Computer using the BartPE I made from

http://www.ubcd4win.com,

copy them to a jump drive and secure them on my machine. I then started to work through all of the very helpful suggestions in this post from linny and bcastner.

As a side note, do not use a Dell OS disk in creating a PE as it created its' own set of problems (which can be overcome with some effort). If you have access to a retail copy or (in my case) an IBM copy, use it. You will save time and disks.

 

[malagash]

I learned 3 very valuable lessons during this exercise.
1. read, re-read and then RE-READ the tips from start to finish
2. see number one
3. if you have the data backed up and you have spent an hour and a half on the problem, reformat and reinstall

I only have myself to blame as I essentially passed over linny’s suggestion to “test the HDD”. I figured that the unit was only 5 months old; the likelihood of it being the hard drive was minimal (duuuh). I tested the memory, did a chkdsk /r and then finally decided to do a repair install. It then went into a logon / off loop and that was it.
Enter number 3… I had everything backed up; I should have just done it. So, in goes the Dell CD, reformat and reinstall this!!
Hmmm, reformat hangs at 10%.
Turn off, use W98 boot floppy, reformat… hangs at 10%.
Reread linny's post.
Restart with HDD test from Samsung… no IDE drive detected (it was a Samsung HDD).
Restart with Dell onboard diagnostics… error 1000-0145 and then 1000-0146.
The tech at Dell said “yup, that’s a serious fatal error”.
No kidding?

I spent an inappropriate amount of time on this and realize that, while there was a huge educational element to the outcome, I could have saved myself a lot of mental anguish by following number three however, I really could have saved myself a lot more headache if I had followed number 2 first.
Thank you both for all of your patience and input.

Finally, I have to report back to you on the week from Dell (sp). I had 4 machines go down in total, all of them Dells. This is not a rant on Dell as I have really never found anything wrong with them but… I wasn’t so sure last week (I am a dyed in the wool IBM fan).

One HDD (above),
one shutdown due to overheating CPU (known issue on Dimension 5100),
one motherboard replacement on a Optiplex GX270 (known issue) and
one integrated NIC failure on a Dimension 2100.

This isn’t a rant on Dell… earlier in the summer it was two weeks full of HP disasters. They say things happen in threes… what brand is next?

Thanks again.