PC locking at startup due to HD failure

[jumpjack]

My machine keeps stopping at startup claiming for a "damaged file" \systemroot\system32\config\software .
Sometimes, using "restore last working configuration" option, I am able to start, but not always; other times I have to start in "temporary mode" (sorry, don't know exact translation of Italian "modalità provvisoria"); other times nothing can be done to start the PC...

Any way, when I was able to start it last time, I actually found that above mentioned file IS corrupt; I started a scandisk, so I expected any problem to get fixed; but I still have the same error at startup.

I guess it's due to wrong sectors on HD, as I read such a message (not about any particular file) in event log.
So, how can I get rid of this? Can't those sectors just be marked as not available by O.S.?


-- Jumpjack --

 

[bobsa32]

This file is part of your system registry or hive, if your hive is being corrupted at each start then there is more than from past experience there is more thank likeley a problem with your hard drive. Do a system state backup, then open a command prompt and type sfc.exe /scannow
it will prompt you for your windows disk and check all of your system files against a known medium, if this doesn't work try a repair install of windows.

 

[bcastner]

I am not certain that I would, based on this error alone, assume a physical problem with the hard disk.

See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307545

Or this article more directly explained:

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

If I was convinced of a physical problem with the hard disk drive I would purchase and run something like SpinRite ( xp stops at mup.sys ) and after running I would:

. Do a complete backup of the hard disk;
. Purchase a new hard disk drive and throw the problem one in the trash. With current hard disk problems it is not worthwhile keeping a problem disk anymore;
. Restore from the backup

You could use a commercial product like Acronis Disk Image for the backup; or native XP ntbackup, or freeware such as:

http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/index.htm

http://www.pcinspector.de/clone-maxx/uk/welcome.htm

http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

 

[jumpjack]

I am not certain that I would, based on this error alone, assume a physical problem with the hard disk.

I'll check your links, but this message in Event Log is quite clear:

Rilevato blocco danneggiato sulla periferica \Device\Harddisk0\D.

It sounds like "Damaged block detected on device \Device\Harddisk0\D"
:-(



-- Jumpjack --

 

[bcastner]

If it is Event 7, you are correct. This message is usually sourced from the S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic system of the drive. Copy everything you can from the drive and replace it.

If it is Event 5, 9 or 51, it is not the physical surface of the drive but hardware issues such as a failing controller.

A chkdsk operation would have marked out any bad sectors and re-allocated from its store of good sectors. That is what made me a little sceptical that it was the hard drive itself. If you can remember from event viewer, or from the on-screen error message the Event number, it is less ambiguous. An Event of 7 means replace the drive.

 

[jumpjack]

My PC is currently running fine (?), so I can easily read the event log:
Event n. is 7! :-( :-(
Can't scandisk mark that block as broken in this case?

-- Jumpjack --

 

[bcastner]

If it could have, it would have. Since this is a S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic related error it likely has already, silently, exhausted its reserve of spare sectors and has none left.

Replace the drive.

 

[jumpjack]

mmmh... I think I don't know how to replace the hard disk of a machine which has a SINGLE hard disk which has ths O.S. installed on it...

Let's suppose I copy all files from old HD to new one... Then, just swapping their master/slave settings will do the work? I guess not, as MVR does not get written during files copy. So what?
What's the exact procedure to replace a broken HD in Windows XP Pro SP2?

-- Jumpjack --

 

[linney]

The drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software to thoroughly check out the condition of your hard drive. They will also (hopefully) have free software that will be copy one hard drive to another, this is a common situation so they should have this free software available.

 

[bcastner]

Clone it:

. The drive manufacturer's website will have a free diagnostic/setup utility to use to clone old to new;

. Use a commercial product full-featured trial version; e.g. Casper:

http://www.fssdev.com/products/casperxp/

. freeware cloning tools:

http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/index.htm

http://www.pcinspector.de/clone-maxx/uk/welcome.htm

http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

. Use a Linux Live CD. This example uses Knoppix:

http://www.nilbus.com/linux/disk-copy.php#tools

Warning: After the copying is done, you can check files on the clone as much as you want and for as long as you want, and you can boot the old "parent" OS as many times as you want.... BUT DON'T BOOT the CLONE for the FIRST TIME until you've DISCONNECTED the "PARENT" hard drive.

 

[jumpjack]

Really worrying... Today I wasn't even able to start Linux, although yesterday it ran fine. I really think my HD is leaving me... :-(

Anyway, I successfully (?) restored a previous registry, so I am now able to use Windows (right now; tomorrow... who knows?); but why did it ask me for a new activation? I restored the registry of 1 month ago, but I had activated Windows momths ago!

-- Jumpjack --

 

[bcastner]

Perhaps it could not read the drive label.

 

[linney]

Anyway, I successfully (?) restored a previous registry"

Activation is often caused when part of the original registry from the Repair folder is inserted into the Config folder and not updated with a later version from the restore points.

Was it a 30 day, a 3 day, or no time limit, type of Activation request?

In any case did the Activation succeed without any problems?

Any corruption here would force an Activation request.

HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents\oobetimer

 

[jumpjack]

I guess it was the "ultimate warning for activation", as I was not able to access the system without activating it.

The strange thing is that I was not able to activate using ADSL connection, which apparently worked FINE (modem leds were properly turned on; but tray bar was not yet visible on the screen), so I had to activate by phone-call!

Will this activation decrease my "available activations count"? I know I can activate same copy of Win only a few times... :-(

-- Jumpjack --

 

[bcastner]

You can activate infinite times, but by internet only a few times in a 12 month period.

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/mpafaq.asp

Note: Preserving Activation[/b]

OEM Case:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx

General Case:
faq779-3401

 

[jumpjack]

I downloaded diagnostic programs from Samsung site for my SP0411N hard disk.
All test succeed, but I detected a strange behaviour: last test, "surface test", does not run properly: I'm asked to confirm it for starting, but after pressing Y, suddelnly a "test completed" dialog appears over a progress bar stucked at 2%! So I guess no surface scan has been actually performed. Closing the dialog cause the program to apparently exit, but actually dos prompt is no more available (it's a DOS program, I started it from a boot disk created from within XP).

I can't find any "cotact us" link on Samsung site, only ready-made FAQs...

Any help?

-- Jumpjack --

 

[linney]

This page has a "Contact Us" link at the bottom. The page also talks about contacting the Dealer who supplied the hard drive.

Warranty Hard Disk Drive

http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/warranty/index.htm

 

[jumpjack]

thanks a lot. I sent an email, let's see what happens...

-- Jumpjack --