Vista 32 bit fails to boot into safe mode - crcdisk.sys

[Osprey]

I have Vista 32 bit home ultimate on Dell 9200, it has 2 HDD but no RAID

Regulalry run CCCleaner and it is protected with Kaspersky anti-virus.

 

I was trying to install an app, and it failed to complete each time ... manufacturer asked me to boot up in safe mode and install form there.

It failed every time I tried to boot up in Safe mode.

 

steps ---

Boot up using F8 .. and get Safe Mode option, but when I select it ... trundles through a load of files on screen then stops ... the last file is always the same crcdisk.sys

 

I can leave it for ages .. loads of HDD activity but never completes boot up.

Now PC will no longer boot up in normal mode. (arrrrgh!)

 

Only other odd previous ‘boot’ issue is that about 1 in 5 boot ups Vista will just sit there in black screen for 5min or so then complete boot as normal.

 

I used VISTA disk to try ‘startup repair’ ... no difference

[KenB]

Hi,

 

This appears to be a common problem - some suggestions refer to a MS update as I am sure you are aware.

 

When you use the Vista disk there should be an option to System Restore

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/startup-repair.png

 

Give this a try. Select a date just prior to the start of your problem.

[Osprey]

Hi,

 

This appears to be a common problem - some suggestions refer to a MS update as I am sure you are aware.

 

When you use the Vista disk there should be an option to System Restore

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/startup-repair.png

 

Give this a try. Select a date just prior to the start of your problem.

 

It does show latest entry as an update ... tried going back one by one ... all 4 previous resture points all afil to load with same mode.

Also tried running HDD disgnostics - no fault found

[KenB]

all 4 previous resture points all afil to load with same mode.

I don't understand this.

 

Outside chance .............Have you tried "Last Known Good Configuration" after tapping F8 ?

[Osprey]

I don't understand this.

 

Outside chance .............Have you tried "Last Known Good Configuration" after tapping F8 ?

 

When you boot using F12 from VISTA disk and repair fails it gives you option to choose a previous restore point ... 5 were listed, the last was already failing .. I tried the previous 4 as well .. all failed.

 

Just to try what you mention ... did try F8 and boot to "Last known good configuration" it starts .. but after about 30 sec, just reboots PC back to BIOS screen.

[KenB]

If you have tried the F8 ( Advanced Boot Options ) ; the Startup Repair ; System Restore .......I suggest that you remove the drive and attach it to an enclosure or adapter and connect it to another computer USB port.

 

If the drive is recognised you should be able to retrieve data and run some tests on the drive - specifically system file checker.

 

I assume this is a desktop ?

If so you need a 3.5 inch adapter / enclosure.

 

You need to know if this is a SATA or IDE drive ( different connections ).

It is probably SATA

 

Get back to me if you want to go down this route.

[Osprey]

I only have an IDE external adapter and these are 2 x SATA drives.

So no option to run on another PC.

 

I do have one other Dell PC with STAT drives ... but not sure what thsi will give ... I need to rebuild OS, rather than just extract data of drives

Just run Dell 32bit diagnostics off bootable CD ... again all checks out fine .... Googling shows this error crcdisk.sys is very common

[KenB]

If you have a second PC with a spare SATA motherboard connection you can add this drive and hopefully access it.

 

Let me know if you can.

 

I am away for 3 days - will pick this up then.

[Osprey]

yes ... I do have a PC with spare SATA ... but what do I do to recover my drive ?

[Osprey]

Update ...

Booted up and ran from Vista disk:

 

bootrec.exe /fixmbr

bootrec.exe /fixboot

bootrec.exe /fixboot

 

All executed OK

 

However still does not boot up ... exact same fault .. i.e

 

Starts ... Dell Splash screen - Bios ... then get MS green progress bar, this runs for a while then PC reboots .. then Windows recovery screen.

 

If I select "Normal" ... just goes around the same loop again.

If I select "Safe mode" ... it starts then stops when it reaches crcdisk.sys

Edited December 23, 2011 by Osprey

[Plastic Nev]

OK, While Ken is away I will suggest you put the drive into the other SATA computer as an extra drive, not as replacement, you need the original drive with Windows running, the extra drive should then show up in "Computer", if so go into it just the same way you would if it were a pen or flash drive and copy all the important data you wish to keep. That is the important thing.

Next would be to do a check disk on the extra drive by using the working computer to perform it.

After that we could then try a SFC /scannow on the drive, though I do expect errors on that.

 

Once we are both sure that all important data is retrieved from the drive, the final thing would be to put it back in its own computer, reformat and reinstall Windows therefore starting from scratch.

If the latter fails, or there are problems accessing the data while in the other computer, it may well be a failed hard drive.

 

Nev.

[Osprey]

Just trying a couple of other things I found by searching this site ..

# Start your system and press button F1 to go into BIOS.

# Go to Config/ Serial ATA/set option for compatibility and press F10 to save it.

# Restart your laptop.

# Now you can install vista.

No such option in BIOS

 

# Boot off VISTA disk, in advance option select “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement” and press enter. Now the system will start without hanging or there will not be any crcdisk.sys error.

 

Did that - .... stilll the same

 

# just delete the sptd.sys from \ System32 \ Drivers \.

 

No such file

 

Did that - .... stilll the same

 

# 1. Go to the Start -> Type cmd Right-click it and run it as administrator ....

How? VISTA is not running there is no START

 

# 2. Type sfc /scanonce and finally restart computer.

No such command listed

 

# 3. Then once again repeat step 1 then type chkdsk /r /f -> Press Y at prompt and restart computer.

Had error .. Chkdsk cannot run because volume is in use by another ...... do you want to dismount (y)

Selected Y ... and it did run

No faults found

[KenB]

Hi,

 

With the drive connected to the working computer - - -

 

Can you access the drive and have you backed up any data that you want ?

 

Which drive letter is attached to the drive in "Computer" ?

[Osprey]

Haven't tried that ... goal was to recover OS ...

However this is now looking unlikely, only hope is is there is a way of re-installing OS without overwriting 'documents & settings' .... guess I will lose most of my apps, as Registry will be blown away ... they are all physically installed on separate HDD, but assume they will all come up as unlicensed.

 

All my pics & sou8nds are on sepearte HDD as well ... but concerned about email files ... I do have semi-regular back-up, but it's about 2 months old.

[KenB]

Connect the drive to the working computer. Use a SATA cable from the non-working pc.

Don't forget - you will need a power connection too.

 

If you can see the drive in "Computer" along with C:\ etc from the working pc then we can hopefully transfer data and run some checks on the problem disk.

 

Let me know the result of connecting it up.

[Osprey]

I have done that ... copied across Windows mail folder ... but when I reinstalled it several mail folders missing ... I'll open up a separate post

[KenB]

Please explain further......

 

Have you repaired the drive?

If so - what did you do?

 

Is it now up and running again?

[Osprey]

>Have you repaired the drive?

 

Put drive in another PC ... copied across My Documents & Windows mail folders.

Put back in original PC and re-installed Vista.

Ran 4 seperate disk test programs all show no fault on HDD ... looks like it was just corrupt OS.

 

Just now it will take an age to re-install all the Apps as licensing lost with registry replacement.

 

On issue I have is a load of empty folders in Windows mail "Imported Folders" and can't delete them even though empty.

[KenB]

Thanks for the extra information.

 

Try MoveOnBoot to delete the problem folders.

click here

[Osprey]

Can't see how to use this (at least with confidence)

Within Windows mail the structure is

Local Folders .. Inbox, <then my saved mail folders>

see pic 1

 

The goal would be to delete the folders with name "imported folders" they have no emails within them (some have sub folders which also won't delete)

 

However if I go to the actual location of the files ... which is C:\users\rick\appdata\Local\Microsoft\WindowsMail\Local Folders

 

The structure is as per pic 2 ... and I cannot figure out which to selct to delete using MoveOnBoot

[KenB]

Open MoveOnBoot then click on the Delete Button in the Toolbar ( red box in picture )

Then select Delete Folders

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp118/kenbrabin/MoveOnBoot/MonBoot1.jpg

 

Click on the box with the ... to select the folder to delete.

You will need to repeat this process for each folder.

 

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp118/kenbrabin/MoveOnBoot/MonBoot2.jpg

 

I am deleting Test1 and Test2

 

 

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp118/kenbrabin/MoveOnBoot/MonBoot3.jpg

 

When you click on the folder to be deleted the path is shown for you to confirm.

If it is correct click on OK.

 

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp118/kenbrabin/MoveOnBoot/MonBoot4.jpg

 

Repeat this for each folder.

The path to Test1 and Test2 is shown below in red.

Once you have finished selecting the folders click on Restart Windows to re-boot and delete the selected folders.

 

 

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp118/kenbrabin/MoveOnBoot/MonBoot5.jpg

[Osprey]

underatnd what the red button was for the isseu is I don't know how to get to the 'imported folder' file

 

as explained teh strcuture I see in WM is notthing like the structure in the

C:\users\rick\appdata\Local\Microsoft\WindowsMail\ Local Folders

 

so I can't point it at what to delete ... that is the problem

[Osprey]

Found a fix ... to quote:

"In Windows Mail select 'Tools', then 'Options', then choose the 'Advanced' tab (far right one) then choose 'Maintenance' and check the box at 'Empty messages from deleted items folder on exit'

 

This will delete them ALL - not just certain ones you select but it should get rid of those you're having trouble with at the same time."

 

Did this and it worked, now allows me to delete the folders.