BleepingComputer.com: XP Boot Problem

CA firewall is installed and running, Windows firewall is turned off. This computer is Windows XP and I could not find a memory test anywhere in control panel. I downloaded Memtest86, created a bootable CD and tried to run it on the computer. It did not run although it appeared to at least be starting; the screen came up asking which version to run 3.5 or 4.0 and when I chose 4.0 a new screen came up that looked like the one in the Bleeping Computer post, but nothing happened. I tried it on the other machine in our house a Vista machine, and it ran fine. Have downloaded BlueScreenView, but do not have time to run it right now as I have to start work, and am not really sure from the download screen how exactly to run it. I will check back later to see if someone can tell me how to run it, or what to look for when it runs.

Forgive my ignorance, jimworzala.
I gave you a link to Vista info. I could have sworn XP had a memory diag natively.

As for Memtest booting and running on Vista and not XP:http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Downloading_FAQ

Q: I know that my disc is good because it boots on another system. Why will it not boot on this computer?

A: If the disc was burnt at high speed you do not know that it is good! We have seen over and over that discs burnt at high speed will boot on some systems but not others, or cause other strange problems when booting on some systems. The disc should be burn at slow speed, as suggested elsewhere in this FAQ. If the disc was made at slow speed and the md5 checksum was good and the disc passed a verify pass in the burning software, you may need one or more "cheat codes" to help the hardware detection process along.

It's worth mentioning that you just might have a memory problem. The Knoppix disc includes a bootable memory test that will check this, just type memtest in at the boot prompt to run memtest86. If you can't even boot into memtest86 then something is very wrong with the disc that you made or with your system, if memtest boots then you can determine if your memory is good (and if you have as much memory as you think you have).

If Memtest was burned correctly and wouldn't run, my confidence in running BlueScreenView is failing. However, the downloaded file will contain specific instructions both in .txt and HTML format.

Try removing all power from the machine, remove all peripherals (printers/mobile devices/USB devices, etc.), remove the RAM module(s), reseat the RAM. Reconnect the power and boot the machine sans peripherals.

It may also be worth mentioning that your machine is nearly 9 years old. Has the hard drive been replaced since the machine was purchased/acquired? HDDs (today) typically come with 3-5 years warranty. I believe the original HDD in that model was warranted for 1 year without an extended warranty.

I downloaded Memtest86 directly from their website, I'm not sure about the download being corrupted as I'm not sure if they have the same checksum info that Knoppix has. I burned the disc again using an option in my Roxio creator burning program that said stage to hard drive for better quality (slower) and and an option to verify data discs. I'm not sure whether that is what they are talking about for sure as it never mentions the actual speeds. It still didn't run on the XP machine.

I did download Bluescreenview, and it seemed to boot up, but I'm not really sure what I am looking for. There are a bunch of problems listed on the screen, but the most recent one was in November of 2010.

I had already tried taking all of the memory cards out and reseating. I also at the same time took out all of the other cards (sorry not sure what they are collectively called but they are for graphics, network, modem, sound etc.) from the slots and reseated them. Also cleaned out the dust from inside with a vacuum cleaner with a plastic hose.

HDD has never been replaced, so yeah it is old and may be on it's last leg, but I neglected to back up my data and am hoping that I can at least keep it running long enough to do so. I'll be replacing the whole unit with a newer one soon.

Hi jimworzala,


Check the four diagnostic lights located on the back panel of your computer..If they are amber or blinking green or amber..Compare the sequence of the Diagnostic Lights at the following link
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/adtshoot.htm#1112886

Dell included diagnostics test on the 4600..If it is not already downloaded on your computer it will be on the disc that came with it..On bootup tap F12 or F11 (I forget which it is) to enter diagnostic mode

In safe mode check device manager and look for any drivers that may be causing the problem..Right click on 'my computer'>>click 'manage'>>click device manager..look for yellow exclamation points or red x's..

Check event viewer for more details on the error you are getting..START menu >> Run, type eventvwr.msc and press ENTER..errors will be marked with a red x...Double click on an error for more information..check the source of the error to help narrow down the cause..Check the following link on how to use event viewer..
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic40108.html

Check the Dell site (link below) and look for an updated driver(s)..
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?

I had a 4550 and if I remember right Dell was able to scan it for driver updates..at the Driver & Download page link above look for "Scan Your System for Updates" click on it to scan your system...

jimworzala, on 18 October 2011 - 10:25 PM, said:

Good idea. It may be that there are more issue here than a possibly failing HDD. Without being able to boot to dianostic media I do not know what else to throw in at this time.

If you can boot a CD of Puppy Linux (or some other form of live media), you could (optimally) copy and paste from the HDD to another external device with ease.

As for BlueScreenView: If you can attach the file as a screenshot or other format, I would be interested in seeing what is there. Just curious.