Irql_not_less_or_equal - nvstor.sys + Boot Error

[vernaacott]

Hi,

 

I woke up to my PC on a blank screen this morning with a message telling me "Disk Boot Failure, insert System Disk and press enter”.

 

So I entered my System Disk, Vista Home Premium and pressed enter. I get the ‘Windows is loading files’ message and then it locks to a blue screen:

 

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (Followed by some MS text about booting in safe mode).

 

Some Tech information:

***STOP : 0x000000D1, (ox00000000,0x00000002, 0x000000000, 0x80c04395)

*** nvstor.sys - Address 80c04395 base at 80c00000, datestamp 46671a61

 

 

Well I know the nvstor.sys is an Nvidia file, but my problem is way before I can even get to working on that part of the problem.

 

Basically by booting to the disk, I was hoping that I could at least get into Windows safe mode. However, I'm hung at this error before I even get there.

 

I'm not sure what my next step is. I have no idea how I can get into my PC to begin the driver resolution troubleshooting, there seems to be no opportunity to press F8 to select the safe mode option.

 

Thanks in advance.

[BeeCeeBee]

Tap (do not just press) F8 immediately, if you are getting to the windows loading message your opportunity to get into safe mode has already past.

 

Do you have the original vista discs for your system?

Edited February 7, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[vernaacott]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

 

I will try again when I get back to my PC, I am hoping I was just missing the correct time to press F8.

 

Yes, I have the original Vista disk by the way.

[RandyL]

Just to ask about this and the repair options.

 

Is this disk a full Windows Vista Home Premium disk or is this a Recovery disk?

 

What is the Make, Model and number of your PC as recovery options may differ.

 

It does however appear that a startup repair is needed as you well know already.

 

What ever the case may be we may have the tools you need if you do not.

[vernaacott]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

 

The disk is a full Windows Vista Home Premium and the PC is a custom build.

 

 

 

Well I finally managed to get to the safe mode menu. 1 out of 10 boots I managed to get to the menu by hammering F8 throughout the sequence.

 

I selected safe mode, the loading files started scrolling away and then it stuck on:

 

Windows/System32/Drivers/disk.sys

 

 

I waited it out and then it went back to the same blue screen...

 

I was relying on getting to safe mode to repair this problem but what should I do now?

[DirtyPolo]

It seems you will have to boot from the disk and do a Boot repair from the Vista Recovery Console.

 

Go into BIOS on startup (Should be by tapping the Del key as it boots), and change the Boot sequence to CD ROM first, preferably with Harddrive second.

 

Place the CD in the drive, then save and exit the BIOS.

 

When it boots up from the CD, go to the repair options.

 

You should now see a screen like this

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/../attachments/windows-vista/312d1231883977-system-recovery-vista-startrepair.jpg

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/attachments/windows-vista/312d1231883977-system-recovery-vista-startrepair.jpg

 

Select Startup Repair and let Vista do it's stuff.

 

Reboot, remove the disc and hopefully Vista wil startup.

[vernaacott]

I just tried to boot from the Vista disk as you suggested but again I got the same blue screen (nvstor.sys).

 

Also, when I switched on today i got this message:

 

*****Warning: System Boot fail*****

Your system last boot fail or post interupted. Please enter setup to load default and reboot again.

 

 

I did as it asked because I could not continue to attempt to enter safe mode. I am not sure if this changes my situation at all?

[Dalo Harkin]

It sounds like the HDD is toast.

 

 

Have you set the first boot device to HDD then SAVE and EXIT the BIOS, just incase

[vernaacott]

I feared that someone would say the HDD was dead soon. It seems it will be impossible to get into safe mode or any form of repair because this nvstor.sys error seems to block everything I try.

 

I haven't set the first boot device back to HDD yet but I will do.

[Dalo Harkin]

Ok - try setting the first boot device to HDD and then disable the 2nd 3rd and 4th (if there is one)

Save and exit the BIOS and tell us what happens

[vernaacott]

Ok, I just set the 1st boot device to HDD with the other options disbaled.

 

It asked for the system disk again but when I put the disk in and hit enter this time nothing happened.

[vernaacott]

Well I gave up and took my PC into a local repair shop and the hard drive gave the same blue screen when tested on other machines.

 

At first they said the hard drive needed replacing but after fitting a new one the same error still occured. They fitted a new motherboard and everything is working again.

 

Really unhappy I had to pay out so much as the machine is only 4 months old but unfortunately the place that custom-built it for me recently went out of business.

 

Thanks for all the help and suggestions you have given :)