Blue screen of death!!

[Bringe]

Hi everyone.

I have just joined freepchelp.uk in the hope that someone can help me with a large problem.

My wifes pc has recently given up the ghost and now has the blue screen of death. I have been searching for a couple of days now to try to find a cure on the web but all hope is fading fast. Some sites say "download this program then do this and do that, but they dont seem to understand that it is impossible to download anything as the pc wont stay on.

What happens is this.

turn it on. It goes through the motions of starting up, then goes to the blue screen (picture included) The blue screen only stays on the screen for a second then the pc restarts itself. This would go on all day if I didn't turn it off.

I have tried going into safe mode and trying all the options but no luck.

So, if anyone has a sollution I would be very greatfull.

 

Bringe.[ATTACH=CONFIG]1269.vB5-legacyid=2276[/ATTACH]

[DSTM]

Hi and welcome to FPCH.

This from Microsoft should help.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=307545

 

Personally I would take the Hard drive out, hook the drive up to a working computer and get the data off the drive.

Then put the drive back in the faulty computer and reinstall the Operating System.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, An addition to the good advice from DSTM, just one question, do you have an original Microsoft Windows XP disk? If not you may be lucky and find someone selling a genuine one on E Bay, however to rescue this system you do need a genuine disk.

 

Nev.

[Bringe]

Hi DSTM.

Thanks for your reply. I looked at the microsoft link but it seems that the xp repair disc is required, and I dont have it.

The other method that you mention about taking the hard drive out and linking it into another pc as master and slave seems a

good idea but, the hard drive in the "dead" pc and the hard drive in the pc ime using now are SATA hard drives and I dont know if the can be linked. I have done it several times with old pc's with PATA hard drives, to make master and slave just to make more room.

I would be greatfull if you have any more ideas.

Many Thanks.

Bringe.

[Bringe]

Hi Nev.

Many thanks for your reply. Ime afraid I dont have the windows xp disc, although I remember when it was new and it kept on prompting me to make recovery discs which I did. I think it was 4 cd discs it made and I know where they are, but I would really like to recover all the pictures and stuff before using the discs and possibly loosing it all!!

Many Thanks.

Bringe.

[DSTM]

Hi DSTM.

Thanks for your reply. I looked at the microsoft link but it seems that the xp repair disc is required, and I dont have it.

The other method that you mention about taking the hard drive out and linking it into another pc as master and slave seems a

good idea but, the hard drive in the "dead" pc and the hard drive in the pc ime using now are SATA hard drives and I dont know if the can be linked. I have done it several times with old pc's with PATA hard drives, to make master and slave just to make more room.

I would be greatfull if you have any more ideas.

Many Thanks.

Bringe.

 

Hi Bringe. Sata Hard Drives are different to IDE Drives. This will work if you take out the Hard Drive and put it in an external enclosure or docking station and hook up to the good computer via usb. The good computer will boot as normal and will recognize your external with the data on it. Save all the data to the good computer firstly. Then when you have XP reinstalled then copy the data back via USB Flash Drive to the new OS.

The main thing at the moment is saving your data.

[KenB]

Hi Bringe

 

My wifes pc has recently given up the ghost

From your photo I cannot tell if this is a desktop or laptop.

 

So ...

 

Hard drives in Desktop machines are 3.5 inches

Hard drives in laptops are 2.5 inches.

 

If you are getting an enclosure ( caddy ) then you need to get the right size and also one for SATA drives.

There are some examples here:

click here

 

There is no need to pay expensive. It just needs to do the job.

3.5 inch enclosures tend to be more expensive.

 

Don't let SATA II and SATA III confuse you. Both will work on any hard drive / system. SATA III is faster as long as the hard drive / system you connect it to is compatible. If not it will just run slower.

 

When you have the problem drive in the enclosure and connected you access it just as you would a memory stick.

If you CAN access the drive we are in luck.

 

You can transfer files / photos etc.

From here it is possible to run some tests on the drive from the good machine.

 

Let us know when you are at this stage.

[Bringe]

Hi DSTM.

Many thanks for your reply. You have taught me something here. I didn't know about putting an internal hard drive into an external enclosure. It sounds like it might work. So all the power it needs and the data I want is transferred through the USB wire, is that right??

Do you think that the corrupt OS might throw a spanner in the works, or will I be able to go straight to "my documents" to retrieve my photos, videos ect??

Many Thanks.

Bringe.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Bringe

[Bringe]

Hi KenB

Many thanks for your reply. It is a desktop and I was reading a post from DSTM about removing the hard drive and putting it in an external enclosure which you mention as well.

Looks like this is the path to go down. I have to buy one first, probably ebay. Then ille let you know what happens.

Many Thanks.

Bringe.

[KenB]

Hi Bringe

 

As DSTM isn't on line at the moment I will answer your questions on his behalf.

 

So all the power it needs and the data I want is transferred through the USB wire, is that right??

No - not quite.

3.5 inch enclosures come with an external power adapter that plugs into the mains.

 

will I be able to go straight to "my documents"

With luck - yes you should.

[DSTM]

Hi Bringe. You will be able to retrieve your documents however there is a path to follow when you hook up your old drive. I'm sure you will know what to do, but just in case....

 

1. Place the hdd from the defective pc in your new caddy/enclosure.

 

2. Plug the caddy into a USB port on any healthy computer.

 

3. You may get an auto run box up on the screen...If not, go to computer/My computer and open the drive from there.

 

Here's an image of what you are likely to see:

 

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s210/DSTM_photos/Examplee.jpg

 

As you can see from the image, there is a list of folders. The one you are interested in will be "Users". Open that folder to find your user name, and then in turn your personal images, documents, files, etc.

 

Hope this helps out.

[Bringe]

Hi DSTM

Many thanks for your advice. Ime going to buy an external enclosure from ebay for under £10.

Once I have it and set it up Ille let you know what happens. Fingers crossed!!

many Thanks.

Bringe.

[Bringe]

Hi to all.

Heres the latest news on the "blue screen of death" saga.

I was going to buy an external enclosure from ebay but I thought I would give maplins a ring first. Sure enough they had one for about £25. but I explained the story to the guy on the phone who said "why dont you just plug the faulty hd into the working pc" I said I thought it wouldn't work as you have to link them as master and slave, "that is true with the older pata hard drives, but a sata hard drive should just get recognised on the pc as a new hard drive" So I thought what the hell, do or die, connected it all up and turned it on and after start up I got the "one of your disks needs checking blah blah" but after it did that I was able to get into the disk and retrieve all the data I thought I had lost!!! Then I thought that if it has gone through chkdsk maybe If I put that hard drive back into the original pc . perhaps it will work but no!! Not really bothered about it as I will now use the recovery disks to start afresh.

Many Thanks to everyone that has helped me with this problem, and if I need any more help I know where to come.

In fact I do have another question but as its not related to the blue screen of death should I post it here or start another thread???

 

Many thanks.

 

Bringe.

[KenB]

Hi Bringe

 

Then I thought that if it has gone through chkdsk maybe If I put that hard drive back into the original pc . perhaps it will work but no!

CheckDisk is not a particularly good way of finding out if your hard disk has problems. The report is hidden and often difficult to interpret.

 

It could be that your hard drive is failing. If this is the case then it is pointless using the Recovery Disks as you will only end up with the same problem.

 

I suggest that you run a diagnostic check on the drive.

Download Seatools for Windows from here: [ on to the working machine ...obviously :) ]

click here

 

Connect the drive up to the other machine as you did before.

Make a note of the drive letter attached to the problem drive. [ This will be something like E: - C: is the main partition of the working computer ]

 

Run a check on the problem drive. This will take some time so allow for this.

 

Any "fails" the drive will need replacing.

 

should I post it here or start another thread???

Please start another thread if the question is un-related.

[Bringe]

Hi KenB.

Thanks for your reply. I downloaded that seagate program and ran it and I got FAIL FAIL FAIL ect!! I was going to throw the hd away but thought I would have 1 more go trying to use the backup files that I made when the pc was new.

As this is getting away from the blue screen of death I will start another thread and call it re-install problems.

Many Thanks.

 

Bringe.