[lpoollou174]

O/S Windows XP Pro. BIOS Version K7VM4 BIOS P2.10. Processor AMD Athlon xp 2600+ Total memory 512mb.
After running repair on xp disk (crashed due to a power cut) went to microsoft for updates. downloading windows service pack 2 got a couple of error messages all in connection with outlook, wasnt too concerned as dont use it anyway. then 0x8007007f failed to load C\windows\system32\catsrv.dll.. googled this and done troubleshooting, the pc just keeps rebooting itself, I have the option to start in safe mode (f8) but although black screen with "safe mode" in the 4 corners appears, just go back to black screen, turns of and reboots? I had to go to work so left it going on and off etc my daughter decided to run the xp disk again to try and repair all went well apparently then goes off..comes on..goes off. getting the xp logo etc. black screen... off..on!! However this morning i switched it on to have a look .. same problems, however there is a warning box flashing up very quick cant catch what it says but it something about virtual memory??

Iam totally pissed off I would bin it but theres photos etc on there belonging to the kids etcthat havent been backed up..

What can I do?

[neil21stirling]

certainly 1st thing i would try is boot from xp disk and select recovery console from options given.
type "chkdsk" without qoutes.
should run a full check on your disk and try and repair any faults.

this may not solve completely but its certainly where i would start

[lpoollou174]

Volume created 09/23/05 serial number 901e-a534. Volume appears to be in good condition
90027764 kilobytes total disk space
34777104 kilobytes are available
4096 bytes in each allocation unit
20006941 total allocation units on disk
8694276 allocation units available on disk
Use /p if you want to check the volume anyway. tried to do /p command not recognized type HELP for supported commands......

[neil21stirling]

Possible windows corruption.
Are you able to run a windows repair installation from your disk?
was windows installed on the pc with the disk you currently have?

if so repair windows installation from disk. Should keep most of your own files intact so that you shouldnt loose anything.

This failing i do have another option for you but will take a bit of time

[lpoollou174]

I dont believe this I came in from work last night, after reading your reply, I started the repair with my xp disk then went to work, left my 17 year old in charge. Came home 10pm last night and the pc was off. So I left it till this morning.. there is "NO POWER IN MY TOWER" checked cables etc. swapped for new one, no difference whats happened now??????

[neil21stirling]

Is there NO power at all?
or does the machine seem to be on standby when you power up? i.e. you can hear the fans etc but nothing comming through monitor?

[lpoollou174]

Nothing... its dead as a dodo??

[neil21stirling]

Definately need a replacement PSU now then. If there is no power getting to anything the PSU is more than likely dead.

[lpoollou174]

erm.....DOH! wots a PSU?? and also the previous problems i was having have they all contributed to this.??

Another quick question. if i decide to get rid of this is there anyway i can get the folders of the hard drive?

[neil21stirling]

Ok heres your options
and btw a PSU is a power supply unit, the big box in the tower than has the connection to the power cord and plug, which then gives all the multicolored wired in the machine power output to all the components.
This will need replaced in order to get power back into the PC, this should not affect your file system and all your components (hopefully unless there was a power surge that killed your psu) should be fine.

Option possibility before you do this to make sure you have all your files backed up though is to take out the hard drive from your pc and attach it as a slave drive in another tower pc that is working. (friend? family? spare pc?)
copy over all your important files and possibly burn to dvd or external hard drive etc, whatever is most convenient.

Then replace your PSU in the broken machine and replace hard drive. Try and run repair on windows installation as before. Should this not work however you should have all your files backed up already and you can just install xp from scratch and copy all your files back over once pc up and running

[lpoollou174]

I am taking my hard drive to brothers to try. (he is crapping himself as not computer literate) because i told him I just wanted to test it, am I right in installing it, if the pc detects it then its ok?

[neil21stirling]

9 times out of 10 as long as the pc detects the hard drive, your hard drive should be fine (hardware wise) software and operating system could be corrupt, but as long as its added to the other machine as a slave drive you could copy over all your important files to either your brothers hard drive or an external hard drive to copy back later.
When you put hard drive back in original computer you should be able to just run either a windows repair or complete re-installation, as long as you have your power problem then sorted.
(new psu installed)

[lpoollou174]

Thank you for your help. I managed to copy all to external hard drive I am now waiting for new PSU which I have ordered, then do what you said, thanks ever so much I would of just kissed goodbye to all my photies if it hadnt been for your advice. Brilliant Luv this forum saved me ££££'s

[Backspace]

Hello Ipoollou!

If it is any consolation.... I had many of the same problems you've been experiencing and it went on for months and I thought I had a corrupt WHATEVER... Never could figure out why it kept doing such strange stuff .. Rebooting just out of the blue. Sometimes I could get it booted up and going fine then sometimes it didn't even recognize my hard-drive.. Couple of times it gave me a "disk boot error" message..... So I thought the hard-drive was a gonner... Etc etc.... but I could reboot and it would go ahead and do fine. Crazy! It was so frustrating all the time. Then one morning .. Everything was DEAD... No sound , no nuthin! That's when I suspected it could be the PSU (Voila! No Power!.... Good guess)..... So I took everything apart and sure enough... The PSU fans were frozen stiff with dust.. (a good reason to periodically check for that and give everything a good cleaning)....

Long story short... I replaced the PSU and I've been a happy camper ever since... Without so much as a glitch. Nothing wrong with the hard-drive... All is well.... And quieter than ever... I also cleaned everything and added 3 new fans to the cabinet to keep everything cool. I've not had one problem since. So rest easy... I think you're gonna be ok!

P.S. Just wanted to add.... I'm no expert like some of the other Great Techies on this site but that's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Good luck on yours!

[lpoollou174]

I know what your saying about the dust....when I opened it up I was like "Oh My God!".. it was thick...cleaned it all up but as I said waiting for new PSU.. but thanks for your input I am not so heavy hearted now. And these guys on here are AMAZING!!!