Windows fails to start - blue screen

Can I start a bit vague here as I know nothing about computers.

I have a Mesh computer running Windows XP. I upgraded to Vista but ended up with a reformat and reinstalling XP clean and the computer was running fine.

For no reason at all (ie no changes were made), Windows suddenly wouldn't load and I got a blue screen with KERNEL-DATA-INPAGE-ERROR (or similar)

There was a bit of a delay as I took out the stock Seagate Barracuda 250Gb SATA and couldn't get hold of a replacement so replaced it with a Samsung Spinpoint F1 750Gb which it wouldn't auto-detect for love nor money. My neighbour claims my RAM is OK and the Samsung detected OK in his machine.

I therefore took out the Samsung and bought a new Seagate Barracuda 320GB SATA drive and fitted that. The BIOS auto-detected it and I tried to install Windows. It allowed me to create a partition but then proclaimed it couldn't format the disk. I then got a blue screen with PAGE-FAULT-IN-NONPAGED-AREA which variously blamed the partmgr.sys file and the setupdd.sys file.

When you press Enter to continue it says <Setup disk not recognised> or something like that. Sorry to be vague but I'm having to try and remember this in work.

Now because the machine has had problems with two hard drives, I'm fairly sure it's not the HDD itself but much beyond that, I'm completely lost.

MESH support haven't really been much help and have recently sent me a BIOS update file which I am lothe to use because I'll probably screw the whole thing up and I think I need to resolve the problem before adding any variables...or maybe just buy a new computer.

Any pointers would be good. I have no technical knowledge I'm afraid and obviously no access to the internet from the machine itself. I have no boot disk either.

 

It could be a driver issue. What model mesh is it? and are you using f6 method to install XP

 

It's a Mesh Elite 6300GS Dual core (from memory) using an Asus P5B motherboard and 1024k RAM. I'm just using the stock disk provided by Mesh for Windows XP. Not sure what the F6 method is, sorry.

Would it be easier if I replaced the RAM just to eliminate it?

 

You could replace the RAM if you have any spare sticks but dont go and buy any just yet. The f6 method of installing is activated by pressing f6 when instructed to do when the install starts. You get 2 options as follows:- Press f6 to install third party drivers. and Press f2 to run ASR.
This enables you to install any hard drive drivers if the system does not recognise your HDD.
If you can write down the error codes/messages when you get home and the post them it may help

 

Ah I see. Pressing the F6 just prompts for a disk I don't have.

The Page-Fault-In-Non-Paged Area simply says the problem seems to be caused by the following file - setupdd.sys.

The error it gives on the other screen is Partmgr.sys Address F7AB94AB base at F7AB7000.

Probably doesn't help.

 

You need to download the Hard Drive Controller driver from Dell

 

Well thank you for your help but it looks like I've inundated Mesh with such sheer persistence that they're going to collect the base unit and repair it so woo-hoo for Mesh! They think it might be the motherboard as it's been getting a little erratic. Thanks for the input though!

 

Cool! Hope all goes well!