A very particular case of BSOD

**Juli** · February 13, 2011, 11:16 AM

Indeed.

Yeah, so yesterday I tried to turn on my PC. The thing is, though, there is a very strange error. Just before the OS started loading, the computer rebooted. So it started loading again, and I got into a screen which basically said that there had been an error while loading Windows (big surprise) and I could choose between loading Windows normally, or in Safe Mode (BTW: After 30 seconds, it tries to load Windows normally automatically). So I choose to load normally.

And guess what... I got a BSOD, and the computer rebooted

So I tried loading Windows in Safe Mode. This time, however, I got a different error: there was like a directory (I don't remember exactly what it was) in the bottom of the screen... and the computer rebooted.

And here's the strange part: the computer kept rebooting automatically. It got to the BSOD, it rebooted, BSOD, and so on, in a loop. I tried turning it off manually (with the button... I hate doing that by the way), but as soon as it turned off, it turned on again by itself, then got to the BSOD, and rebooted... all over again.

I had to turn off the power, and only then it kept off. I haven't tried to turn it again

Now... the error message I got when I tried loading in Safe Mode makes me think that the problem is a corrupt file or something software-related. However, I am no expert, so it could be anything.

I am probably taking it tomorrow to have it checked out, but I was wondering if somebody over here has had the same thing happening to them. I'm quite curious as to what exactly the problem is

**SonOfCrusader76** · February 13, 2011, 11:59 AM

Which O/S are you running? Something similar happened to me with Win 7 - you could try the repair option that comes up when Windows fails to start; it didn't work for me, but it might work for you. Failing that, reinstall Windows - if it's Win 7, it's a relatively fast and painless process - just make sure you back up anything you need. Don't take it as Gospel, but you should only have to backup files on the Windows partition (when I reinstalled Windows, the files on the other partition were left completely untouched) - but if you've got an external HDD, it's best to back up everything.

If Windows 7 won't install, it could be a failing HDD.

Good luck!

**irishron** · February 13, 2011, 12:43 PM

Put your Windows install disc in the drive and see what options it gives you.

**Juli** · February 13, 2011, 10:16 PM

@SonOfCrusader76

I have Windows XP, and unfortunately I have my HDD divided in two partitions, the larger of which I use for most of my files and programs, and, if I remember correctly (seriously hoping I'm wrong) the OS is installed in there

. Since I cannot even turn the computer on, I'm afraid I cannot do any backups now

@irishron

I guess I'll have to find it then

Say... is there a way to extract files from a hard disk without using the OS, or by using another computer?* I don't know if I'm being clear, but I have a lot of music and some text files I've worked on quite a bit, and it would be a nuissance to lose all of it

*Other than actually switching the hard disk and placing it in another computer. That would be kind of tricky in the potential scenario where the HDD is the problem

**irishron** · February 13, 2011, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Juli

@irishron

Say... is there a way to extract files from a hard disk without using the OS, or by using another computer?* I don't know if I'm being clear, but I have a lot of music and some text files I've worked on quite a bit, and it would be a nuissance to lose all of it.

There is a small shop in this cow town that does it for a living.

**PoleCat** · February 13, 2011, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Juli

...Say... is there a way to extract files from a hard disk without using the OS, or by using another computer?* I don't know if I'm being clear, but I have a lot of music and some text files I've worked on quite a bit, and it would be a nuissance to lose all of it

*Other than actually switching the hard disk and placing it in another computer. That would be kind of tricky in the potential scenario where the HDD is the problem

Actually this is the best method for reclaiming files off of a still-functional-but-problematic hard drive - even if it was a boot drive before. The trick is that you need another system with its own boot drive. You can install an old bootable drive into any old system as a slave and rescue the contents at will as long as that drive still functions. Even though the older drive is by definition a boot drive it won't be read by the OS on the other system as it won't be the first HDD selected on the boot sequence.
If you can get that drive into a system that you know is stable then you can start pulling files off it.

As for your particular problem - we still don't know what caused the original problem. If you have a virus then there's the possibility you'll get some cross corruption. And from this end it's still not clear if the HDD has failed or not.

At least you can try - remove the problem HDD and slave it into another system you trust. See if you can access the drive and backup the files you want to save. Good Luck!

**Juli** · February 14, 2011, 11:01 AM

Um... boot drive? Sorry, I'm afraid you lost me there. What is it? Is it like a CD which forces the computer to boot or something? Or is it the actual OS disk?

**SonOfCrusader76** · February 14, 2011, 06:42 PM

I believe the boot drive is the HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or partition of an HDD, from which all O/S are booted - regardless of the partition the actual O/S is on. My Win 7 is on a different HDD to my boot drive (C:\) yet it will still boot from there, as I discovered when I was experimenting and disabled the C:\ drive. Result? It didn't want to boot at all.

**PoleCat** · February 15, 2011, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by Juli

Um... boot drive? Sorry, I'm afraid you lost me there. What is it? Is it like a CD which forces the computer to boot or something? Or is it the actual OS disk?

SonOfCrusader76 is correct. Sorry - I got a little carried away there. I assumed too much.

Here's how to reclaim those files if you can't follow irishron's advice about using the repair disc (which is the best advice):

Take the problem HDD out of your system and place it in another fully functional system as a slave. After starting that second system you'll be able to access the old disc as drive (D:\, E:\,F:\ dependent on your other drives). You should have full access to the files there. Just copy those files you need to save to the main HDD on that new system, burn them to disc or load them onto a flashdrive.

It's a pain in the butt and takes time and some experience with the inner workings of computers but as long as the HDD isn't fried you should have no problems. Now if you do this and you can't access the files or can't see them then something has happened physically to the drive - as in toast. Good luck!